Inclusive Educators need to have extensive knowledge in four areas: they need to know about students and how they learn; they need to know about effective instruction; they need to know about the content of the lessons they will teach; and they need to know about the context (social, legal, and political) in which they will work. Therefore, training to become a Special Educator will include work in each of these areas. The program includes coursework and extensive supervised practicum experiences in the public schools. The program is rigorous and the expectations are high. However, the rewards are also high. This program will prepare you to be an excellent teacher in whatever position you eventually choose. Our dual endorsement graduates are actively recruited by school districts to teach in both elementary classrooms and special education settings.
Students seeking a bachelor's degree with teacher certification and endorsements in Special Education and Elementary Education complete the Special Education Major (P-12), Elementary Program Curriculum and Methods, the Professional Studies Core, and two internships.
Why Consider an Inclusive Education (Dual Endorsement Elementary & Special Education) Major?
There are two definitions of Special Education. One is the education of students with disabilities. The other is the application of exceptional teaching. We in the Inclusive Teaching Program at Western Washington University believe very strongly in the second definition. We think that it is our mission to prepare exceptional teachers and, while students who have disabilities often require the services of such teachers, we also believe that there are many other students who can benefit from high quality instruction. We also think that there is much satisfaction to be gained from the acquisition of the highest levels of teaching skills and that the teachers trained in our program benefit professionally and personally from the acquisition of these skills.