Special Education — P-12 plus Content Endorsement (Dual Endorsement), BAE

Department of Education Leadership and Inclusive Teaching, Woodring College of Education

110 credits (major and professional program)
                   (plus 20-98 credits depending on content endorsement)

Introduction

Special Education plus Content graduates fill a variety of positions in our middle and high schools. They work as middle and high school teachers with specific content endorsement (e.g., History), special education teachers, collaborative teaching specialists, and family advocates.

Teachers with Special Education plus Content endorsements must acquire extensive knowledge in major teaching and learning areas. For example, they must understand typical and atypical human development, recognize the foundations and provisions of education and special education laws and legislation, and embrace and affirm the diversities within middle and high school classrooms. Further, Special Education plus Content educators must become experts in curriculum and assessment and instructional methodology, as effective teaching requires expert and relational teaching.

Training to become a Special Education plus Content teacher includes coursework and extensive supervised practicum experiences in the public schools. The program is rigorous, and the expectations are high. However, the rewards are also high. This program will prepare you to be an excellent teacher in whatever position you eventually choose. Our graduates are actively recruited by school districts to teach in middle and high school classrooms as well as in special education positions.

Why Consider a Special Education P-12 Plus Content Endorsement Major?

Do you want to be a teacher? Do you want to be a teacher who can work with all students, in a variety of settings, and who acquires multiple teaching skills? Do you have a particular content area passion (e.g., History, Science)? Our major allows prospective teachers to become experts in both Special Education and General Education. Special Education is designed for students with disabilities who need individualized supports. These supports can often be delivered and instructed in the General Education setting, which is one reason we believe that Special Education and General Education teacher preparation should be combined – The purpose of Special Education plus Content Endorsement!

A significant interpretation of Special Education is the application of effective, evidence-based, and individualized teaching that results students’ personal and academic growth.

It is our mission to prepare exceptional teachers and, while students with disabilities often require the services of Special Education teachers, we also believe that there are many other students who benefit from high quality instruction. Therefore, educators who are prepared to teach ALL students, including students with disabilities, tend to be the most effective and sought after teachers within districts.

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.
• Meet the basic skills requirement. This may be met by: a) Taking the West-B exam, b) SAT scores, c) ACT  scores. There is no minimum score requirement for admission. See the Woodring admissions website: wce.wwu.edu/admissions/basic-skills.

Enrollment restrictions apply in all teacher education programs. Meeting the above criteria makes the applicant eligible for admission but does not guarantee admission. Students who meet all criteria are further evaluated by the Department to determine the most qualified applicants. For more information on the application process, contact Teacher Education Admissions in Miller Hall 254F, call 360-650-6161, or visit the website at wce.wwu.edu/admissions/contact.

Retention in the program requires continuous demonstration of competence in standard oral and written English in all coursework. Retention also requires maintenance of a 2.75 quarterly GPA including the quarter in which the application was reviewed by the department. The State of Washington requires students to earn a “C” or better in all major endorsement and education courses.

See the Education Leadership and Inclusive Teaching  section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.

Certification Advisement

Each student will be assigned an adviser when admitted to the department. Students will be assisted and monitored by their adviser on a regular basis throughout their program.

Content Endorsement

Information on all endorsement programs delivered through Western Washington University is available on the Woodring College of Education Endorsement Programs resource site at wce.wwu.edu/cert/endorsements.

Grade Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in the special education professional program and in all courses required for the endorsement.