Program Overview

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Introduction to the Special Education Program

The Special Education program at Western Washington University is designed to prepare exceptional teachers who can work with students with diverse abilities and needs. As a teaching endorsement area, candidates are prepared to work with students who exhibit a variety of abilities and needs. Special education teachers are experts in curriculum, instruction, assessment, advocacy, and relationships with students and their families.

Program Description

Special Education teachers fill a variety of positions in P-12 schools, including collaborative early childhood teachers, elementary and middle school teachers, high school teachers, transition specialists, family and disability law advocates, and special education experts. The program is rigorous, and the expectations are high. However, the rewards are also high, and this program will prepare students to be excellent and compassionate teachers.

Why Consider a Special Education Major?

The Special Education major is ideal for students who want to be teachers with expertise in individualized instruction, curriculum assessment, behavior management, and typical and atypical human development. A significant interpretation of Special Education is the application of effective, evidence-based, and individualized teaching that results in students' personal and academic growth.

Student Resources

• Department website: Education Leadership and Inclusive Teaching
• Department advising: Learn more about the program at the Special Education 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
• Sample Careers:
  • Special Education Resource Room Teacher
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Consultant
  • Inclusive Classroom Teacher

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 grade of B- or higher
• Meet the basic skills requirement

Retention in the Program

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.

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.

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.

Program Requirements

The program requires 114 credits, including:

Major - Special Education

• SPED 446 - Mentoring Students with Complex Needs
• SPED 452 - Applied Behavior Analysis
• SPED 457 - Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms
• SPED 460 - Creating an Inclusive Classroom
• SPED 462 - Teaching for Learning, Motivation, and Achievement in a Diverse Society
• SPED 463 - Curriculum-Based Evaluation: Data-Based Assessment for Effective Decision Making
• SPED 465 - Assessment for Special Education and General Education Teachers
• SPED 469 - Professional Collaboration: Working with Families, Colleagues, and Community to Promote Student Success
• SPED 474 - Students with Complex Needs
• SPED 479 - Developmental and Remedial Reading Instruction for Inclusive Settings
• SPED 480 - Practicum III - Individual/Group Intervention, Reading
• SPED 487 - Written Expression Instruction and Interventions
• SPED 488 - Math Instruction and Interventions
• SPED 489 - Practicum IV - Interventions

Professional Studies Core

• ELED 311 - Understanding Washington State Tribal History, Culture, and Government: Since Time Immemorial Curriculum
• ELED 424 - Language Arts in the Elementary Curriculum
• HLED 455 - Health Education Grades K-8
• I T 443 - Digital Decisions: Technology for Educators
• MATH 381 - Teaching K-8 Mathematics I
• MATH 382 - Teaching K-8 Mathematics II
• SPED 303 - Educational Psychology
• SPED 310 - Education, Culture, and Equity
• SPED 420 - Effective Teaching
• SPED 440 - Practicum I - General Education

Internship

• TEOP 494 - Inclusive Environments Student Teaching
• SPED 498 - Internship - Special Education

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