Transition to Teaching - Special Education

The TTT - Special Education program is a graduate level, non-degree initial licensure program structured to prepare candidates to apply subject matter expertise, assessment knowledge, and differentiated instructional practices to technology rich learning environments for today’s special education students. This program is available to candidates pursuing initial P-12 Exceptional Needs - Mild Intervention teacher licensure in Indiana.

Upon completion of this program, candidates should be able to:

Identify diverse cultural and linguistic needs and utilize available technologies to develop culturally responsive learning plans with high standards for all learners.
Use knowledge of general and specialized curricular content to individualize learning for students with exceptional needs.
Administer appropriate assessments and analyze data from multiple sources, including digital tools, to make data driven instructional and behavioral decisions for students with exceptional needs.
Effectively implement differentiated, evidence-based instructional strategies, including current technologies and resources to meet exceptional learning needs.
Demonstrate the ability to create safe, culturally responsive, inclusive learning environments by implementing sound classroom management strategies and evidence-based behavioral interventions for students with exceptional needs.
Collaborate with students, caregivers, colleagues, administrators, related service providers, community members, and other stakeholders to provide appropriate learning experiences for students with exceptional needs.
Use foundational knowledge of the field, a biblical worldview, and the Ethical Principles and Practice Standards to develop ethical, moral, Christ-like, professional, legally compliant communications and learning experiences for students with exceptional needs.
Apply methods and technologies to professional practice and learning experiences for P-12 students with exceptional needs.
Demonstrate research-based knowledge of how and when adolescents learn, addressing developmental and motivational stages.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must have:

Earned 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 with one of the following:
- GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale from an institution of higher education, or
- GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 point scale from an institution of higher education and five (5) years of professional experience in an education related field, or
- Proof that the individual has passed the state-approved content area examinations.
A criminal history background check that meets School of Integrated Learning and Development guidelines.
Submit a signed FERPA Release Form.

NOTE: Applicants should be aware that Indiana State Legislation has mandated that expanded background checks are required for those working with students in Indiana schools. Applicants will also be required to adhere to any additional State Mandates required for educators. Though candidates will be required to submit an initial background check that is acceptable to the university as a part of their application materials, that successful background report will only serve to gain admittance to that academic program. School corporations are governed by a locally elected Board of Trustees who set policy for their school corporation. All accepted students should understand that additional background checks will most likely be required by school corporations before participating in clinical experiences.

Program Requirements

All Transition to Teaching - Special Education candidates will be required to provide passing scores for Indiana’s approved content area examination(s) based on the following schedule, or will be administratively withdrawn from the program:
- If scheduled for student teaching in September, testing is due the preceding April 1st.
- If scheduled for student teaching in January, testing is due the preceding September 1st.

Clinical Experience Requirements

All candidates must complete field experiences throughout the program as well as a 14-week full time student teaching experience in a Special Education classroom.
All coursework prior to student teaching must be completed with a minimum grade of no less than "B-" in each course to be eligible to student teach.
All clinical placements will be made by the Office of Clinical Experiences, unless otherwise outlined in course curriculum. Candidates are not to contact any school or attempt to secure their own student teaching assignment at any time.
Removal from a clinical experience may result in the candidate not passing the course and/or being permanently withdrawn from the program.

Completion Requirements

To be eligible to be recommended for licensure a candidate must:

Complete all course requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.00 and no grade lower than a "B-."
Successfully complete all Clinical Experience requirements associated with the program.
Provide passing scores for all required state licensure content and pedagogy examinations.
Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a certificate.

Upon completion of the Transition to Teaching - Special Education program, candidates will be recommended for P-12 Exceptional Needs - Mild Intervention licensure in the state of Indiana. Candidates seeking licensure in states other than Indiana bear the responsibility to determine whether completion of the IWU Transition to Teaching - Special Education program will meet the academic and assessment requirements of the state in which licensure is sought.

TTT Special Education - Program of Study

Core Courses - Special Education

EDUT-563	Learning Processes, Diversity, and Development of P-12 Students	3
EDSE-515	Foundations, Practices, and Skills of Special Education	3
EDSE-525	Providing Language and Literacy Instruction to Enhance Assessment and Data-Based Reading Interventions for Students With Exceptionalities	3
EDSE-535	Methods for Supporting Students With Behavioral Needs and Autism Spectrum Disorder	3
EDUT-573	Reading Strategies and the P-12 Learning Environment	3
EDUT-583	Methods and Assessment for P-12 Educators	3
EDSE-595	Student Teaching: Special Education	3
Total Credit Hours:		21