About the Early Childhood Special Education Program
The Early Childhood Special Education graduate certification program is an interdisciplinary
program that provides students with the necessary skills to become Wyoming Professional
Teaching Standards Board certified teachers of young children with disabilities from
birth to age 5.
This online learning program incorporates the Division for Early Childhood of the
Council for Exceptional Children Initial Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards
for Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators.
We believe hands-on experience is essential for educators. That’s why students collaborate
with child development programs in their local communities — to work directly with
children with disabilities and their families — as part of the program.
The Early Childhood Special Education certification program includes seven required
courses and two internships working directly with young children with disabilities
and their families.
Courses Include:
- Children with Disabilities Birth - 5
- Curriculum and Materials for Young Children with Disabilities
- Evaluation of Young Children with Disabilities
- Special Education Law
- Families of Young Children With Special Needs
- Health Management Issues in Early Education
- Oral and Written Language Acquisition
- Internship in Early Childhood Special Education: Birth to Age 3
- Internship in Early Childhood Special Education: Age 3 to 5
Post-baccalaureate students who have earned a B.A. or B.S. in Elementary Education, Family and Consumer Sciences/Child Development Option, or a related field in early childhood development are eligible for this program. Applicants must have earned at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. This is a pre-k program and does not prepare candidates to work in kindergarten or primary-grade classrooms.
Online Learning at UW
The University of Wyoming provides a comprehensive range of fully online and hybrid programs in addition to the online Early Childhood Special Education (Birth to Five) Certification Program. They are equivalent to in-person programs in all the ways that matter – same learning expectations, same accreditation and your transcript doesn’t differentiate how you learned. Additionally, online learners have unique needs, and we provide a suite of academic and student resources tailored to help you succeed while at UW and after you graduate.
Request InfoLearn more about the University of Wyoming's online programming!
What can you do with an Early Childhood Special Education (Birth to Five) Certificate?
A career in early childhood special education is both meaningful and rewarding, offering the chance to truly impact young lives. Our graduates go on to make a real difference in their communities, with many becoming early childhood special education teachers in developmental centers across Wyoming—helping children grow, learn and thrive every day.
- Special Education Teacher (birth to three)
- Special Education Teacher (three to five)
- Special Education Pre-K Teacher
- Special Education Preschool Teacher
- Early Intervention Specialist
- Developmental Specialist
- Early Childhood Program Coordinator
- Family Support Specialist
- Inclusive Classroom Teacher
- Early Childhood Education Consultant
- Home-Based Special Education Provider
- Child Development Specialist
- Early Learning Center Director
- Child Development Center of Natrona County
- Lincoln-Uinta Child Development Association
- Child Development Services of Campbell County
- STRIDE Learning Center
- Sweetwater County Child Development Center
- Child Development Services of Fremont County
- and many school districts across the state and country!
Students studying early childhood special education at UW receive a unique, interdisciplinary education that prepares them to make a difference in their communities. This program gives students hands-on experience and remote learning options — to further their professional education right in their own neighborhoods.
Absolutely! Earning this certificate shows that you have specialized knowledge and hands-on experience working with young children with disabilities or developmental delays. Employers value this expertise, especially in early intervention programs, preschools and developmental centers.
