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Endorsements
The School of Education offers a full degree as well as multiple endorsement options in the field of Special Education.
Whether you enroll in the degree program or an endorsement program, we place a strong emphasis on research-based strategies and techniques specifically designed to teach individuals how to assist students with learning and behavioral needs. Our faculty have extensive backgrounds and experience in special education classroom settings, complementing their research and university experiences. We offer the following endorsement options:
- Instructional Strategist I, Elementary
- Instructional Strategist I, Secondary
- Instructional Strategist II, K-12, LD/BD
- Instructional Strategist II, K-12, ID
- Consultant in Special Education
- Work Experience Coordinator
See below for course requirements of each strand.
Instructional Strategist I, Mild to Moderate - Elementary (K-8)
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 |
Instructional Strategist I, Mild to Moderate - Secondary (5-12)
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 |
Instructional Strategist II, LD/BD
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 |
Instructional Strategist II, ID
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 in Special Education
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 |
Work Experience 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 9 credit hours.
The following courses are required:
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 274 | 3 | Career/Vocational Assessment |
| SPED 275 | 3 | Career and Vocational Planning |
| SPED 276 | 3 | Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs |
SOE News
April 12, 2024
February 14, 2022
