Cultivate
Provides opportunities inside and outside the classroom to cultivate and enhance your overall learning and academic experience.
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Department of Special Education, Early Childhood and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
Explore the Early Childhood Education Major
Students seeking the Early Childhood Education major at 海角社区 are prepared to engage in equity- and trauma-informed practices with children and families in a wide range of settings. The program leads to exciting and meaningful careers in schools and centers; state licensing; policy-advocacy; and many other educational settings. As an Early Childhood Education major, you will choose from two concentrations: one that leads to recommendation for Colorado Department of Education Teacher Licensure for birth through age 8, and one that leads to an Early Learning Specialization.
What Are Milestones?
Milestones are activities students should complete and skills they should develop during their first year, middle years and final year at 海角社区.
Major Milestones help prospective and current students explore major and career options and create a year-by-year plan that makes the most of their time at 海角社区 and sets them up for post-graduation success.
Career Milestones provide ways to explore options for jobs and/or attending graduate school after graduation and help students understand the types of essential skills employers look for.
Both types of Milestones 颈苍迟别驳谤补迟别鈥�curricular鈥�(what happens inside the classroom),鈥�co-curricular鈥�(what happens inside and outside the classroom), and鈥�non-curricular鈥�(what happens outside the classroom) experiences.
Career Milestones Resources
There are nine essential skills you should have in order to find, acquire, maintain and grow within a job.
Essential skills built through majoring in Early Childhood Education include:
- Critical thinking
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Professionalism/work ethic
Learn more about essential skills.
Students graduating with a major in Early Childhood Education find themselves most often in the following professional fields:
- Early childhood centers and elementary schools
- Family support services
- Educational non-profits
Explore career opportunities by major.
Students who choose to pursue a graduate degree often consider these pathways:
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Educational Leadership
- Early Childhood Education
Major Milestones Resources
Learn more about Major Milestones for your major and how to make the most of your time at 海角社区!
How to Get the Most Out of This Page
Follow These Steps
- Click on your year in school from the list below.
- Read the steps listed in each category: Cultivate, Engage and Prepare.
- Complete any necessary steps listed.
- Check out further resources by connecting with your academic advisor, the Classroom to Career Hub, and your department faculty.
All options listed below are available in-person and online unless noted otherwise.
Major Milestones Categories
Engage
Highlights activities you can engage and participate in globally, nationally and locally to enhance your essential skills and start building your resume.
Prepare
Lists steps to prepare for postgraduate success whether that's entering the workforce, attending graduate school or pursuing other goals and plans.
Arrive!听What to Explore During Your First Year at 海角社区
- Attend orientation and听register for classes.
- Meet with your Academic Advisor.
- 颁辞尘辫濒别迟别听FAFSA/CASFA/COF听and the听General Scholarship Application.
- Join a student organization听补苍诲听get connected to support on campus.
- Declare a听major, or meet with an听exploratory advisor听to learn about options.
- Attend signature events on campus听(Convocation, Fall Fest, Spring Fling, etc.).
- Check out听Career Link听for on campus and career-aligned jobs.
- 础迟迟别苍诲听Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) career workshops and events.
- Write your early experience resume and utilize听resume resources from the C2Hub.
- Find your degree progress report and review the 4-year plans
- Meet with your faculty advisor
- Attend first field experience in a preschool classroom
- Explore affinity groups in the School of Education
- Check out SOE scholarships
- Attend School of Education welcome/orientation events
- Develop a plan with your academic advisor to take the required licensure exams
- Explore major concentration options (Licensure or Early Learning Specialization)
- Review School of Education professional dispositions
Thrive!听Make the Most of听Your听Middle Years听at 海角社区
- Consider adding a听minor or certificate听to your chosen major.
- Explore resources like the听tutoring program听or the听writing center.
- Get familiar with听海角社区鈥檚 Academic Planning Tool.
- 贰虫辫濒辞谤别听student leadership on campus听and volunteering in your community.
- Earn credit and gain experience through an听internship,听study abroad, or community-engaged learning.
- Attend identity or interest-based campus events听like the Richard T. Castro speaker series.
- Connect with the听Undergraduate Research and Scholarship program.
- Attend an in-person听Career Fair听to network and secure a professional headshot.
- Connect with the Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub)听for opportunities for professional mentoring and job shadowing.
- Attend additional field experiences in preschool and elementary classrooms
- Meet with an academic advisor to update your academic plan
- Review and utilize resources from the (海角社区 login required) and the Education Students Newsletter
- Attend a required Student Teaching Information Session (Licensure concentration only)
- Apply for student teaching (Licensure concentration only)
- Attend Trauma-Informed Practices (TIP) workshops
- Revisit licensure exam plan (Licensure concentration only)
- Check on progress with elective courses (Early Learning Specialization concentration only)
- Explore student membership in professional organizations
Soar! Maximize Your Final Year at 海角社区
- Meet with your advisor听to complete remaining graduation requirements.
- Ready to Graduate? Check out this guide from the registrar!
- Attend or present in-person at a major-specific or industry-specific conference or networking event.
- Attend in-person听alumni and campus-wide networking events.
- Submit a proposal to present in-person at the听Undergraduate Research Conference.
- Seek to collaborate with local civic organizations.
- Finalize your portfolio of relevant projects and skills.
- Attend in-person听career-focused events听with an听industry-ready resume.
- Identify needs for Professional Certifications or MCAT/LSAT etc. and prepare for professional school admissions.
- Prepare and submit applications for jobs, graduate school, or relevant post-grad training.
- Complete final field experience course (Licensure concentration) or develop senior experience plan (Early Learning Specialization concentration)
- Complete student teaching (Licensure concentration) or senior experience (Early Learning Specialization concentration)
- Consider joining a professional organization
- Attend professional development activities offered by your center, school, district or agency
- Attend a state early childhood conference
- Attend licensure exam workshop and take licensure exams (Licensure concentration)
- Attend OCEP networking event
- Write a professional resume
Roadrunner Roads
Things every student should do at 海角社区.
Roadrunner Upkeep
- Complete FAFSA/CASFA/COF/Scholarship Applications听every year.
- every year and check into the Rowdy Pit Stop every semester.
- Read The Runner in your email every Monday.
Roadrunner Career Readiness
- Find and get hired for jobs during college and beyond by visiting the Classroom to Career (C2) Hub and utilize their resources for students.
- To be prepared for any opportunity that comes your way, update your resume early and often.
- Explore options for hands-on learning and graduate school & get prepared for both.
- Log in to Career Link each month to stay up to date on programs, events, and job/internship opportunities.
Roadrunner Wellbeing
- Explore wellness and belonging resources from CESA.
- Access mental wellbeing support through the Counseling Center.
- Visit Rowdy’s Corner when you need some food access support.
- Nourish your physical well-being by checking out the Rec Center and Exercise Sciences, including for-credit courses.
- Determine your need for a Health Insurance Opt-Out Waiver each semester.
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Contact the School of Education
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Phone: (303) 615-1777
Email: [email protected]
Campus Location:
Suite 136 (Dean’s Office)
Suite 162 (Student Services)