Early Intervention/Special Education I Endorsement

Mission

To train and prepare teachers in the special education needs of children from birth to age eight and to teach strategies for meeting those needs.

Learning outcomes

Apply practical knowledge in the education of infants and toddlers, preschoolers and primary aged children.
Be thoroughly familiar with children’s developmental patterns and open to innovative ways of maximizing these pupils’ potentials.
Have the specialized knowledge, skill and attitudes needed to collaborate with parents and professionals to promote the needs of the child.

The EI/SE programs incorporate standards based on developmentally appropriate practices (National Association for the Education of Young Children) and recommended practices (Council for Exceptional Children-Division for Early Childhood). Professional practices guide the WOU EI/SE students in their acquisition of knowledge and skills in following key areas of direct services:

Assessment
Child-focused practices
Family-based practices
Interdisciplinary models
Technology application
Application of recommended practices of program assessment and improvement

Students complete the EI/SE programs prepared to serve as specialists and leaders in the field of Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education.

Core Courses

An add-on endorsement program for people with elementary, special education or K-12 licenses that consists of 21 credits of coursework and practica. All candidates complete a 12-credit early intervention core and a nine-credit special education core or a nine-credit early childhood education core, depending on license and experience at entry. The early intervention core includes two, three-credit practica that give students experience across the age range of the endorsement (i.e., birth through primary level).

Additional graduate coursework can be taken for standard or continuing licensure requirements and includes advanced coursework in special education and/or early childhood education as determined with an adviser and can also be part of a Masters of Science in Education: Special Education program.

Early intervention core (12)

SPED 671 Foundations of Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-8 yr) Credits: 3
SPED 677 Collaborative Services in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-8 yr) Credits: 3
SPED 609 Practicum: Field Experience Credits: 1-15 or
SPED 610 Internship Credits: 2-12

Note:

Students having an Elementary Education Endorsement or Special Education license will complete nine credits from: Special education core (9) or early childhood core (9)