Non-Degree Licensure programs
The program requirements listed in this catalog fulfill the requirements for the Oregon Teacher License that were in effect at the time this catalog was printed. Legal responsibility and authority for the licensing of teachers in the State of Oregon are vested in the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. Candidates seeking an Oregon Teacher License must satisfy the rules and regulations in effect at the time of application for licensure.
General regulations
Scope of Program
The planned program must total a minimum of 45 credit hours and may include both upper-division and graduate-level courses. At least 12 hours of 600 level graduate courses must be utilized in the program.
Transfer Credit
Not more than 24 hours of approved credit may be transferred from other accredited institutions. Credits earned through correspondence study will not apply to the program.
Time Limit
Only those courses completed within a period of five years before the actual completion of the program will apply. This includes all residence and transfer credit. However, credit earned between five and seven years prior to completion of the program may be approved by petition.
Residence Requirement
At least 21 credit hours must be completed on the WOU campus.
Maximum Load
A maximum load in a regular term is 16 credit hours unless a petition to carry an overload has been approved by the Registrar prior to or during the week of registration.
Procedures
Teachers planning to accomplish licensure through a non-degree program should:
- Complete procedures to be admitted to the university as a graduate student.
- Initiate procedures through the Graduate Office to plan a program with an adviser.
- File an approved program contract with the Graduate Office. At least 24 credit hours of the official program must be completed after approval of the program.
- Upon completion of program requirements, initiate change-of-license procedures with the College of Education.
Early Intervention/Special Education I and II
Mission
To train and prepare teachers in the special education needs of children from birth to age 8, 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; and
- Have the specialized knowledge, skill and attitudes needed to collaborate with parents and professionals to promote the needs of the child.
The Initial License and Endorsement Program in Early Intervention and Special Education I and II can lead to either an endorsement added to an elementary or special education license, or a license in special education. A program adviser can discuss in more detail information regarding licensing requirements.
Students completing any of these endorsements, with adviser approval, may also complete an M.S. in Education program with a specialization in either Early Childhood Education or Special Education.
EI/SE Endorsement - I (21 credits)
Early Intervention Core (12)
SPED 671 Introduction to Early Inter/Early Childhood Special Education (3)
SPED 677 Assessment, Curriculum and Intervention Strategies in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (3)
SPED 609 Practicum: Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education – or – SPED 610 Internship EI/ECSE (6)
Students having an Elementary Education Endorsement or Special Education license will complete nine credits from:
Special Education Core (9)
Courses selected with consent of adviser – or – Early Childhood Core (9) Courses selected with consent of adviser.
EI/SE Endorsement II (46 credits)
Early Intervention Core (16)
SPED 607 Seminar: Professional Development FSFE (1)
SPED 609 Practicum: Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education – or – SPED 610 Internship EI/ECSE (6)
SPED 646 Law and Special Education (3)
SPED 671 Intro to Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (3)
SPED 677 Assessment, Curriculum and Intervention Strategies in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (3)
Special Education Core (9)
Courses selected with consent of adviser.
Early Childhood Core (9)
Courses selected with consent of adviser.
Final Supervised Field Experience: EI/ECSE (12)
SPED 639 Final Supervised Field Experience – or – SPED 610 Internship EI/ECSE
Standard Endorsement in Early Intervention and Special Education I and II (15 credits)
SPED 682 Contemporary Issues: Special Education (3)
Electives (12) Selected with program adviser
Special Educator
Mission
To prepare teachers to work with students with mild or severe disabilities. Candidates who successfully complete this program fulfill the requirement of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) and are eligible for initial teacher licensure in Oregon.
Learning Outcomes
- Effectively teach students who have a wide range of cognitive, physical, emotional and learning disabilities.
- Understand current, credible research findings on disability, instruction, assessment and behavior management.
- Provide enriched learning opportunities for students with disabilities in self-contained classrooms, resource rooms or general education classrooms.
The Special Educator initial endorsement program prepares teachers to work with students with mild disabilities and students with severe disabilities. The Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) requires each student to be authorized to teach at one of two age-level authorizations: (1) early childhood/elementary or (2) middle school/high school. All endorsement course work taken at the 500 level can be included in the M.S. in Education: Special Education degree.
The Special Educator I program is designed for teachers who hold or are eligible to hold a valid initial teaching license. Six quarters of full-time training are required to complete the program.
The Special Educator II program is designed for students who do not hold a teaching license. Six quarters of full-time training are required to complete this program.
Common Core (Special Educator I and II) (33 credits)
SPED 418/518 Survey of Special Education (3)
SPED 620 Content Reading and Instructional Planning (3)
SPED 622 Reading Remediation (3)
SPED 623 Behavior Support (3)
SPED 625 Assessment for Instruction (3)
SPED 628 Mathematics Remediation (3)
SPED 632 Medical Aspects of Low Incidence Disabilities (3)
SPED 633 Low Incidence Disabilities Methods (3)
SPED 636 Managing Communication Systems (3)
SPED 642 Standardized Assessment (3)
SPED 646 Law and Special Education (3)
Special Educator I
Early Childhood/Elementary Authorization (18 credits)
SPED 607 Seminar: Academic (1)
SPED 609 Practicum: Academic – or – SPED 610 Internship (3)
SPED 607 Seminar: Low Incidence (1)
SPED 609 Practicum: Low Incidence – or – SPED 610 Internship (3)
SPED 639 Student Teaching: EC/Elementary Special Educator – or – SPED 610 Internship (3)
SPED 607 Seminar: FSFE (1)
SPED 671 Intro to Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (3)
SPED 677 Assessment, Curriculum and Intervention Strategies in EI/ECSE (3)
Middle School/High School Authorization 18 credits)
SPED 447/547 Partnerships in Special Education (3)
SPED 607 Seminar: Academic (1)
SPED 609 Practicum: Academic – or – SPED 610 Internship (3)
SPED 607 Seminar: Low Incidence (1)
SPED 609 Practicum: Low Incidence – or – SPED 610 Internship (3)
SPED 639 FSFE: Middle/High School Special Educator – or – SPED 610 Internship (3)
SPED 607 Seminar: FSFE (1)
SPED 672 Transition and Self-Determination (3)
Special Educator II
Early Childhood/Elementary Authorization (27 credits)
PSY 621 Development Psychology: Concepts and Applications (3)
SPED 607 Seminar: Academic (1)
SPED 609 Practicum: Academic – or – SPED 610 Internship (3)
SPED 607 Seminar: Low Incidence (1)
SPED 609 Practicum: Low Incidence – or – SPED 610 Internship (3)
SPED 639 Student Teaching: EC/Elementary Special Educator – or –
SPED 610 Internship (9)
SPED 607 Seminar: FSFE (1)
SPED 671 Intro to Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (3)
SPED 677 Assessment, Curriculum and Intervention Strategies in EI/ECSE (3)
Middle School/High School Authorization (27 credits)
PSY 620 Learning and Memory for Instruction (3)
SPED 447/547 Partnerships in Special Education (3)
SPED 607 Seminar: Academic (1)
SPED 609 Practicum: Academic – or –
SPED 610 Internship (3)
SPED 607 Seminar: Low Incidence (1)
SPED 609 Practicum: Low Incidence – or –
SPED 610 Internship (3)
SPED 639 FSFE: Middle/High School Special Educator – or –
SPED 610 Internship (9)
SPED 607 Seminar: FSFE (1)
SPED 672 Transition and Self-Determination (3)
Note: This Endorsement may be part of an initial teaching license, or an add-on endorsement to an existing teaching license. Although some course work may be completed at the undergraduate level, it requires graduate study for completion. The graduate program content may be incorporated into a Master’s Degree Program which requires 9-12 additional credits. The Special Educator Endorsement qualifies teachers to serve students with both mild and severe disabilities. This endorsement was formerly called the Handicapped Learner and Severely Handicapped Learner Endorsements.