Program Overview

Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education - Infancy

About

The Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education-Infancy (ECSE-Infancy) program is a graduate certificate program designed for individuals who want to acquire specific ECSE-Infancy skills to meet the needs or demands of their workplace and a Nevada Department of Education (NDE) endorsement. The certificate program is suitable for students with no prior ECSE background, as well as for those who have prior ECSE knowledge or education and want to acquire specific additional skills. The following are examples of students who can benefit from the program:

• Individuals who have graduated from an ECE undergraduate program or related program several years ago who can use the Certificate in ECSE-Infancy program to stay current with ECSE changes.
• ECSE professionals who want to retool themselves to acquire new ECSE skills.
• Individuals with no formal prior ECSE education who want to learn about ECSE and earn the NDE endorsement in ECSE-Infancy.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please refer to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

• Communicate and work with families of children who have disabilities and who are under 8 years of age.
• Identify systems and processes related to the coordination and collaboration of services among other agencies and disciplines which serve children who have disabilities and who are under 8 years of age.
• Describe issues regarding physical and medical management of children who have disabilities.

Requirements

Plan Description

The Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education-Infancy (ECSE-Infancy) program is a graduate certificate program designed for individuals who want to acquire specific ECSE-Infancy skills to meet the needs or demands of their workplace and an NDE endorsement. The certificate program is suitable for students with no prior ECSE background, as well as for those who have prior ECSE knowledge or education and want to acquire specific additional skills.

Plan Admission Requirements

• Minimum of GPA of 2.75 for all undergraduate work or 3.0 for the last two years of undergraduate study.
• Completed Certificate application for admission.
• One set of official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities.
• A one-page letter of intent that includes:
  • The ECSE Certificate area of emphasis (Infancy or Preschool) you are interested in,
  • Your professional and academic goals,
  • A discussion of your experience relative to the program.
• All applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Plan Requirements

Total Credits Required: 27

Course Requirements

Core Credits: 18

• ESP 771 - Perspectives on Early Childhood Special Education
• ESP 772 - Family Education in Early Childhood
• ESP 773 - Assessment for Young Children with Disabilities
• ESP 774 - Seminar in Curriculum Development in Early Childhood Special Education
• ESP 775 - Strategies for Early Childhood Special Education
• ESP 779 - Early Intervention Service Coordination

Fieldwork Credits: 9

• ESP 780 - Field Experience in Early Childhood Special Education - Infancy

Certificate Requirements

1. Acceptance to the Graduate College Early Childhood Special Education Certificate Program.
2. Completion of 27 credits in the Certificate required courses with an overall GPA of 3.0 within 4 years.
3. Students in certificate programs would be subject to the continuous enrollment policy. They would have to enroll in at least six credits each rolling three semesters (including summer).
4. No more than one grade of less than B- will be permitted in a Certificate Program of Study.

Certificate Completion Requirements

Students in certificate programs would be subject to the continuous enrollment policy completing the program within 4 years. They would have to enroll in at least six credits each rolling three semesters (including summer). Upon completion of all ECSE-Infancy Certificate course work, students are required to schedule a meeting with their advisor and provide an official transcript showing that the student has met all ECE and Graduate College Certificate requirements. At the completion of the meeting, students will be required to complete an exit survey. Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college.