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What you will study

UCM’s minor in Early Childhood Special Education will train you to work with children from birth through third grade who have disabilities or developmental delays. You’ll master teaching strategies for different learning styles, learn to assess students’ needs and design curricula to optimally support their development.

When you add a minor from UCM’s accredited Special Education program to your degree, you’ll be taught to the highest standards set by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Our expert faculty will guide you through your first experiences working with special needs children, so you’ll graduate with the knowledge and confidence you need to support young children in multiple learning environments.

Courses you may take for the minor in Early Childhood Special Education include: 

• Education of the Exceptional Child
• Teaching Emergent and At-Risk Readers
• Behavioral Management Techniques
• Screening, Diagnosing and Prescribing Instruction

 

 

Unique learning opportunities in early childhood special education

The University of Central Missouri has been training educators since our founding more than 150 years ago. We know that hands-on engagement with the material is a crucial component of the best education. In the courses for your Early Childhood Special Education minor, you’ll take part in both clinical and field experiences that will give you opportunities to apply and refine your new knowledge.

Hands-on learning experiences for your minor in Early Childhood Special Education include:

• Behavioral management: Design your own behavioral management programs and environments, skills you’ll use to create optimal learning experiences for your future students.
• Literacy for children with exceptionalities: Gain experience identifying and addressing reading disorders in young learners with developmental delays and disabilities. Practice methods that will enable you to improve literacy skills for children with a range of conditions, including autism spectrum disorders. 
• Diagnose and prescribe: Learn how to screen, diagnose and assess learning developmental disorders to support individualized educational planning for infants and preschool-aged children.

 

What can you do with an Early Childhood Special Education minor from UCM?

There are not enough special education teachers to meet the increasing need for them, and school districts across the country are eager to hire candidates with special education knowledge and experience. UCM’s Early Childhood Special Education minor will expand your career options by educating you in this in-demand field. 

Coursework from this minor will prepare you to sit for Missouri’s assessment for Early Childhood Special Education (Birth–Grade 3). Passing this assessment will give you an additional credential for your teaching certificate and show hiring managers that you’ll bring valuable expertise in Special Education to their district.

Learn more about early childhood special education careers

Explore salary and employment trends in early childhood special education using our interactive tool below.

 

 

Financial assistance options for your Early Childhood Special Education minor

LendEDU has recognized the University of Central Missouri for our commitment to low student debt. We make it possible to obtain a high-quality education at affordable rates. Adding an Early Childhood Special Education minor to your UCM Teaching degree further enhances the value of your education by broadening your career options with a professional specialty that’s in strong demand. 

More than 90% of UCM undergraduate students receive financial aid every year. We distribute grants, loans, work-study opportunities and scholarships to help you finance your college education. A financial aid advisor will work with you to determine the best financial aid package for your needs.

In addition to university-wide funding, your major may qualify you for program-specific scholarships. Learn more by using the UCM Scholarship Finder.