Early Childhood Special Education, BAE

Department of Special Education and Education Leadership, Woodring College of Education

89-91 credits

Introduction

This plan of study is designed to prepare personnel to work with children from birth through eight years who have been identified as at-risk for developmental delay and disability and with their families. The major combines studies in Early Childhood and Special Education.

Students in this major typically seek employment in private child development centers and governmental agencies; they do not qualify for a teaching certificate.

Why consider an Early Childhood Special Education major?

This non-teaching endorsement program offered through the Department of Special Education and Education Leadership was designed to prepare graduates to work with families and children with disabilities or at-risk in a variety of non-school based settings/programs. This rigorous major combines content in Special Education with that in Early Childhood. Throughout the program, students develop skills that enable them to synthesize knowledge of development, assessment, evidence based intervention, family systems, and the legal/social/political context in which they work with the goal of supporting children and families.

Interested in working with individuals with disabilities, but not quite sure? Please feel free to contact someone in the Department of Special Education and Education Leadership. You might even be interested in our GUR course, EXCE 205 - Disability, Diversity and Media.

Contact Information

Department Chair Charles Lambert Miller Hall 201E 360-650-2595 Charles.Lambert@wwu.edu

Program Advisor Lindsay Foreman-Murray Miller Hall 203B 360-650-3875 foremal@wwu.edu

Teacher Education Admissions Miller Hall 150 360-650-3313 wce.wwu.edu/admission

Sample Careers

Private Child Development Centers | Governmental agencies | Working with children in non-school settings

Major/Career Resources

www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Admission to Western Washington University and admission to the Department of Special Education are required before a student may begin taking courses in education. Requirements include:

• completion of a minimum of 45 credits (see list of recommended GUR courses),
• cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher for the last 45 credits,
• completion of an English composition course, with grade of B- or higher.

Grade Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in all courses in the major.