Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education Pedagogy

Program Details

This credit-bearing graduate certificate offered by University of Colorado Denver’s School of Education & Human Development in partnership with Boulder Journey School cultivates student’s pedagogical understandings and practices. It supports the capacity to increase the quality of teaching and learning within early childhood programs. Students have the choice of selecting three of six online Reggio-inspired courses to complement their current competencies and experiences. They can choose to articulate their three courses into the 30 credit hour MA in Innovative ECE, also in partnership with Boulder Journey School.

Please Note: Because this is a practice-based certificate program, students are required to maintain a position in either a classroom or an ECE position where you have regular, consistent and ongoing engagement in a classroom within your context.

Students in the Early Childhood Pedagogy certificate program will:

1. Develop an understanding and articulate their personal and professional beliefs about the image of the child, family and teacher, and the teacher’s role in promoting the rights of children to quality teaching and learning.
2. Apply pedagogical and curricular practices with children and colleagues to deepen awareness and understanding of the complexities and opportunities within early childhood education.
3. Cultivate an intentional and inclusive practice of observation, documentation and assessment.
4. Engage across multiple pathways for deepening leadership actions around complex early childhood pedagogical issues and have advocate for opportunities for all young children.

Curriculum

Upon completion of your interest form, you will select your three courses or discuss your interest with an advisor during an individual advising session. See more details about how to enroll in the program in the How to Apply section below.

All courses are 8 week sessions. Fall and Spring semesters are divided into two 8-week sessions.

Course choices include:   

Spring Block 1 (January – March)

• ECED 6310: Contextual Curriculum II (prerequisite: ECED 6300: Contextual Curriculum I)

Spring Block 2 (March – May)

• ECED 6340: Messing about with STEM
• LDFS 6420: The Environment as the Third Teacher

Summer (June – July)

• ECED 6320:A Colorado Interpretation of the Reggio Approach

Fall Block 1 (August – October)

• LDFS 6400:Observation, Documentation and Assessment
• ECED 6350:Literacy and the Hundred Languages of Children

Fall Block 2 (October – December)

• ECED 6300: Contextual Curriculum 1
• ECED 6330: Supportive Social Learning

Cost

Tuition cost for each 3-credit course for 2025-2026 is $1080. Student fees, course materials and other fees are additional costs. Students enrolled in non-degree, certificate programs are not eligible to apply for financial aid.