Inclusive Early Childhood Education / Early Childhood Special Education MA
- Graduate Educator Licensure or Endorsement
- Master's Degree
- Online
- Online
2 Years
Fall Term (Aug.)
Spring Term (Jan.)
Summer Term (May)
$668/Credit
Master's Degree with Dual Endorsement Preparation
This master’s program will train you to work with young children, from infancy to age eight. You will learn how to include all children in the educational process. You will be eligible to work in both regular and special early childhood classrooms, as well as early intervention programs.
Program Outcomes
- Use proven teaching methods and research-based practices
- Understand how children grow and develop
- Assess and support children with diverse needs
- Collaborate with families and other professionals
- Help support mental health in infants and young children
Apply what you learn: the program includes practicum opportunities in early childhood settings (birth to eight years).
Career Outcomes and Qualifications
Dual Endorsement Eligibility
Once you complete the program, you will be eligible for two Colorado endorsements.
- Early Childhood Education (Birth–8 years)
- Early Childhood Special Education (Birth–8 years)
This program will qualify you for credential requirements in most states. If you plan to work outside of Colorado, please see the Licensure Eligibility by State section below.
Course of Study
Fully Online/Distance Delivery
The program includes:
- Academic courses
- Practicums, which allow you to apply what you learn to real-world educational settings. The UNC Office of Educator Preparation will help you arrange these placements.
Most students will complete the program in two years (six consecutive academic terms). Alternate enrollment options are available. You can speak with program representatives about those timelines and financial aid impacts.
To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 30-credit master’s degree program.
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this program. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Anna Taylor
Enrollment Counselor
Hasan Zaghlawan
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Master’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- You do not need to be a licensed teacher. You can earn eligibility for your teaching license and endorsement via this program. Licensed teachers will add this endorsement area to their existing license.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
Licensure Eligibility by State
UNC’s professional licensure programs are designed to lead to Colorado licensure. Each state sets their own requirements, so a UNC program might not lead to licensure in other states. Visit the UNC Licensure page to learn more about which states UNC programs meet educational requirements for licensure.
It’s important to understand requirements in the state where you plan to work. Visit the State Licensure Boards page to find each state’s licensing agency and contact information. Questions? Contact Licensure@unco.edu.
International Student Eligibility
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
Licensure Eligibility by State
This program is related to a state licensure, endorsement or other credential. If you intend to pursue a credential outside of Colorado, please check the Licensure Eligibility by State section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadlines
Our goal is to make it easy for you to start this continuous enrollment program. Because this program features some coursework that begins in the middle of the traditional semesters, there are multiple options for starting the program.
For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 30 days before the start of each term:
- Summer term: April 15
- Fall term: July 15
- Spring term: Dec. 15
- Middle of a term: contact the Admission Coach to discuss options and deadlines!
You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Inclusive Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education (M.A.)
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.), Spring Term (Jan.) or Summer Term (May)
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Application Reimbursement From TEACH Colorado
For Colorado applicants to teacher licensure programs: UNC is pleased to be partnering with TEACH Colorado, a non-profit coalition that works to support future teachers. If you set up a free account with TEACHColorado.org before you complete your UNC application to a program / concentration that includes initial teacher licensure, you will be eligible to receive up to $100 in reimbursement of your application fee and any costs you may incur for academic transcripts or exams. The TEACHColorado.org checklist is optional, but you will need to create an account if you would like to request reimbursement.
We also recommend that you save this page that you are viewing right now for when you return to complete your UNC application.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status