Disability and Advocacy, BAE

Location(s): WWU - Bellingham

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Introduction

Completion of this major results in a BA in Education. Students who complete this major typically seek employment as a paraeducator or in non-school settings, such as health and human services and non-profit organizations; they do not qualify for a teaching certificate. With their advisor’s permission and input, students choose an area of emphasis and design a program of study in preparation to work with persons with disabilities across a variety of settings.

Why Consider a Disability and Advocacy BAE Major?

Many professionals work with persons with disabilities in a variety of venues and do not require the same pedagogical knowledge base that is expected of special education teachers. However, to effectively advocate for and to work with individuals with disabilities, it is imperative that professionals have a solid background in a variety of topics central to the provision of support for individuals with disabilities. We, in the Department of Education Leadership and Inclusive Teaching, believe that professionals should support individuals with disabilities in accessing inclusive community opportunities that are available to persons without disabilities. A major in Disability and Advocacy provides foundational knowledge to professionals who interface across a variety of settings, including school, home, agencies, and community. Students in this major can choose from several emphasis options, depending upon their interest and expectations for future employment.

Student Resources

Department website: Education Leadership and Inclusive Teaching

Contact information: Jeff Hart, Miller Hall 202A, 360-650-3724, Jeffery.Hart@wwu.edu; Teacher Education Admission, 360-650-4887, wce.teachered.admiss@wwu.edu.

Department advising: Learn more about the program at the Disability and Advocacy Major webpage.

Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Career Services Center: Connect major to a career

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Admission to Western Washington University and admission to the Department of Educational Leadership and Inclusive Teaching 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 2.5 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- (1.7) or better in all coursework.

Requirements (82 credits)

Major Core (58 credits)

❑ COMM 260 - Communication, Identity and Difference Credits: 5
❑ DIAD 205 - Disability, Diversity, and the Mass Media Credits: 4
❑ ELED 311 - Understanding Washington State Tribal History, Culture, and Government: Since Time Immemorial Curriculum Credits: 1
❑ SPED 303 - Educational Psychology Credits: 3
❑ SPED 310 - Education, Culture, and Equity Credits: 5
❑ SPED 446 - Mentoring Students with Complex Needs Credits: 2
❑ SPED 452 - Applied Behavior Analysis Credits: 5
❑ SPED 457 - Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms Credits: 5
❑ SPED 460 - Creating an Inclusive Classroom Credits: 5
❑ SPED 462 - Teaching for Learning, Motivation, and Achievement in a Diverse Society Credits: 5
❑ SPED 465 - Assessment for Special Education and General Education Teachers Credits: 4
❑ SPED 469 - Professional Collaboration: Working with Families, Colleagues, and Community to Promote Student Success Credits: 5
❑ SPED 474 - Students with Complex Needs Credits: 4

Internship

❑ 5 credits required towards the major, student can take additional 10 credits toward the electives requirement.

DIAD 495 - Clinical Internship Credits: 1-16

Electives (24 credits)

❑ Students must take at least 24 elective credits to fulfill the major from the following list of courses.

BIOL 410 - Animal Behavior Credits: 4
COMM 230 - Rhetorical and Social Change Credits: 5
DIAD 442 - Clinical Practicum Credits: 1-5
DIAD 495 - Clinical Internship Credits: 1-16 (10 additional credits may count toward the electives requirement)
HLED 455 - Health Education Grades K-8 Credits: 2
HSP 325 - Introduction to Interviewing and Interventions in Human Services Credits: 5
HSP 410 - Mental Health: Individuals and Systems Credits: 5
HSP 450 - Survey of Addictions Credits: 5
HSP 484 - Grant Writing Credits: 4
I T 443 - Digital Decisions: Technology for Educators Credits: 3
RECR 201 - Foundations of Recreation and Leisure Credits: 4
SLHS 251 - Introduction to Communication Disorders Credits: 3
SLHS 354 - Speech and Language Development in Children Credits: 4
SPED 420 - Effective Teaching Credits: 4
SPED 440 - Practicum I - General Education Credits: 1-4
SPED 441 - Analysis and Strategies of Teaching Credits: 1-5
SPED 443 - Early Development Variations Credits: 4
SPED 462 - Teaching for Learning, Motivation, and Achievement in a Diverse Society Credits: 5
SPED 463 - Curriculum-Based Evaluation: Data-Based Assessment for Effective Decision Making Credits: 5
SPED 479 - Developmental and Remedial Reading Instruction for Inclusive Settings Credits: 5
SPED 480 - Practicum III - Individual/Group Intervention, Reading Credits: 1-3
SPED 487 - Written Expression Instruction and Interventions Credits: 5
SPED 488 - Math Instruction and Interventions Credits: 5
SPED 489 - Practicum IV - Interventions Credits: 3
Or other courses with permission of advisor

University Graduation Requirements

General University Requirements 2025-26
Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
180 Minimum Total Credits
60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
Residency Requirement
Minimum Grade Requirements
Final Quarter Requirement