Numerous certificates are available that are transferable to a degree program. Most certificates are 9-12 graduate-level credits and are open to educators with a bachelor's degree. Some certificates may only be available to teachers in particular districts or CU Denver master's students in certain degree programs as noted. Click on the certificate links below for s​pecific requirements.
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.
New cohort begins January 2024
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 field 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.
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 fieldwork 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.
The cost of tuition and fees for the three three-credit courses is $1329 per course, plus textbooks and materials.
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.
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.
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.
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 14, 2023
Ends: May 13, 2023
Location: Remote
Zoom Sessions: (Tuesdays 5:00-7:30pm MST)
Registration Opens: November 17, 2022
Registration Deadline: January 14, 2023
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 14, 2023
Ends: August 18, 2023
Location: Remote
Zoom Sessions: (8 Tuesdays 5:00-7:00pm MST, 1 Saturday 9:00am-1:30pm MST)
Registration Opens: March 16, 2023
Registration Deadline: May 14, 2023
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 27, 2023
Ends: December 22, 2023
Location: Remote
Zoom Sessions: (Tuesdays 5:00-7:30pm MST)
Registration Opens: April 17, 2023
Registration Deadline: August 27, 2023
Recommended Completion Time:12 months
Required Credits for Completion:9
The next cohort for the certificate program will begin January 2024. Application and registration information will be available November 2023.
For more information about the application and registration, email sara.vandyke@ucdenver.edu or call 303-315-5000.
The certificate will appear on the student's transcript upon successful completion of the course unless the student is already enrolled in an SEHD degree program. If a student is currently enrolled in an SEHD degree program and is taking certificate courses, the certificate will appear on the student's transcript if no more than 3 credit hours are used to meet degree requirements. Our nationally and internationally recognized certificates are exceptions to this policy, this includes the certificate for Applied Behavior Analysis.
Students must have a grade of C or better in all classes applied toward their certificate and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B average) or higher for the certificate to be transcribed. Particular district-related certificates require a grade of B or better for certificate transcription. In some cases, courses with a grade of C may not count toward a master's degree, depending on specific degree program requirements.