Early Childhood Special Education and Elementary Education
Do you have a passion for teaching early childhood learners of all abilities? Do you see yourself working with diverse learners in an early childhood preschool or elementary classroom? The Dual Blended Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary Education option is designed for you. The program prepares educators with professional interest in both early childhood/early childhood special education (birth to grade 3) and elementary education (K-8).
Department Name: Department of Early and Special Education
Official Degree Name: Dual Blended Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary Education
Degree Type: Bachelor of Arts
Type of Idaho Teaching Certification: 1) Blended Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special (birth to grade 3), and 2)Â All Subjects (K-8).
Note for Students with Out-of-State Home Addresses: If considering an academic program that leads to a professional license or certification in your state, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in your home state BEFORE beginning the academic program located outside your state, or upon changing states. Visit the Professional Licensure Disclosures website for more information.
Individuals working in or studying early childhood education may be eligible for grants or scholarships through Idaho STARS. Learn more here:
**Do you already have an undergraduate degree and are looking for a graduate option to earn your teaching certification? Check out our Master In Teaching (MIT) programs. Most programs can be completed within a year and will earn both a master’s degree and teaching certification.
What can I do with this degree?
This degree leads to recommendation in certification for two Idaho teaching certificates: 1) Blended Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education, and 2) All Subjects (K-8).
Graduates with this type of certification typically teach in an elementary school and/or an early childhood setting, working with diverse learners of all abilities.
Degree Requirements and Advising Resources
Program Prerequisites
To apply to the Teacher Education program, you must have the following three things completed:
All lower division courses, including the 200-level pre-professional Teacher Education courses, must be either complete or in progress
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 3.0 or higher GPA in all Teacher Education courses
A passing score of 150 or higher on the Core Academic Skills for Educators: Math Praxis test, which is test #5733
After Admission
Once admitted to the Teacher Education program, you complete the upper division Teacher Education courses. During the Teacher Education year, you must also complete the required Praxis 2 tests in order to apply to the Professional Year.
The required Praxis 2 tests are:
Praxis 2: Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test #5001
Praxis 2: Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood test #5691
Application Deadlines
Program Admissions
The deadline to apply to the Teacher Education program is either the first Friday in February if you apply in the spring and the third Friday in September if you apply in the fall.
The admission process includes an interview which is scheduled after the application deadline.
Professional Year
The deadline to apply for Professional Year is also either the first Friday in February if you apply in the fall or the third Friday in September if you apply in the spring.
After admission to Professional Year, you complete two semesters of student teaching. One semester is in an Elementary Education classroom and the other semester is in an Early Childhood/ Early Childhood Special Education setting.
Advising Roadmap for Dual Blended Early Childhood / Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary Education BA (select image to view larger)
To apply to the Teacher Education program, you must have the following three things completed:
All lower division courses, including the 200-level pre-professional Teacher Education courses, must be either complete or in progress
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 3.0 or higher GPA in all Teacher Education courses
A passing score of 150 or higher on the Core Academic Skills for Educators: Math Praxis test, which is test #5732.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply to the Teacher Education program is either the first Friday in February if you apply in the spring and the third Friday in September if you apply in the fall.
The admission process includes an interview which is scheduled after the application deadline.
After Admission to the Program
Once admitted to the Teacher Education program, you complete the upper division Teacher Education courses. During the Teacher Education year, you must also complete the required Praxis 2 tests in order to apply to the Professional Year.
For this major, the required Praxis 2 tests are:
Praxis 2 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test #5001
Praxis 2: Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood test #5691
Applying to Professional Year
The deadline to apply for Professional Year is also either the first Friday in February if you apply in the fall or the third Friday in September if you apply in the spring.
After admission to Professional Year, you complete two semesters of student teaching. One semester is in an Elementary Education classroom and the other semester is in an Early Childhood/ Early Childhood Special Education setting.
ED-ESP 329 (spring only) – Behavior Support in Early Childhood (3 credits)
KINES 305 or KINES 355 – Adapted Physical Education (recommended) or Elementary School Health and PE Curriculum and Instruction (3 credits)
Courses require admission to the Professional Year
Professional Year A – Elementary Education Student Teaching
You will be in the school all day four days a week.
ED-CIFS 430 –
Fundamental Frameworks for Supporting Teaching & Learning (4 credits)
ED-LLC 442 – Integrated Disciplinary Language Arts in the Social Sciences
(3 credits)
ED-CIFS 459 – Teacher Experience in Elementary Education (8 credits)
Professional Year B – Early Childhood Intervention Student Teaching
You will be at a preschool program the equivalent of four days a week. In addition, you will complete a birth to three practicum.
FF ED-ESP 470 – Teahing and Reflection (1 credit)
ED-ESP 326 – Natural Environments, Birth to Three (3 credits)
ES-ESP 463 – Teaching Experience in Preschool Programs (8 credits)
Costs and Scholarships
Boise State provides an affordable, quality education to improve your future. Scholarship opportunities are available for residents and nonresidents, making it even more affordable to attain a quality education.
