Nov 10, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Special Education (P-12) Major, BAEd


This major satisfies the endorsement for special education. This major is for students planning to earn a teaching certificate with special education P-12 endorsement. This major requires either the elementary education major or the Secondary Education Program with an endorsable content area minor or major. Please see an SOE or program advisor for minor options.

Admission Requirements
Full admittance to the Teacher Certification Program. Admission requirements to the Teacher Certification Program, within the School of Education, apply to this major.

Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • identify special education as a changing discipline based on philosophies, evidence-based principles and theories, relevant laws and policies, diverse and historical points of view, and human issues that have historically influenced and continue to influence the field of special education and the education and treatment of individuals with exceptional needs both in school and society;
  • demonstrate respect for their students first as unique human beings by identifying similarities and differences in human development and the characteristics between and among individuals with and without exceptional learning needs;
  • select and compile a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to individualize instruction for individuals with exceptional learning needs to promote positive learning results in general and special curricula and to appropriately modify learning environments for individuals with exceptional learning needs;
  • identify and  use multiple types of assessment information for a variety of educational decisions: to help identify exceptional learning needs and to develop and implement individualized instructional programs, as well as to adjust instruction in response to ongoing learning progress;
  • collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways; and
  • identify typical and atypical language development and use individualized strategies to enhance language development and teach communication skills to individuals with exceptional needs. Students will identify augmentative, alternative, and assistive technologies to support and enhance communication of individuals with exceptional needs.

EDTL Department Information, Standards, Requirements


Major and/or minor programs in the Education, Development, Teaching and Learning (EDTL) department include early childhood education, elementary education, bilingual education/teaching English as a second language, literacy and special education. Additionally, the EDTL department contributes to the middle-level teaching programs in mathematics (see mathematics in the catalog) and science teaching (see science education in the catalog).

In addition to a listed major and/or minor, students must maintain full admission status in the School of Education and successfully complete all certification requirements to qualify for the Washington State teaching certificate. The early childhood education major and minor offer options in which these requirements do not apply (see descriptions below). Students completing a special education major or minor must complete EDCS 424 if they are pursuing a secondary discipline-specific teaching major (or EDLT 308 for those also seeking an elementary-specific teaching major) as part of the Professional Education Program. All students completing a secondary discipline-specific program must complete EDCS 424. All other education department majors or minors do not require the completion of this course. Also, at least 75 percent of the endorsable major or minor must be completed prior to EDCS 442, Student Teaching. 

All students seeking a teacher certification endorsement must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher for the last 45 graded credits. Students must also earn a minimum grade of “C” in all required major, minor, and Professional Education Program courses.

Special Education Majors
The special education majors offered are specifically designed to prepare teachers for meeting the diverse competencies required for teaching individuals with disabilities. Students electing special education teaching must follow one of the outlined programs. EDSE 302 must be taken prior to or concurrently with EDSE 311.

Total Credits: 45-50


Secondary Education Program Credits: 51-55 (or Professional Education Program Credits: 50)


Professional Education Program  
Secondary Education Program  

Total Credits: 96-105


College and Department Information


Education, Development, Teaching, and Learning Department  
College of Education and Professional Studies  

Online Availability
The program does not have a designated online only option.

Program Codes
Major plan codes: SPEDP12, SPED12P