Post Baccalaureate Early Childhood Education Licensing (CAGS)

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Adult students who have already earned a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree may qualify for admission to the Early Childhood Education Licensing program. This program provides a path for a licensure recommendation to the Colorado Department of Education, but does not result in a degree. Within the context of a Christian worldview, the Post Baccalaureate Early Childhood Education Licensing program provides a challenging, theory-based and application-oriented approach to education. Students acquire knowledge, develop skills and demonstrate competencies necessary to teach effectively in public, private and international schools. Courses and field experiences develop educators who are dedicated to addressing diverse learner needs with excellence through servant-leadership in their field and in society.

The emphasis on becoming a master teacher enhances the student’s teaching abilities throughout the study of curriculum development, program assessment, psychological foundations of teaching methods, group dynamics, and critical thinking skills. These principles are then put into practical application with the student gaining hands-on experience in the classroom. This combination of conceptual knowledge applied in real-world classroom experiences contributes to the student’s development as a master teacher.

Students who satisfactorily complete all requirements of the Post Baccalaureate Early Childhood Education Licensing program are qualified to teach birth through 8 years in Colorado. Upon successful program completion, graduates meet requirements for certification by the Association of Christian Schools International and may also apply to the Colorado Department of Education for a teaching license.

Students in the Early Childhood Education Licensing program may apply to the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (MACI) . Upon acceptance, one graduate level course included in the professional core can be applied to the MACI degree.

The Post Baccalaureate Early Childhood Education Licensing program requires completion of a minimum of 69 semester hours as follows:
General Education and Liberal Arts Core (12 credits)
Colorado Christian University (CAGS) Core (9 credits)
Prerequisite Professional Core (6 credits)
Professional Core (42 credits)

General Education and Liberal Arts Prerequisites (12 credit hours)

BIO 102A - Biological Diversity (3)
Or other Science may be used.
ENG 102A - English Composition (3)
HIS 204A - America since 1877 (3)
Or other Social Science may be used.
MAT 110A - Math Concepts (3)
Or other college level math may be used. MAT 250A - Introduction to Research and Applied Statistics cannot be used to fulfill the general education requirement.

Colorado Christian University (CAGS) Core (9 credit hours)

HUM 114A - New Testament (3)
Or other equivalent Biblical Studies courses may be used.
HUM 425A - Personal and Social Ethics (3)
PHL 205A - World Views (3)

Requirements for Entrance into the Professional Core:

Completed background check. (Required for program admission in order to be placed in a field experience in a public school.)
Cumulative GPA of 2.75. Nine credit hours must be completed at CCU prior to enrolling in education courses.
Interview with Dean of Curriculum and Instruction Education, Program Director or other education staff designee.
Writing sample completed at time of interview.
Applicants must provide an official transcript of having completed a bachelor’s degree at a regionally accredited university. The transcript must include at least one course in each of these four areas: English composition, college math, science and a social science.
One non-family letter of recommendation.
In addition, applicants to an early childhood education program must submit official transcripts of completion of two prerequisite courses at a Colorado community college or other accredited institution of higher education (prerequisites listed below).

Prerequisite Professional Core Requirements (6 credit hours)

Students must demonstrate a foundational background in early childhood education prior to beginning this degree by transferring 6 credits of early childhood education coursework from an accredited university. All students must transfer ECE 205 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition for ECE (3) and the additional 3 credits may be from any 100 level or higher ECE course, except field work or practicum experiences.

ECE 205A - Health, Safety and Nutrition for ECE (3) AND
100 level or higher ECE course (3)

Professional Core Requirements (42 credit hours)

ECE 201A - Teaching as a Profession (3)
ECE 214A - Field I: Standards-Based Planning (2)
ECE 314A - Curriculum: Mathematics/Science (3)
ECE 324A - Curriculum: Reading/Language Arts/Literacy (3)
ECE 334A - Curriculum: Social Studies/Creative Arts (3)
ECE 340A - Assessment and Measurement (3)
ECE 401A - Classroom and Instructional Management (3)
ECE 403A - Special Needs Methods (3)
ECE 414A - Field II: Strategic Instruction (2)
ECE 470A - Student Teaching (9)
ECE 497A - Student Teaching Seminar (2)
EDU 505 - Psychological Foundations of Education (3)
Students must have a total of 60 earned credit hours prior to registration in a graduate-level course.
RDG 447A - Diverse Reader: Intervention for Developing Readers (3)

Program Completion Requirements

Passing score on Colorado Department of Education required teacher license exam by March 1 prior to student teaching semester.
Completion of a total of 69 credit hours including: general education, liberal arts, prerequisites, and professional core requirements.
A minimum cumulative CCU grade point average of 2.75 or higher on the University’s 4.0 scale.
Teacher candidates must earn a C- or higher in all education core courses, and must consistently demonstrate professional disposition qualities, knowledge and skills in all core courses and field studies.
In Student Teaching the teacher candidates must earn a grade of C or higher.
Completion of a License Completion Application.
Compliance with CAGS residency requirements .
Recommendation by the CAGS School of Education Professions Dean for Early Childhood Education Licensing by the Colorado Department of Education.
No outstanding financial obligations to the University.