Program Overview

Introduction to the Disability and Advocacy BAE Major

The Disability and Advocacy BAE major at Western Washington University 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. The Department of Education Leadership and Inclusive Teaching believes 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.

Requirements for the Disability and Advocacy BAE Major

• Completion of a minimum of 45 credits
• 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

Major Core Requirements (58 credits)

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

Internship Requirements

• 5 credits required towards the major, student can take additional 10 credits toward the electives requirement
• DIAD 495 - Clinical Internship (1-16 credits)

Electives Requirements (24 credits)

• Students must take at least 24 elective credits to fulfill the major from the following list of courses:
  • BIOL 410 - Animal Behavior (4 credits)
  • COMM 230 - Rhetorical and Social Change (5 credits)
  • DIAD 442 - Clinical Practicum (1-5 credits)
  • DIAD 495 - Clinical Internship (1-16 credits) (10 additional credits may count toward the electives requirement)
  • HLED 455 - Health Education Grades K-8 (2 credits)
  • HSP 325 - Introduction to Interviewing and Interventions in Human Services (5 credits)
  • HSP 410 - Mental Health: Individuals and Systems (5 credits)
  • HSP 450 - Survey of Addictions (5 credits)
  • HSP 484 - Grant Writing (4 credits)
  • I T 443 - Digital Decisions: Technology for Educators (3 credits)
  • RECR 201 - Foundations of Recreation and Leisure (4 credits)
  • SLHS 251 - Introduction to Communication Disorders (3 credits)
  • SLHS 354 - Speech and Language Development in Children (4 credits)
  • SPED 420 - Effective Teaching (4 credits)
  • SPED 440 - Practicum I - General Education (1-4 credits)
  • SPED 441 - Analysis and Strategies of Teaching (1-5 credits)
  • SPED 443 - Early Development Variations (4 credits)
  • SPED 462 - Teaching for Learning, Motivation, and Achievement in a Diverse Society (5 credits)
  • SPED 463 - Curriculum-Based Evaluation: Data-Based Assessment for Effective Decision Making (5 credits)
  • SPED 479 - Developmental and Remedial Reading Instruction for Inclusive Settings (5 credits)
  • SPED 480 - Practicum III - Individual/Group Intervention, Reading (1-3 credits)
  • SPED 487 - Written Expression Instruction and Interventions (5 credits)
  • SPED 488 - Math Instruction and Interventions (5 credits)
  • SPED 489 - Practicum IV - Interventions (3 credits)
  • Or other courses with permission of advisor

University Graduation Requirements

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