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Special Education (Teaching Endorsement)

College of Education

	QUICK JUMP
	Special Education teacher certification endorsement
	Requirements and Core Courses
	Careers in Education
	Salaries
	Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation
	Scholarships and Financial Aid
	Campus Organizations and Activities
	Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You
	Contact Information

Special Education teacher certification endorsement

The special education endorsement curriculum provides the skills and knowledge required for those who want to teach students with special needs at either the elementary or secondary level. In order to earn the special education endorsement, students must have another primary endorsement area (such as elementary education, English, mathematics, etc.). • Offered at WSU: Elementary education teacher endorsement certificate, bachelor of arts in education • Available at: Pullman

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Requirements and Core Courses

—Bachelor of Arts in Education with teacher certification endorsement in Special Education Students begin their professional education course work by completing Psych 105, T&L 300, and T&L 301. To further enroll in professional education course work, students need to purchase an Application Packet from the Student Book Corporation, request one by phone at 1-800-937-4978, extension 336 or 323, or download the application for free at Application Packet. Further information on application requirements is available in an online pdf. Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate. SPECIAL EDUCATION ADD-ON ENDORSEMENT SpEd 301—Education of Exceptional Children SpEd 401—Teaching Students with Disabilities SpEd 402—Assessment and Curriculum for Students with Disabilities SpEd 403—Secondary Education for Students with Disabilities SpEd 404—Professional Skills in Special Education SpEd 409—Early Childhood Special Education SpEd 421—Inclusion Strategies for Special Education Teachers SpEd 440—Methods in Intensive Educational Supports SpEd 470—Assessment and Instruction in Reading SpEd 490—Practicum in Special Education Note: Students obtaining the Special Education endorsement are required to take SpEd 421, not SpEd 420, as part of the T&L Block III professional core.

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Careers in Education

Graduates from the College of Education may teach in public or private schools worldwide. Further study opens up possibilities as a coach, counselor, principal, or other administrative positions in schools.

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Salaries

During the 2000–2001 school year, the standard starting annual salary for a nine-month school year was $26,487 for Washington state teachers, according to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

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Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation

• Care about people, especially children • Desire to make a real difference in the world • Want to have the same impact that your favorite teacher from school had on you

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Scholarships and Financial Aid

The College of Education distributes funds from 13 endowed scholarships to approximately 100 teacher preparation students every semester. Some of the scholarships with multiple recipients include the College of Education Alumni Association Scholarship, the Louise H. Meyer Scholarship, the Don and Julia Lee Scholarship, and the Claude Simpson and Peggy Simpson Yates Scholarship. For more information about these scholarships, call the College of Education at 509-335-7843 or e-mail beateacher@wsu.edu. Education students may also be eligible for University scholarships and state or federal financial aid. Visit the Scholarships and Finances link in the bar at the left for more information on scholarships and financial aid.

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Campus Organizations and Activities

The Educators Club is a pre-professional organization run by education students for education students. The club is affiliated with the Student Washington Education Association (SWEA), which serves as the student program of the Washington Education Association and the National Education Association. All future teachers are invited to join and participate in club activities. More information is available here.

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Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You

• Psychology • Sociology • Personnel and human relations • Human development

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Contact Information

Teacher Education Program

Office of Student Services & Certification College of Education Washington State University P.O. Box 642152 Pullman, WA 99164-2152

beateacher@wsu.edu

(509) 335-4855

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Strengths of the Program

• Learn effective teaching at the state's only undergraduate education degree program housed at a major research university.
• WSU offers the state's only teacher preparation program that provides practical classroom teaching opportunities in every region of Washington.
• The U.S. Department of Education selected WSU for a grant of more than $11 million to create a model teacher preparation program centered on high-needs youths.
• Students pursuing the elementary education program gain firsthand experience through 275 hours in four practicums, plus 16 weeks of student teaching.
• Study and work with a diversity of young students that mirrors today's classrooms.
• WSU's Future Teachers of Color is the most successful multicultural teacher recruitment program in the state.
• Make connections through professors who have collaborative relationships with more than 150 school districts statewide.

Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us