Online Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Degree
Academic title: Teaching Early Childhood, B-K & Early Childhood Special Education Major, B.S.Ed. (Standard Certificate, ECE)
120 Credits
to Graduate
January 11
Next start date
*Recommended apply date is minimum 6 weeks prior to next start date.
Online courses for early childhood special education (ECSE)
A child’s development begins at birth and continues for years to come. Be there at the beginning as you earn your standard teaching certificate in early childhood special education online.
This versatile online early childhood special education (ECSE) major gets you ready to step into teaching positions in a regular kindergarten classroom or one for young students with disabilities.
Extensive real-world experience will prepare you for classrooms from birth through kindergarten in childcare and public-school settings. You’ll complete the required hours of clinical experiences in your local area. They’ll take place in classrooms/programs with young children with and without disabilities.
- Practice-based education which gives you experience for your future career.
- Teaching children with and without disabilities.
- Infant, toddler and early childhood social, emotional and physical development.
- Learning through play.
- Creative arts, early math, language and literacy, science and social studies.
Once you complete your online degree, you’ll qualify to take the exam for the Michigan ZN endorsement that qualifies educators to teach general and special education students from birth through kindergarten.
Online teaching early childhood B-K & early childhood special education degree overview
| Core credits | 51 |
|---|---|
| Elective credits | 0 |
| General education credits | 69 |
| Total credits to graduate | 120 |
How much does an online teaching early childhood B-K & early childhood special education degree cost?
The cost shown below is based on the current tuition and fee estimate. Your actual cost of attendance for financial aid purposes may vary based on your assigned tuition rate, the number of credits you're enrolled in and the length of your enrollment period. If you're enrolled in a single module instead of a full semester, your housing and food, transportation and personal expenses will be adjusted based on the number of weeks you're enrolled (for example, 12-week or 8-week modules). If you're enrolled less than half-time, your cost of attendance will not include housing and food, personal expenses or loan fees.
- Military tuition benefits: Active duty, veterans and military-affiliated students may qualify for reduced tuition, waived fees and need-based awards.
What can you do with an online teaching early childhood B-K & early childhood special education degree?
This is an online teacher certification program. You will be qualified for early childhood and kindergarten teaching positions in public schools as well as children in Head Start, Great Start Readiness Programs (GSRP) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) classrooms.
ECSE teachers are in demand. The median annual wage for special education teachers is $64,270 per year. About 37,800 openings for special education teachers are projected each year.
| Career | Projected Salary |
|---|---|
| Child/Family/School/General Social Worker | $61,330 |
| Preschool/Childcare Teacher | $37,120 |
| Childcare/Preschool Director | $56,270 |
| Special Education Teacher | $64,270 |
All data and statistics in this section are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Admission requirements
Transfer Admission Requirements
- Submit a completed application for admission
- Submit the application fee
- Submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities
Applicants with a cumulative college GPA of 2.0 or higher are eligible for admission following a standard application and background review. Applicants with a GPA below 2.0 may be asked to submit additional materials demonstrating their academic and professional experience, such as a résumé or personal statement.
Freshman Admission Requirements
- Submit a completed application for admission
- Submit the application fee
- Submit official high school transcripts
Applicants with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.8 or higher are eligible for automatic admission following a standard application and background review. Applicants with a GPA below 2.8 will be considered for admission and may be asked to submit additional materials demonstrating their academic and professional experience, such as a résumé or personal statement.
CMU is dedicated to teacher preparation in Michigan
CMU has been selected as one of five Michigan universities to launch the 2026 Education Preparation Providers Collaborative. The initiative is designed to improve teacher preparation, recruitment, retention and quality.
