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Special Education Add-On Endorsement
b.chapmanSpecial Education Add-On Endorsement
The Special Education Endorsement Program at Washington State University provides the skills and knowledge required for those who want to teach students with special needs in grades P-12. The course work can be taken at either the undergraduate level or the graduate level.
In order to earn the add-on special education endorsement, students must be enrolled in or have completed another endorsement (such as elementary education, English language arts, mathematics, etc.). Students must apply for the add-on endorsement.
All of the courses are offered in an online-only, asynchronous format. Students can access the lessons and do the assignments when it is convenient to them; there is no designated time that students have to be online in a given week. Students do not need to relocate to a WSU campus but do need U.S. student status. They can take classes in their current location if they have access to a reliable internet connection. Some course work is available on site at the four WSU campuses. Check the schedule of courses offered at each campus for current course delivery options.
The requirement to complete an evidence portfolio (SPEC_ED 499) versus a practicum (SPEC_ED 490/590) is determined by the student’s physical location. WSU students enrolled through the Global Campus will enroll in SPEC_ED 499 and complete an evidence portfolio. The portfolio will align their out-of-school experiences (e.g., Special Olympics coach) with students with disabilities to the state special education competencies. In this way students can demonstrate that they have had experiences working with children and youth with disabilities, and they demonstrate positive and productive skills in that experience. Those who complete the endorsement through Global Campus complete 26 credits of course work and evidence portfolio.
Students admitted through Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities or Vancouver will complete two 2 credit practicums (SPEC_ED 490/590) for a total of four credits. The practicum experience consists of 90 hours of experience in a special education classroom or setting (usually 6 hours per week, for 15 weeks) for each two credits of practicum. Students not certified in Washington must complete a background check before enrolling in practicum credits. School placements will be made by campus placement personnel; students should not coordinate their own placements.
The WSU Special Education Endorsement Program is designed to meet state and national standards and is accredited by PESB (Professional Educator Standards Board). The federal government requires that school districts employ “Highly Qualified” teachers. That determination is made at the school district level and is dependent on the endorsements and certifications you have obtained.
Pre-Endorsement Waiver: A teacher who has completed sixteen semester credit hours of the required special education course work is eligible for a pre-endorsement waiver which will allow that teacher to be employed as a special education teacher. This is a district-initiated process and additional information and application can be found on the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s website. WSU requires students to complete the courses listed in bold below before signing the Verification of Teacher Program Enrollment form (SPI 1534). The remaining credits and all endorsement requirements must be completed within five years of service as a special education teacher (WAC 392-172A-02090).
Students can begin courses in any semester, if they have met all the prerequisite coursework. To find out more, contact one of the people below.
- Greater Vancouver Area: Jennifer Gallagher, WSU Vancouver Education Academic Coordinator (j.gallagher@wsu.edu; 360-546-9075).
- Tri-Cities area: Niamh O’Leary, WSU Tri-Cities Education Academic Coordinator (niamh.oleary@wsu.edu; 509-372-7394)
- Pullman and Online: Staci Bickelhaupt, WSU Certification Coordinator (sbickel@wsu.edu; 509-335-8146)
Course Offerings and Schedule
| Title | Fall | Spring | Summer* |
| SPEC_ED 301 – Education of Exceptional Children Prereq: none |
X | X | X |
| SPEC_ED 401/501 – Teaching Students with Disabilities Prereq: SPEC ED 301 or concurrent enrollment, or SPEC ED 420 or concurrent enrollment |
X | ||
| SPEC_ED 402/502 –Assess & Curric for Students w/ Disab. Prereq: SPEC ED 301 or concurrent enrollment, or SPEC ED 420 or concurrent enrollment |
X | ||
| SPEC_ED 403/503 – Sec. Ed. for Students w/ Disabilities Prereq: SPEC ED 301 or concurrent enrollment, or SPEC ED 420 or concurrent enrollment |
X | X | |
| SPEC_ED 404/504 – Professional Skills in Spec Ed. Prereq: SPEC ED 301 or concurrent enrollment, or SPEC ED 420 or concurrent enrollment |
X | X | |
| SPEC_ED 409/509 – Early Childhood Special Education** Prereq: SPEC ED 301 or concurrent enrollment, or SPEC ED 420 or concurrent enrollment |
X | X | |
| SPEC_ED 421/521 – Inclusion Strategies for Sp. Ed. Teachers Prereq: SPEC ED 301 or concurrent enrollment, or SPEC ED 420 or concurrent enrollment |
X | X | |
| SPEC_ED 471/571 – Assess and Instr in Reading Prereq: SPEC_ED 301 or 420 or instructor permission |
X | ||
| SPEC_ED 490/590 – Practicum in Special Education*** Prereq: SPEC_ED 301 or 420; SPEC_ED 404 OR SPEC_ED 499 – Evidence Portfolio |
X | X |
Courses listed in bold are required for the pre-endorsement waiver
*Summer course offerings may vary. Check with the campus contact person for current schedules of course offerings.
**SPEC_ED 409/509 is strongly encouraged for teachers endorsed in secondary content prior to applying for the pre-endorsement waiver.
***A minimum of two credits of SPEC_ED 490/590 or completion of Spec Ed 499 (2 credits) must be completed before WSU will sign off on a teacher’s pre-endorsement waiver paperwork.
Faculty contacts
Pullman, Spokane, Online
Darcy Miller
Tri-Cities
Sara Petersen
Vancouver
Michael Dunn
Helpful Links
- Apply to our add-on endorsement program
- Special Education Pre-endorsement Waiver
- Suggested Sequence of Special Education Course Work
- Evidence Portfolio
- Practicum Handbook
Did you know …
Special education endorsement program classes may also be taken at the master’s level and incorporated into an Ed.M. degree. The courses are offered in an online-only format through WSU’s Global Campus. Students watch the teaching videos and do the assignments/activities at a time during the week that is convenient to them; there is no designated meeting time.
Math and Science Education Overview
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You’ve already got the brains. We help you become a capable scholar.
Our mathematics and science education doctorate degree will help you get ready to make important contributions to the field. Maybe that’s in research. Maybe it’s by working in school, leading teacher professional development, developing or studying STEM museum exhibits, or in some other professional context. Regardless, your education will increase your versatility.
The statewide WSU system makes this Ph.D. accessible. Even though you apply for the Pullman campus, you may attend from many of the WSU campuses including: Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, or Vancouver. While Ph.D. programs in education are admitted exclusively to the Pullman campus, select academic programs afford some opportunity for students to access classes and/or advising on one of the other campuses. That includes the Mathematics and Science Education program. Therefore, applicants interested in Mathematics and Science Ph.D. program on one of the other campuses, must apply through the Pullman campus and indicate their intention to take classes in another location.
Students have opportunities to study and work with a variety of faculty possessing a range of specializations and research interests. We’re confident that if you want to make important contributions to the research base, or learning environment of mathematics or science education, this degree is for you.
PROGRAM ADVANTAGES
- Supportive faculty members who are invested in you and there to guide you toward expertise.
- Students choose an individualized path of study.
- The program is accessible from Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver campuses.
- Our program has a track-record of supporting a broad learning community.
- All courses, advising, and weekly seminar are supported by a statewide teleconferencing system
Other important info
Coursework
The program encompasses foundational courses in educational research, and mathematics and science education, as well as research experiences. The Ph.D. candidate can determine an individualized focus on mathematics, science, or cross-disciplinary study.
Handbook
Student Learning Outcomes
Application Requirements
- Applicants must have completed a master’s degree from an accredited institution in education, mathematics, science, technology, or other related field
- Applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Incoming students are expected to have a strong foundation in mathematics or science. Preferably, applicants have experience in teaching mathematics/science education in settings that are either formal (K-12, University levels) or informal (STEM museums, after-school or community-based STEM programs).
- We seek students who show a commitment to educational research in Mathematics and/or Science Education, who have familiarity with K-12 school contexts, and have a strong foundation in mathematics and/or science.
How to apply:
Please follow the application procedure as outlined in our Apply page.
Application Deadline
The priority application deadline for fall term is December 1; for spring it is July 1. Applications close May 1 for fall term and October 1 for spring term. Although late applications may be considered on a space-available basis through the closing date, the department cannot guarantee an admission decision by term start nor funding will be available for late applicants. International students are strongly encouraged to apply by the priority deadline to allow for any potential visa issues, late applicants may not have time to obtain the necessary paperwork (e.g., visa) to attend classes by the beginning of their admission term.
Program at WSU Spokane
While Ph.D. programs in education are admitted exclusively to the Pullman campus, select academic programs afford some opportunity for students to access classes and/or advising on the WSU Spokane campus. Therefore, applicants interested in Math/Science Ph.D. program in Spokane, must apply for the Pullman campus and indicate their intention to take classes in Spokane.
Program at WSU Tri-Cities
While Ph.D. programs in education are admitted exclusively to the Pullman campus, select academic programs afford some opportunity for students to access classes and/or advising on the WSU Tri-Cities campus. Therefore, applicants interested in Math/Science Ph.D. program in the Tri-Cities, must apply for the Pullman campus and indicate their intention to take classes in the Tri-Cities.
Program at WSU Vancouver
While Ph.D. programs in education are admitted exclusively to the Pullman campus, select academic programs afford some opportunity for students to access classes and/or advising on the WSU Vancouver campus. Therefore, applicants interested in Math/Science Ph.D. program in Vancouver, must apply for the Pullman campus and indicate their intention to take classes in Vancouver.
Scholarship and Excellence Awards
b.chapmanScholarship & ExcellenceThe best of the best!
The College of Education will once again honor those who embody scholarship and excellence.
While plans are still being finalized, this event will return in Spring 2023.
The Scholarship & Excellence Awards gives the College of Education the opportunity to recognize the achievements of students, educators, and public servants through the Advocate for Education Award, the Champion of Sport & Health Award, the Miller-Manchester Mentor Teacher of the Year Award, and the Ferrucci Distinguished Educator Award.
We also use this time to honor and thank our scholarship stewards for their gifts to the College of Education. The scholarships they have established provide scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students of all majors within the college. Now perhaps more than ever, these scholarships help alleviate the financial burdens of pursuing a college education.
Finally, we invite all students who were awarded College of Education scholarships for the current school year to recognize their strong academic performance and contributions to their communities on and off campus.
Advocate for Education
Twice as nice! In 2021, the college honored TWO individuals for the Advocate for Education Award.
Champion for Sport & Health
Having dedicated herself to helping others succeed in sport and health, we honored alumna Krista Jones.
Mentor Teacher of Year
The Miller-Manchester Mentor Teacher of the Year for 2021 was WSU Vancouver alumna Linda Souvenir.
Explore
Archives
- Past Advocate for Education recipients
- Past Champion for Sport and Health recipients
- Past Ferrucci recipients
- Past Miller-Manchester recipients
- 2018 event photos
- 2017 event photos
- 2016 event photos
They said it…
This event is a lot of fun. As a student who was a scholarship recipient, it was neat to be recognized for that, but it was even better and more meaningful to be able to sit down with the person who entrusted me with that gift and be able to thank them face to face. It meant a lot to me.
— Paden Carlson
Want to help?
Consider making a gift to the College of Education’s scholarships & excellence funds. For more information on how to establish a named scholarship or to learn more about giving to the College of Education, please reach out to our Development Staff.
Nominate a Suwyn Speaker
b.chapmanGlobalization Archives
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Globalization Conference information 2014
b.chapman10th Annual International Globalization, Diversity and Education Conference
Activism and Education: Learning with(in) Lived Experiences
February 27-28, 2014 – Northern Quest Resort & Casino
Keynote Speaker
Nirmala Erevelles
Nirmala Erevelles on “Tongue Tied in Transnational Contexts: Bilingual Education, Deaf Studies & Disability Studies.”
Feature Filmaker
Award-winning Seattle filmmaker Jill Freidberg spent two years in southern Mexico documenting the efforts of more than 100,000 teachers, parents, and students fighting to defend to country’s public education system from the devastating impacts of economic globalization. Freidberg combines footage of strikes and direction actions with 25 years worth of never-before-seen archival images to deliver a compelling and unsettling story of resistance, repressioin, commitment, and solidarity.
It’s called Granito de Arena (Little Grain of Sand).
Program
Globalization, Diversity, and Education Conference (#GDE2023)
b.chapmanSeptember 14-16#GDE2023
This year’s theme is Kinship-in-Action. Learn more about the conference and WHY it is important.
Relive #GDE2023 in photos
Whether you were there and want to remember things, or just want to see what you missed, we got the pics!
Keynote Speakers
We have two incredible speakers for this year’s conference to welcome us and then help us understand kinship-in-action.
Location Information
Once again, this conference will be at the Northern Quest Hotel & Resort in Airway Heights, WA.
Explore
Press Play
#GDE2023, #globalization, #diversity, #agentsofchange
They said it…
GDE is a supportive and challenging environment for scholars and activists to engage in stimulating and at times difficult dialogue on today’s educational issues.
—A.G. Rud
Every year, the Globalization Conference brings together top scholars from institutions and organizations all over the country, and in fact, from various areas of the world. These well-respected thought leaders share research, dialogue, and strategize deeper ways of working together for greater justice in schools and communities. The energy and commitments to rejecting racist policies and practices and mobilizing higher education, K-12 education and community organizations for equity and justice was powerful to witness.
—Paula Groves Price
Teacher Education – Residency Certificate
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You are in the home stretch! It is teaching certification time!
We cannot congratulate you enough for all the hard work you have put in. While the teaching certification process may seem confusing at first glance, we can help you take a deep breath and easily understand it.
In order to be awarded your certificate, a candidate must:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a regionally-accredited college. That includes us.
- Complete a state-approved teacher prep program. That includes ours.
After this process is complete, we recommend your certification with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. We will then send you an email (to your WSU email address) with instructions on how to apply using the state’s E-Certification portal.
You may then receive the Residency Certificate (First Issue), which is valid for three years from the time you are reported as employed by a Washington school district as a teacher with 1.5 FTE experience, or more.
Certification fees
Teacher certification comes with unique fees (sorry). To help you plan, below is a list of fees that are required for all teacher candidates. This does not include course, degree, or university fees. Prices are subject to change. This is strictly a guide to help you map out your finances as you progress through the program.
| Description of Fee | Fee Amount | Length of Validity | Due |
| Fingerprinting | $70-110 | Two years | Before first practicum. Fingerprints must be valid each time you are enrolled in a practicum, pre-internship, and student teaching internship. Fingerprints must be valid at the time you apply for your teaching certificate and remain valid throughout the certificate processing window after your student teaching internship. |
| Liability Insurance | $7-49 | One year | Before first practicum and must be valid each time you are enrolled in practicum, pre-internship, and student teaching internship. |
| WSU Name Badge
|
$10
$59-165 |
N/A
No expiration date |
Before first practicum. All students participating in practicums, pre-internships, and student teaching internships must wear their name badge during field experiences and classroom visits.
Undergrad & postbac students must register prior to enrollment in pre-internship (TCH LRN 490 for elementary and TCH LRN 469 for secondary) and pass their major endorsement content exam(s) prior to the student teaching internship. MIT secondary education students who meet endorsement requirements with their bachelor’s degree must pass prior to admission. Candidates completing a secondary endorsement different from their undergraduate degree must register prior to enrollment in MIT 571 and pass the exam(s) prior to the student teaching internship. MIT elementary education students must pass prior to admission. |
| *ACTFL Oral | $93-165 | No expiration date | Prior to student teaching internship. |
| *ACTFL Written | $93 | No expiration date | Prior to student teaching internship |
| Teaching Certificate | $93 | N/A | End of student teaching internship. |
*Required for Spanish and French
Financial Help
- Financial Aid – students are able to request additional funding by completing the Revision Request form listed on the Office of Financial Aid’s website. Your request should be noted in the “special fees” section of the form. Financial Aid will require you to submit a copy of the bill showing you owe the fees or a statement showing a zero balance.
- WEST/NES Vouchers – Washington State University is given a limit number of vouchers for the WEST-B, WEST-E and NES exams. To request a voucher complete a financial assistance request form.
More questions?
Teacher Education – Professional Certificate
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Testing. Out-of-state applicants applying for the professional teacher certificate in lieu of the residency shall successfully complete all required testing:
- Out-of-state applicants must pass a basic skills test (WEST-B) within 12 months of receiving a temporary permit*. See teacher assessments.
- Out-of-state applicants must pass an endorsement content knowledge test (WEST-E) within 12 months of receiving a temporary permit*. See teacher assessments.
* Teachers with valid National Board Certification are exempt from certain testing requirements. Please see teacher assessments for details.