Program Overview

Introduction to the Early Childhood Special Education Program

The Early Childhood Special Education program at Western Washington University 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. This major combines studies in Early Childhood and Special Education, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of child development, assessment, and evidence-based intervention.

Program Overview

• The program is a non-teaching endorsement, meaning that graduates will not qualify for a teaching certificate.
• Students in this major typically seek employment as paraeducators, in private child development centers, or in other governmental agencies.
• The program is offered through the Department of Education Leadership and Inclusive Teaching.

Why Consider an Early Childhood Special Education Major?

• This program prepares graduates to work with families and children with disabilities or at-risk in a variety of non-school based settings and programs.
• The major combines content in Special Education with that in Early Childhood, providing students with a rigorous and well-rounded education.
• Throughout the program, students develop skills that enable them to synthesize knowledge of development, assessment, evidence-based intervention, family systems, and the legal and social context in which they work.

Student Resources

• Department website: Education Leadership and Inclusive Teaching
• Department advising: Learn more about the program at the Early Childhood Special Education webpage.
• Degree Works: Current students should log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career.

Sample Careers

• Private Child Development Centers
• Governmental agencies
• Working with children

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
  • Cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher for the last 45 credits
  • Completion of an English composition course with a grade of B- or higher

Grade Requirements

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

Program Requirements

Major — Early Childhood Special Education

• One course from:
  • ECE 380 - Foundations of Literacy for Early Childhood Education (4 credits)
  • ELED 480 - Literacy: Beginning Communicators (5 credits)
• ECE 390 - Infant and Toddler Practicum and Seminar (4 credits)
• ECE 391 - Preschool Practicum and Seminar (4 credits)
• ECE 430 - Creativity & Play in ECE (4 credits)
• ECE 431 - Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education (4 credits)
• One course from:
  • ECE 434 - Environments for Early Learning (4 credits)
  • ECE 436 - Child Guidance: Principles and Practices (3 credits)
• SPED 360 - Introduction to Special Education (4 credits)
• SPED 443 - Early Development Variations (4 credits)
• SPED 444 - Assessment and Intervention in Early Childhood Special Education (4 credits)
• SPED 452 - Applied Behavior Analysis (5 credits)
• SPED 460 - Creating an Inclusive Classroom (5 credits)
• SPED 464 - Disability Law and IEP (4 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)
• SPED 478 - Mentoring Equity and Justice for Individuals with Complex Needs (5 credits)

Professional Studies Core

• ECE 435 - Advocacy and Healing-Centered Perspectives in Early Childhood (4 credits)
• SPED 310 - Education, Culture, and Equity (5 credits)
• I T 443 - Digital Decisions: Technology for Educators (3 credits)
• MATH 381 - Teaching K-8 Mathematics I (4 credits)
• or MATH 371 - Teaching P-3 Mathematics I (4 credits)
• SPED 420 - Effective Teaching (4 credits)
• SPED 440 - Practicum I - General Education (1-4 credits)

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