Graduate Certificate - Special Education Teaching (Indiana)

The Special Education Teaching Certificate provides an 18-credit hour post-baccalaureate program for practicing classroom teachers seeking training in special education for students with mild disabilities. Candidates completing the 18-credit hour program qualify for Indiana licensure and gain content and pedagogical knowledge which aligns to the initial licensure standards established by the Council for Exceptional Children, state licensure requirements for Indiana, and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation's advanced-level program standards. Courses are designed to provide participants with methods and materials to serve students with exceptionalities through mild intervention.

Prior to applying to the program, candidates seeking licensure are responsible for being knowledgeable of the licensure requirements of their state and whether or not IWU's Teaching Certificate Program will satisfy the requirements of the state in which they are seeking licensure.

Candidates who have completed this program should be able to:

Identify diverse cultural and linguistic needs and utilize available technologies to develop culturally responsive learning plans.
Use knowledge of general and specialized curricular content to individualize learning for students with exceptionalities.
Select and administer appropriate assessments and analyze data from multiple sources to make data-driven decisions for students with exceptionalities.
Select evidence-based instructional strategies and resources and implement them effectively to meet exceptional learning needs.
Demonstrate the ability to create safe, inclusive learning environments by implementing evidence based behavioral interventions for students with exceptionalities.
Collaborate with families, colleagues, related service providers, and other stakeholders to provide appropriate learning experiences for students with exceptionalities.
Use foundational knowledge of the field and the professional Ethical Principles and Practice Standards to develop ethical, legally compliant communications and learning plans for students with exceptionalities.
Demonstrate ethical, Christ-like attitudes, values, and biblical worldview in their professional behaviors with colleagues and students with exceptionalities.
Demonstrate strength in the following School of Integrated Learning and Development dispositional domains: Communication, Critical Thinking, Human Interaction, Leadership, and Professionalism.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the Special Education Teaching Certificate are as follows:

A baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) verified on original transcripts sent by the institution directly to Indiana Wesleyan University. Transcripts from foreign institutions may need to be sent to an outside agency for evaluation and determination of transferable credits, degrees, and GPA. If this outside review is necessary, students are responsible for the initiation of this evaluation and for any fees incurred during the process.
An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher from the baccalaureate degree granting institution at which at least of minimum of 30 hours was completed or a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher from master’s degree granting institution.
A valid (but not necessarily current) state teacher’s license. (Not required for non-licensure candidates.)
At least one year of teaching experience from an approved and accredited public, private, or parochial school in the United States or abroad. (Not required for non-licensure candidates.)
Supporting documentation demonstrating access to a P-12 classroom.
Submit a signed School of Integrated Learning and Development FERPA release form.

Field and Clinical Experience Requirements

All candidates must complete field and clinical experiences embedded within the special education courses.

Completion Requirements

To successfully complete the Special Education Teaching Certificate, candidates must have completed the following:

Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above in all graduate work and a minimum grade of "B-" in each course.
Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a certificate.

Special Education Teaching Certificate - Program of Study (Indiana)

All clinical experience requirements are embedded in specific courses within teaching certificate programs.

Core Courses

EDSE-510	Foundations in Language and Literacy Instruction	3
EDSE-520	Individualized Assessment and Data-Based Reading Interventions	3
EDSE-530	Research-Based Behavior Interventions	3
EDSE-540	Strategies and Interventions for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders	3
EDSE-550	Collaboration With Families and Professionals	3
EDSE-560	Professional Learning and Ethical Practices	3
Total Credit Hours:		18