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The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education degree at Grand Canyon University is offered by the College of Education. This dual bachelor’s degree is intended to prepare aspiring teacher candidates to pursue a career devoted to helping young children (in birth through third grade classrooms) strive to reach their full potential as learners and community members.
The early childhood and early childhood special education degree online and on campus is approved by the Arizona Department of Education and accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). As a graduate, you will be qualified to pursue a certification credential in Arizona in both the early childhood and early childhood special education content up to a third-grade classroom level.
This education degree emphasizes the value of servant leadership and Christian ethics. Aspiring teacher candidates with a background in early childhood and special education may pursue a career working with children during a critical period in their development. As a role model to children up to third grade, you will be taught how to encourage young learners to embrace creativity, strive toward literacy and develop an enduring love of learning.
If you choose traditional on-campus classes, you’ll enjoy in-person and face-to-face academic discussions with your peers and instructors. You can become a member of the vibrant learning community at GCU’s campus in the heart of Phoenix. Immerse yourself within our Christian community and benefit from a wide range of campus activities, clubs, worship services and other campus life amenities.
GCU supports a modern and diverse student body by offering this early childhood and early childhood special education degree online.1 This flexible learning option suits the needs of many students by allowing them the convenience of pursuing a degree while maintaining life’s busy schedule. You can fit classes around your existing schedule and earn your degree from almost anywhere. As an online student, you’ll be able to use our interactive discussion forums to engage with your peers, as well as enjoy one-on-one chats with professors when you need extra help.
This ECSE degree program at GCU leads to initial teacher licensure. This program meets licensure requirements in most states, including Arizona. Upon completion of this dual degree program from GCU, teacher certification may be pursued. Licensure will require practicum hours, state exams, student teaching and an institutional recommendation from GCU.
Developmental delays and other special needs can significantly affect a child’s progress toward meeting behavioral and developmental targets, including the development of important skills needed for both school and life. Evidence demonstrates that when children with exceptionalities receive early intervention (EI) services rather than intervention later in life, they are more likely to overcome obstacles to success.2 As a future early childhood education teacher with a background in special education, you could make a positive impact on the lives of young learners in your community who need extra help to thrive.
Early childhood education (ECE) and early childhood special education (ECSE) majors at GCU can benefit from an in-depth and comprehensive curriculum that teaches important classroom skills for learners of all abilities. This bachelor’s degree, which leads to initial teacher licensure, includes 185 practicum/field experience hours. All teacher candidates must successfully complete a student teaching experience in a learning environment with children aged birth to grade three.
Skills developed in this education program include:
Early language and literacy development
Social and emotional development
Behavioral interventions
Classroom management
Learning strategies
Instructional methods and learning strategies
Assessments, evaluations and progress reporting
Child, family and community collaboration
Educational advocacy for children with and without exceptionalities
Embrace your passion for education and your enthusiasm for working with young children by pursuing a career in special education.
This degree could equip you to work as a preschool special education teacher in any of these settings:3
Early childhood education centers
Public and private preschools/pre-K programs
Public and private elementary schools
Hospitals
Residential facilities
Estimated number of new jobs for special education teachers yearly from 2023 to 20334
Median annual wage for special education teachers as of May 20235
This ECE and ECSE degree has received programmatic accreditation from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). This full accreditation status indicates that this degree program is well-designed to prepare effective educators who are committed to lifelong professional development.
In addition, GCU has been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The College of Education shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
We’ve gathered a few of your most frequently asked questions below regarding this bachelor’s degree for future teachers.
This dual bachelor’s degree combines the specializations of early childhood education and special education. As a teacher candidate, you will explore the education of children with and without exceptionalities, as well as concepts of child, family and community collaboration and advocacy.
When you graduate with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood special education, you may be prepared with the knowledge and skills to pursue your initial teacher license in both general education and special education classrooms from birth to third grade. You will be provided with the tools and resources to recognize the signs of developmental delays and to work with families, schools and other stakeholders to meet the needs of these exceptional children.
The value of a degree in early childhood education and special education depends on your goals and passion for helping young children with exceptionalities. If you’re committed to making a positive impact, this degree can be a valuable step toward achieving that goal. As a future special educator, you’ll help identify developmental delays and empower children to overcome obstacles.
Early intervention is critical when children have developmental exceptionalities.2 Children with intellectual exceptionalities can do well in school but will likely need individualized help from special educators. Early intervention is particularly beneficial because the human brain is most receptive to development and learning within the first few years of the child’s life.6 Special education services can allow children’s brains to develop appropriately, which in turn improves outcomes in areas such as school readiness, academic performance, cognitive functioning, socioemotional wellness and behavioral functions.6
To become an early childhood teacher who specializes in special education, you typically need to have at least a bachelor's degree in education or special education.7 In addition, teachers who intend to work in public schools must obtain a state-issued teaching certification or license.7 Requirements for certification vary by state, but generally include passing a certification exam and completing a student teaching experience.7 A bachelor's degree in early childhood special education can help you prepare to work with children with a variety of disabilities and needs, including learning, physical and behavioral challenges.
Prepare to inspire and engage with diverse young learners with exceptionalities.
If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).
1 Excluding observational and practice-based experiences, and student teaching.
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Why Act Early if You’re Concerned About Development? CDC. Retrieved Oct. 24, 2024.
3 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). Special Education Teachers: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Oct. 24, 2024.
4 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is based on September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Special Education Teachers, retrieved on Oct, 24, 2024.
5 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Special Education Teachers as of May 2023, retrieved on Oct. 24, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as special education teachers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
6 Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. (2023, March). Importance of Early Intervention as It Relates to Developmental Delay or Disabilities. Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. Retrieved Oct. 24, 2024.
7 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). How To Become a Special Education Teacher. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Oct. 24, 2024.
Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Bachelor's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
*Math and reading only on a 1600 point scale (test date after 3/1/2016). SAT score of 1380 required for 2400 point scale (test date before 3/1/2016).
