Program Overview

Education for Inclusive Environments Program

The Education for Inclusive Environments program at Western Washington University on the Peninsulas is a two-year, compacted program that offers a facilitated sequence of courses combined with significant practical experience. This includes a year-long internship/residency with highly skilled mentor teachers. The curriculum has been co-designed by experts in the field and master teachers.

Program Overview

Graduates from this program are highly sought-after teachers in both general and special education classrooms and are frequently at the top of the candidate pool for teaching jobs. Upon completion, candidates are eligible for Washington State residency teaching certificates in P-12 Special Education and K-8 Elementary Education, or they can seek to be certified in Special Education only.

Undergraduate Education for Inclusive Environments Residency

The Education for Inclusive Environments (Dual Endorsement Outreach) program is a 2+2 degree designed for students who have completed an associate's degree or WWU's transfer requirements. This 7-quarter program provides students with the skills and experiences to be an instrument of change in their chosen teaching path by combining studies in Elementary Education and Special Education, including a year-long internship/residency with highly skilled mentor teachers.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Education in Inclusive Environments program often find career opportunities in teaching roles focused on inclusivity and specialized support. They may work as:

• Elementary teachers (K-8), creating classrooms where students of all backgrounds and abilities can thrive.
• Special education teachers (P-12), working with students who have disabilities or special needs, providing individualized instruction.
• Behavior interventions specialists, focusing on developing and implementing strategies to address challenging behaviors in the classroom, promoting positive outcomes for students with behavioral needs.

Admission Requirements

Enrollment restrictions apply in all teacher education programs. Meeting the criteria below makes the applicant eligible for admission, but does not guarantee admission. Candidates who meet all criteria are further evaluated by the department to determine the most qualified applicants. The requirements include:

• Complete WWU GURs, a Direct Transfer AA, or a Bachelor's Degree.
• Minimum grade point average of 2.75 (overall or last 45 credits).
• English composition course with a grade of B- or higher.
• Official transcripts for all community colleges or universities previously attended.
• Reflective essays.
• Three academic or professional references.
• Satisfaction of Basic Skills Requirement, which may be met by:
  • Taking the West-B exam.
  • SAT scores.
  • ACT scores.
• Satisfaction of math pre-requisite, which can be met by:
  • Obtaining a grade of C or better in an Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, or Pre-Calculus course at a regionally accredited college or university within the last five years.
  • Obtaining a grade of C or better in Western's MATH 111 or 112 within the last five years.
  • Obtaining a passing score on Western's ALEKS Math Placement Assessment (MPA).