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) 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:

Scholarship Available!

**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

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

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

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.

Click here for more information about Teacher Education applications.

Pathway to Proficiency – An Advising Roadmap

Download printable Advising Roadmap (PDF)

Visual Advising Guide — 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

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.

Pathway to Proficiency – An Advising Checklist

Download Printable Advising Checklist (PDF)

Courses required for entrance into program

All of the following courses are required for graduation and entrance into the teacher program.

FW ENGL 101 – Introduction to College Writing (3 credits)
FW ENGL 102 – Intro to College Writing and Research (3 credits)
UF 100 – Foundations of Intellectual Life (3 credits)
UF 200 – Foundations of Ethics and Diversity (3 credits)
MATH 157 – Structure of Arithmetic for Teachers (4 credits)
FM MATH 257 (prerequisite: MATH 157) – Geometry and Measurement for Teachers (4 credits)
FN Natural, Physical, & Applied Science Science course with lab (4 credits)
FN Natural, Physical, & Applied Science Science course (must be in a second field; lab optional) (3-4 credits)
FA Arts Course (3 credits)
FH Humanities Course (3-4 credits)
ED-LLC 200 (lab included) – Cultural Diversity in the School (3 credits)
FC COMM 101 – Foundations of Oral Communication (3 credits)
FS HIST 111\/112 – United States History I or II (3 credits)
FS ED-CIFS 201 – Foundations of Education (3 credits)
ED-ESP 221 ( fall only) – Foundations of Professional Practice (3 credits)
ED-ESP 223 (spring only) – Child Growth and Development (3 credits)
ED-ESP 250 – Exceptionality in Schools (3 credits)
ED-ESP 255 (spring only) – Educational and Assistive Technology (3 credits)
ED-ESP 260 (fall only) – Special Education Policies and Procedures (3 credits)

Courses that may be taken prior to admission to program

ED-LLC 300 – Foundations: Linguistics, Acquisition, Pedagogy (3 credits)
ED-LLC 340 (field experience included) – Idaho Comprehensive Literacy (4 credits)
ED-LLC 345 (pre or co-requisite: ED-LLC 340) – Writing Process & Assessment for K-8 Classrooms (3 credits)

Courses require admission to the program

ED-CIFS 331 – Elementary Mathematics Curriculum & Instruction (3 credits)
ED-CIFS 333 – Elementary Science Curriculum & Instruction (3 credits)
ED-ESP 321 (fall only) – Family and Community Relations (3 credits)
ED-ESP 322 (lab included; fall only) – Inclusive Methods: ECE\/ECSE (3 credits)
ED-ESP 327 (spring only; co-requisite: ED-ESP 328) – EI\/ECSE Assessment (3 credits)
ED-ESP 328 (lab included; spring only; co-requisite: ED-ESP 327) – Intervention Methods: ECE\/ECSE (3 credits)
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.

The College of Education also offers a range of scholarship opportunities.

The Cost and Value of a Boise State Education

Learn More

Have questions or need more information? Contact us or explore related degrees and careers.