Special Education Certificate (Non-licensure)

Indiana Wesleyan University's Special Education Certificate (Non-licensure) is a post-baccalaureate certificate, non-licensure program. This program is open to candidates seeking advanced knowledge and skills in the field of special education for P-12 learners with mild to moderate exceptional learning needs. Candidates will complete an 18-credit hour program which aligns to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards.

This program is open to candidates from all states and countries, and is not tied to state licensure. Candidates could include teachers or professionals in the following settings: International schools, ACSI schools both stateside and overseas, Charter Schools, Private schools, and residential programs and settings. This program may also appeal to traditional public-school teachers who are seeking continuing education, but are not interested in special education 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 dispositional domains: Communication, Critical Thinking, Human Interaction, Leadership, and Professionalism.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the Special Education Certificate (Non-licensure)

Have completed 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). The degree must be verified on official transcripts and sent 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.
Be currently employed in or have access to a P-12 public or non-public school or international school.
Submit a signed 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 Certificate (Non-licensure), candidates must have completed the following:

Possess a 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 Certificate - Program of Study (Non-licensure)

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