Certification in Early Childhood Special Education

The Early Childhood Special Education Program offers two certification options, including:

1. Early Childhood Special Education-General Curriculum (certified to teach all core subjects for children from preschool through 5th grade with and without disabilities included in the general curriculum)
2. Special Education Preschool (certified to teach children 3-5 years old with disabilities)

All ECSE-General Curriculum certification students who successfully complete the program will receive an endorsement to be highly qualified to teach reading.

There is also an add-on certification option for professionals who already hold a valid Georgia Special Education, Early Childhood, or Speech-Language Pathology License. Students in this program receive certification in Special Education Preschool after taking the following three courses, in one of the following orders:

Graduate courses in the certification programs are taught by College of Education faculty, typically in the afternoon (e.g., 4:30-7:00p) or late evening (e.g., 7:30-10p) at the Georgia State University campus in downtown Atlanta. There are a few courses that are offered either partially or completely online.

Required Courses

Sample Course Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information about the ECSE certification programs, please contact Dr. Peggy Gallagher at pgallagher@gsu.edu or 404-413-8041.

For information about applying to the ECSE certification programs, please contact Ms. Sandy Vaughn at svaughn@gsu.edu or 404-413-8318

For questions about financial aid and scholarships, please check out the website: http://www.gsu.edu/es/financial_aid.html or contact the financial aid office at financialaid@langate.gsu.edu or (404) 413-2400.