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Undergraduate or Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education Coaching
School of Education & Human Development
Overview
Degree: Undergraduate Certificate Graduate Certificate
Classroom Type: Fully Online
Provides experiential learning in best coaching practices for teacher-leaders, coaches, directors, principals, home childcare providers, early interventionists, special education staff or anyone looking to strengthen their coaching competencies and understanding of systems thinking.
Program Details
Interest Categories: Education & Counseling
Campus: CU Denver Online
Coaching has been shown to have a major influence on early childhood professional practice that, in turn, improves program quality and child growth outcomes in early childhood settings. Quality relationship-based teaching and learning is instrumental to positive early childhood experiences. The coach and coaching partner relationship focuses specifically on maximizing the human potential of professionals in the field.
The University of Colorado Denver’s three-course certificate will provide you with foundational coaching skills and practices, peer connections, reflection, self-awareness, and systems thinking. Strong coaching relationships will help you achieve positive results with coworkers, networks, and children in your care. The unique cohort model used in this coaching certificate program inspires equity, diversity and inclusion as the group creates collective accountability in co-learning. Students have come from all over the U.S., representing a variety of cultures and languages. They work in public, private, federally/state-funded, tribal, and regional early education programs.
This is the only university certificate in the U.S. that pairs the early childhood profession with universal coaching strategies. It is uniquely designed to work seamlessly and in coordination with most early childhood curricular approaches and teaching practices.
Discover research-based strategies that support deepening your understanding of collaborative coaching and advance your ECE career. Learn to promote engaging and culturally supportive actions to make a difference in the lives of those in the early childhood community.
Certificate Structure and Cost
Complete the coaching certificate conveniently online
This online coaching certificate program provides the best of both worlds: a combination of online and synchronous learning. In addition to individual work that you will complete throughout the semester, each course meets virtually via Zoom for Tuesday classes. Courses require practicum that can also be completed virtually. We strongly recommend that these courses be taken in sequence and that students commit to all three courses and to the full completion of the program. This program is unlike most courses, in that it is based on the cohort members’ individual and collective thinking and learning. Collective accountability and the relationship-based coaching approach is what makes the program dynamic and successful.
Cost
The cost of tuition and fees for the three three-credit courses is $1392 per course, plus textbooks and materials.
Known for excellence
Many educational leaders and coaches have received their advanced degrees from CU Denver. We have a name that is recognized for preparing leaders who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and social justice. Additionally, CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development is a top school according to U.S. News & World Report.
Expert faculty
Our faculty are directly connected to the issues facing educational coaches today. With current connections to educators on the local, state, national and international levels, they are well-versed in the current and future climate that coaches face. Their guidance will prepare you to further your career while promoting social justice and inclusion in early childhood settings.
About the School of Education & Human Development
The School of Education & Human Development (SEHD) at the University of Colorado Denver attracts students who are passionate about careers in teaching and mental health. We match their passion with an education that is rooted in diversity, technology, proven approaches and real-world practice. That’s why our graduates are prepared to make immediate and life-long impacts on people, communities and the world. Our graduates are recognized to be among the most prepared in the nation to support diverse languages, cultures and abilities in the classroom.
Information Sessions
Please join one of our information sessions to learn more about the Early Childhood Coaching Certificate program.
- Monday, October 30, 2023, 2-3pm MT
- Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 4-5pm MT
- Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 9-10am MT
- Friday, January 5, 2024, 12-1pm MT
RSVP for an Information Session here.
Curriculum
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ECED 4410/5410 - Coaching Early Childhood Professionals: Foundations
3 credits
Course Details
Term offered: Spring
Instructor: Kristen Klaassen
The Foundations course focuses on learning, understanding and using relationship- and evidence-based coaching skills in early childhood settings. Students will practice the fundamentals of coaching using a systematic, individualized, reflective approach, and sharing experiences with others in the course.
Starts: January 13, 2024
Ends: April 29, 2023
Location: Remote
Zoom Sessions: (Tuesdays 5:00-7:30pm MST)
- January 2024:16th, 23rd
- February 2024: 6th, 20th
- March 2024: 5th, 19th
- April 2024:2nd, 16th, 23rd
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ECED 4420/5420 - Coaching Early Childhood Professionals: Awareness
3 credits
Course Details
Term offered: Summer
Instructor: Janet Humphryes
The Awareness course focuses on increasing coaches’ skills at introspection, thoughtful planning, intentional and responsive application of coaching knowledge and skills, and continuous improvement. Students will integrate skills with effective application in class and real-life coaching experiences, managing self and coachee progress and accountability.
Starts: May 12, 2024
Ends: August 16, 2024
Location: Remote
Zoom Sessions: (8 Tuesdays 5:00-7:00pm MST, 1 Saturday 9:00am-1:30pm MST)
- Tuesdays: 5:00-7:00pm MST: May 14, 21, 28; June 18; July 9, 16, 30; August 6
- Saturdays: 9:00am-1:30pm MST: June 8
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ECED 4430/5430 - Coaching Early Childhood Professionals: Attuning
3 credits
Course Details
Term offered: Fall
Instructor: Geri Mendoza
The Attuning course will integrate skills from the Foundations and Awareness courses to complete the EC Coaching Certificate. Students will practice refining and altering coaching and learn about sustainable, organizational change that embeds coaching in all professional practice.
Starts: August 18, 2024
Ends: December 13, 2024
Location: Remote
Zoom Sessions: (Tuesdays 5:00-7:30pm MST)
- August 2024: 20th, 27th
- September 2024: 3rd
- October 2024:1st, 15th, 29th
- November 2024:12th, 26th
- December 2024: 3rd
Recommended Completion Time:12 months
Required Credits for Completion:9
Admission Requirements
The next cohort for the certificate program will begin January 2024.
For more information about the application and registration, email sara.vandyke@ucdenver.edu or call 303-315-5000.
How to Apply
- Apply here
- Click "Sign up with your university credentials" if you have started an application or "Apply Now" if you are new to CU Denver.
- Select "Start New Application"
- Select "Continuing and Professional Education"
- Click "Create Application"
- Select "Continuing and Professional Education" (again)
- Click "Open Application"
- Select "Yes" to Are you applying for a School of Education and Human Development certificate?
- Select "Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education Coaching"
- Click "Continue"
- Fill in the rest of the application with your information and submit
- Be sure to select "Spring 2024" as the admit term in the Academic Information section
HINT: If you are charged a $50 application fee, you are completing the wrong application. The Continuing and Professional Education certificate application is free.
Find detailed instructions on how to apply here.
How to Register
- Sign in to UCD Access, www.ucdenver.edu/ucdaccess, using the username and password you used during the application process
- In the Student tab, select "Register for Classes"
- Select "Add Classes"
- Select the term Spring 2024
- Verify personal information and agree to Tuition Payment Disclosure
- Select "Search by Class Number"
- Enter your five-digit number in the field "Class Nbr" and click "Submit Class Number"
a. Undergraduate Level: ECED 4410 class number: 40139
b. Graduate Level: ECED 5410 class number 40140 - Verify course information and click "Next"
- Select classes from your shopping cart and click "Add Selected Classes"
- Click "Finish Enrolling" and look for a green check mark or "Success" message
ECE Educator Scholarships
ECE Educator Scholarships, administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education in collaboration with Colorado Department of Early Childhood, are designed for early childhood education students living in Colorado who are pursuing dedicated coursework, certificates and degrees up to a master’s degree. Awards vary dependent upon credit hours of enrollment and program. All eligible students receive some funding.