人类发展和家庭研究部（HDFS）与教育学院（SOE）的教育者准备中心（CEP）合作，提供竞争性的幼儿教育专业，要求在大二学年申请入学在大三。该学位使学生能够申请科罗拉多州的幼儿教师资格证和主任资格证书，从而使学生有资格从事多种幼儿职业：在科罗拉多州的公立或私立学校教P-3年级，在开展创业或其他学前班或托儿计划，建立家庭托儿服务或中心托儿服务提供者的业务，或担任托儿中心的主任。对人类发展和家庭研究的了解为希望获得教0至8岁幼儿的许可证的学生奠定了坚实的基础。对生命发展过程和家庭系统的了解使未来的教师可以与父
The ECE-L degree enables students to apply for Early Childhood with teacher licensure and Director Qualification in the state of Colorado and will qualify students to engage in a number of early childhood professions including teaching grades Pre-K to 3rd in public or private schools in Colorado, teaching in Head Start or other preschool or child care programs, providing infant and toddler programming, establishing a business as a family child care center or child care provider, and serving as director of a child care center. An understanding of human development and family studies provides a strong foundation for students desiring a license to teach young children between the ages of 0 and 8. Knowledge of lifespan developmental processes and family systems prepares future teachers to work in partnership with families in educating children. Students who earn the ECE-L degree also earn a minor in HDFS without taking additional coursework.<br><br>Students are encouraged to declare the ECE major during their freshman or sophomore years and are required to meet with their HDFS advisor during the first semester of their sophomore year. Following a review process, ECE students will transition into the formal teacher licensure program in semester 4, when the ECE-L designation will be added to their academic record. Students are also encouraged to carefully review the program of study as some program requirements must be completed before beginning teacher licensure coursework (e.g., the EDUC sequence). Students move through licensure coursework as a cohort, starting fall semester of junior year. Students in the ECE-L major achieve both Early Childhood Education core learning outcomes obtained through HDFS and EDUC courses, and the educator competencies required by the Colorado Department of Education for Early Childhood Education teacher licensure.