This degree allows teacher candidates the opportunity to earn dual certification in both early childhood (EC) and early childhood special education (ECSE) at the bachelor’s level. Certification in both EC and ECSE will better prepare candidates to meet the needs of ALL young children birth to age eight in strategic and evidence-based ways across multiple settings. This degree leads to Arizona state certification in early childhood and early childhood special education.
This program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education.
No job is more challenging, rewarding, or important than teaching small children. As an educator with dual credentials in early childhood and early childhood special education, you'll help shape the character-and future-of every child in your classroom. If you want to work with children birth to eight, this degree will prepare you to succeed.
For more than a century, Northern Arizona University has produced leaders for America schools. Our graduates have a 98 percent pass rate on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment exam. The College of Education is technologically advanced, culturally responsive, and student-focused. Small class sizes guarantee that you will receive lots of individual attention. The program includes multiple opportunities to have classroom experience.
Note: In addition to being admitted to the university, you must also meet the additional admission requirements and apply for admission to the Professional Education Programs.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Candidates in this program are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, professional knowledge, and professional dispositions to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements. Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills, professional dispositions are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the following course(s):
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | 2.5 |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 155 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Required |
| Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching | Required |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
| Licensing or Certification | This program may lead to licensure or certification. |
Purpose Statement
The Bachelor of Science in Education, Dual Certification in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education leads to Arizona teacher dual certification, providing candidates with the necessary foundation to teach young children age’s birth to 8. This nationally recognized program emphasizes sound pedagogical practices while stressing the skills, knowledge, and dispositions necessary to enter the field of education with confidence. Candidates engage in a purposeful program of study grounded in theory and infused with practical experiences in schools. Candidates complete foundational coursework in mathematics, educational foundations, political science, bilingual and multi-cultural education, educational psychology, special education, and curriculum and instruction. Throughout the program of study, students participate in rich practica experiences and the degree culminates with student teaching in kindergarten through grade three placements.
Throughout the program of study, candidates demonstrate outcomes aligned to standards affiliated with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium, and the International Society for Educational Technology (ISTE). Nationally recognized by NAEYC and CEC, the program is designed to: promote child development and learning; build family and community relationships; use a variety of assessment strategies to support young children and families; promote developmentally effective teaching and learning approaches, use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum, and identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession.
Candidates who complete this program will be prepared to join the next wave of early childhood educators—people who will dramatically shape and influence the lives of children in educational venues, as well as non-profits, state and national agencies, and other venues.
Student Learning Outcomes
Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) are included.
Grounded in a strong child development knowledge base this degree program enables candidates to use their understanding of young children's characteristics and needs, and multiple interacting influences on children's development and learning. This knowledge prepares the candidates to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.
More Information
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
To be eligible for admission to the Professional Education Programs (PEP), candidates must meet the following requirements:
45 units of coursework which includes:
This plan requires 89 units.
Take the following 89 units. Additionally, a minimum combined GPA of 3.0 is required for teacher preparation courses noted with an asterisk (*). For all major requirements, a passing grade is required and a grade of “C” or better is required for course evaluated on an A-F scale.
Students may only repeat courses in which a Grade of “D” or “F” was earned, see the Course Repeat Policy (100315).
Teacher education programs require a student teaching or internship experience. A minimum number of practicum units are also required, which involves supervised field experience with a practicing teacher. These required experiences are embedded in the major requirements courses.
Before being accepted to student teaching, the following criteria must be met:
AZ Teacher Certification
In order to obtain an AZ teaching certificate, you must pass the required Arizona Educator Exams:
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Be aware that Arizona state teacher certification requirements leading to an Institutional Recommendation may change at any time, and may impact program of study requirements.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also take. For prerequisite information, see course information contained in the catalog or your advisor.