The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Major is designed to prepare students to become highly effective and culturally responsive teachers, coaches, advocates, and policy makers who promote quality care and education for young children, birth through age eight. ECE students take classes and participate in field experiences that support the knowledge, understandings, and competencies established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), and the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) to ensure successful work with children in inclusive classrooms and diverse settings.
The Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) ECE degree provides a strong foundation in:
- young children's development and learning;
- observation, documentation and assessment;
- effective teacher research;
- meaningful curriculum design;
- differentiation for all learners, including children with special needs, cultural and linguistic differences, and socio-economic inequality;
- developmentally effective approaches;
- building family and community relationships; and
- becoming an early childhood professional.
The Early Childhood Education Major offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with two concentration options leading to licensure or non-licensure. Students graduating from MSU Denver with a BA degree in Early Childhood Education will meet current Director Qualifications for a Large Childcare Center.
Early Childhood Education Concentrations
Licensure: Early Childhood Educator
This option is specifically designed for those students who seek to become Colorado Department of Education (CDE) licensed teachers of children, birth through age eight.
Non-licensure: Early Childhood Professional
This option is specifically for those students who seek to become 1) early childhood teachers, directors, and coaches in centers, districts, and non-profit agencies that require Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) credentials but do not require CDE teacher licensure; OR 2) early childhood professionals, such as advocates, license and policy experts for young children and families; OR 3) candidates who choose to pursue advanced studies in early childhood education, special education, social work, educational policy, child development, or other related fields.
Requirements for Formal Admission to the ECE Program
Both licensure- and non-licensure-seeking students declaring an ECE major must complete the following steps before being formally admitted to the program.
- Submit an application to the School of Education online,
- Meet the GPA requirement of a recent cumulative college GPA of 30 or more credits at 2.5 or higher, or the most recent 30 college credit hours at 2.5 or higher.*
* Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement upon application may be Provisionally Admitted to the School of Education. Provisional Admission will allow for registration into specific courses in School of Education programs.
Program Requirements
All candidates for a BA in Early Childhood Education must satisfy General Studies, Multicultural, Global, and all Early Childhood Education program requirements. A grade of “C -” or better is required for each course in the program to count toward the Bachelor's degree.
Please note: The majority of preschool and primary clinical experience hours occur in the mornings and afternoons in designated classrooms supervised by licensed teachers. Some courses require ECE students to work with children in unsupervised situations that may take place in the evenings or weekends.
