Special Education Endorsements
Prepare to support and empower learners with diverse needs. Drake’s Special Education endorsements equip you to teach students with a range of learning and behavioral differences across elementary (K–8), secondary (5–12), and K–12 settings, with flexible pathways that can be paired with your education degree or added to your teaching license.
Through specialized endorsement options—such as Instructional Strategist I and II—you’ll build skills in evidence-based instruction and individualized support, preparing you to make a meaningful impact in inclusive classroom environments.
Endorsement Specifications
Elementary Mild to Moderate
The Instructional Strategist I, Elementary Endorsement builds skills specifically for educating students with mild to moderate disabilities. This endorsement will prepare pre-service or in-service teachers how to instruct students with mild to moderate disabilities in a K-8 instructional setting.
The Instructional Strategist I, Elementary endorsement is a total of 25 credit hours.
The following courses are required:
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 220 | 3 | Introduction to Special Education |
| SPED 222 | 3 | Characteristics of Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities |
| SPED 223 | 3 | Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction |
|
SPED 227 or SPED 266 |
3 |
Practicum - Mild and Moderate Disabilities or Student Teaching in Special Education |
| SPED 251 | 3 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation |
| SPED 253 | 3 | Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support |
| SPED 272 | 3 | Schools, Families, Communities, and Disabilities |
| SPED 275 | 1 | Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning |
| EDUC 275 | 3 | Literacy Assessment and Instruction I |
Secondary Mild to Moderate
The Instructional Strategist I—Secondary endorsement option builds skills specifically for educating students with mild to moderate disabilities. This endorsement will prepare pre-service or in-service teachers to instruct students with mild to moderate disabilities in a 5-12 instructional setting.
The Instructional Strategist I, Mild to Moderate - Secondary endorsement is a total of 27 credit hours.
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 220 | 3 | Introduction to Special Education |
| SPED 222 | 3 | Characteristics of Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities |
| SPED 223 | 3 | Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction |
|
SPED 228 or SPED 268 |
3 |
Practicum - Mild and Moderate Disabilities or Student Teaching in Special Education |
| SPED 251 | 3 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation |
| SPED 253 | 3 | Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support |
| SPED 272 | 3 | Schools, Families, Communities, and Disabilities |
| SPED 275 | 1 | Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning |
| SPED 276 | 2 | Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs |
| EDUC 275 | 3 | Literacy Assessment and Instruction I |
LD/BD - (K-12)
The Instructional Strategist II, LD/BD - K-12 endorsement provides the approaches needed to assist students with moderate to severe behavioral disorders and learning disabilities. This endorsement will prepare in-service teachers in any K-12 instructional setting. Candidates for this program must hold a bachelor's degree in teaching and have an endorsement in special education.
The Instructional Strategist II, LD/BD endorsement is a total of 30 credit hours
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 220 | 3 | Introduction to Special Education |
| SPED 223 | 3 | Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction |
| SPED 225 | 3 | Introduction to Behavioral Disorders and Learning Disabilities |
| SPED 226 | 3 | Evidence Based Interventions for Students with Learning Disabilities and/or Behavior Disorders |
|
SPED 229 or SPED 266 |
3 |
Practicum in Behavioral Disorders and/or Learning Disabilities or Student Teaching in Special Education |
| SPED 251 | 3 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation |
| SPED 253 | 3 | Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support |
| SPED 272 | 3 | School, Families, Communities and Disabilities |
| SPED 275 | 1 | Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning |
| SPED 276 | 2 | Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs |
| EDUC 275 | 3 | Literacy Assessment and Instruction I |
ID - (K-12)
The Instructional Strategist II, ID, K-12 endorsement provides the approaches needed to instruct students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. This endorsement will prepare in-service teachers in any K-12 instructional setting. Candidates for this program must already hold a bachelor's degree in teaching and an endorsement in special education.
The Instructional Strategist II, ID endorsement is 33 credit hours.
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 220 | 3 | Introduction to Special Education |
| SPED 223 | 3 | Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction |
| SPED 224 | 3 | Curriculum & Methods for Students with Moderate & Severe Intellectual Disabilities |
| SPED 225 | 3 | Introduction to Behavioral Disorders and Learning Disabilities |
|
SPED 231 or SPED 268 |
3 |
Practicum in Behavioral Disorders and/or Learning Disabilities or Student Teaching in Special Education |
| SPED 251 | 3 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation |
| SPED 253 | 3 | Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support |
| SPED 254 | 3 | First Aid, Health & Safety for Individuals with Moderate & Severe Disabilities |
| SPED 272 | 3 | School, Families, Communities and Disabilities |
| SPED 275 | 1 | Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning |
| SPED 276 | 2 | Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs |
| EDUC 275 | 3 | Literacy Assessment and Instruction I |
Consultant
The Special Education Consultant endorsement will prepare you as a specialist for consultant roles at the district, regional or state level. Special Education consultants are increasing in demand as districts and organizations work to administer programs designed for students with various disabilities. This endorsement is designed to help future special education consultants understand how to research best practices and to evaluate research-based interventions and procedures with high fidelity.
Candidates for this endorsement must have or be in pursuit of a master’s degree in Special Education or a master’s degree in another area of education plus an endorsement in at least one special education instructional area.
The Consultant in Special Education endorsement is a total of 9 credit-hours.
The following courses are required:
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
SPED 221 or EDL 278 |
3 |
Supervision of Instruction for Students with Special Needs or EDL 278 |
| SPED 278 | 3 | Consultation and Inservice Training |
| EDUC 276 | 3 | Principles of Program/Curriculum Development |
Coordinator
The Work Experience Coordinator endorsement program prepares individuals to collaborate with community resources and parents, to build assistance teams and to provide support service to secondary school programs (5-12). This endorsement is appropriate for individuals who already hold a secondary special education endorsement, who have or are in pursuit of a 5-12 special education endorsement, and who wish to work with older students having disabilities in areas of school to work transition.
The Work Experience Coordinator endorsement is a total of 6 credit hours.
The following courses are required:
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 274 | 3 | Career/Vocational Assessment |
| SPED 276 | 3 | Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs |
Ready to Apply?
- Applications are reviewed on an on-going basis; therefore, it is requested that all materials be submitted approximately 8 weeks prior to the beginning of the intended start-term.
- Upon the receipt of transcripts, an advisor will complete a transcript evaluation in order to determine any credit or course substitutions/transfers.
- In order to begin the application process, please select the apply link below. This link will provide you application requirements. Questions regarding the application process can be forwarded to the Coordinator of Graduate Admission at soegradadmission@drake.edu or 515-271-2552.
Questions about this Endorsement?
Michael Couvillon, PhD
Professor of Education
michael.couvillon@drake.edu
1-800-44-DRAKE, 4690
515-271-4690
Additional Information
- Scholarships: The Drake School of Education is honored to hold the Harley & Zoe Rummell Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is designated to assist candidates of the Master of Science of Special Education and is awarded annually to eligible individuals.
- Loan Forgiveness: Iowa teacher shortage areas are designated annually by the Iowa Department of Education. Teachers in shortage areas may be eligible for college student forgivable loans through both state and federal programs. Special Education has been identified as a shortage area. Information regarding application for forgivable loans is available at the Iowa Student Loan Website.
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