Early Childhood Special Education ,Certificate
Disability, Early Childhood, Early Intervention, Kindergarten, Pre-K, Preschool, Special Education, children, youth
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College is changing their name, effective Fall 2025. The new name is Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
Earn your teaching credential and make a profound difference in the lives of young children who have diverse learning abilities and needs.
The certificate program in early childhood special education prepares students to work with young children, birth through age 8 or grade 3, who have a disability or are at risk of developing one.
Students develop foundational knowledge of child development, including child development theories and best practices. They learn how to:
- assess, monitor and report the progress of young children
- build effective practices for engaging families
- create enriched, inclusive learning environments
- design coherent instruction
- plan and facilitate learning
This certificate program allows students to be eligible for dual teaching certificates upon completion of an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Education degree. This certificate can be added to the following programs:
- BAE in early childhood education
- BAE in elementary education
- BAE in elementary multilingual education
- BAE in special education
Students who add this certificate to a bachelor's degree listed above are eligible to earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Early Childhood Special Education, birth through grade 3, from the Arizona Department of Education. To teach in an Arizona public school, graduates must pass the appropriate Arizona educator exams: National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments.
Format option
This program is also offered via ASU Sync. ASU Sync enables students to attend live classes remotely via Zoom. Classes are designed to foster active collaboration and discussion in real time with faculty and peers. ASU Sync students must reside in Arizona throughout the duration of the program. Students on F-1 or J-1 immigration status are not permitted to complete courses via Sync and should speak with an advisor about other options to complete this program.
Students seeking to use GI Bill® benefits for ASU Sync programs should contact the Pat Tillman Veterans Center regarding certain limitations.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
- College/school:
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
- Location: Tempe, ASU Sync
2025-2026 Catalog Year
| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
|---|
| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
|
ECD 321: Foundations in Language, Literacy and Culture in Early Childhood
(SOBE)
3 Credit
Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
ECS 310: Foundations in Typical / Atypical Child Development
3 Credit
Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
ECS 312: Social and Emotional Development of the Young Child
(SOBE)
3 Credit
Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
ECS 411: Instructional Methodologies for Young Children: STEM
3 Credit
Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
ECS 420: Evaluation and Intervention Strategies for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers with Disabilities
3 Credit
Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
ECS 430: Systems, Policy, and Advocacy in Early Childhood/Special Education
3 Credit
Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
|---|
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
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This certificate is only open to students majoring in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Special Education, and Elementary Education (Emerging Multilingual Education) undergraduate teacher preparation programs in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. In addition to completing this certificate and a teacher certification program major, students will be required to earn a passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the AEPA/NES exam and a passing score on the subject knowledge portion of the AEPA/NES exam in each area an Arizona teaching credential is sought. Subject knowledge exam waivers may apply. Students should contact the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College for more information.
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Students should have a valid Arizona DPS Identity Verified Print fingerprint clearance card.
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A GPA of 2.25 is required for continued good standing. Students should contact the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College for more information.
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Students are required to have a valid Arizona DPS Identity Verified Prints fingerprint clearance card.
A GPA of 2.25 is required for continued good standing. Students should contact the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College for more information.
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student but may not be eligible for an institutional recommendation for Arizona teaching licensure without additional preparation beyond the certificate.
There is a strong demand for both early childhood educators and special educators in Arizona and nationwide. Earning a credential that prepares graduates for both early childhood and special education can lead to many opportunities. Many graduates with early childhood education credentials hold leadership positions in Head Start, private nonprofit and private for-profit center-based programs, and public school early childhood environments.
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
Division of Teacher Preparation
|
ED 102
ASUeducation@asu.edu
480-965-9995
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
