Being a special educator is one of the most rewarding education careers. The field of special education is characterized by passionate, loyal education professionals who are not afraid to advocate for their students.
Program Overview
Enhance opportunities for students with disabilities.
Our fully online Western Special Education programs are grounded in the Colorado State Standards for Special Education and Teacher Quality Standards. We teach our students to focus on the whole child and to tailor students’ experiences by collaborating with teaching teams, administration and families. Each course includes the philosophical and legal perspective of “the why” alongside the practical application of the primary roles and tasks of a special educator. The program includes multiple pathways for graduate students.
Enhance your own education and earn professional credit at Western’s Summer Teacher Institute.
Leading the field
Western’s graduates are No. 1 in Colorado for producing more than expected growth in student learning, according to state-level data.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
Special Education Licensure (24-27 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 611 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDUC 612 | Assessment and Programming | 3 |
| EDUC 614 | Inclusivity with Collaboration | 3 |
| EDUC 615 | Student Teaching for Students with Exceptionalities (Can be taken twice for credit) | 3 |
| EDUC 630 | Inclusivity in the Content Areas | 3 |
| EDUC 631 | Inclusive Methods and Strategies for Literacy | 3 |
| EDUC 632 | Overview of Special Services | 3 |
| EDUC 633 | Differential Literacy Assessment | 3 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Post-Licensure Coursework (3-6 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| One to two EDUC 600 level electives | 3-6 | |
EDUC 603 | Content Area Learning | |
EDUC 606 | Reading and Writing in the Content Area | |
EDUC 607 | Rethinking Learning in the 21st Century | |
EDUC 608 | Methods and Strategies of Effective Writing Instruction | |
EDUC 613 | Methods and Strategies of Effective Mathematics Instruction | |
EDUC 621 | Creating Effective Online & Blended Learning Environments | |
EDUC 622 | Using Data to Plan for Online & Blended Learning and Targeted Interventions | |
EDUC 624 | Managing to Differentiate | |
EDUC 628 | Pedagogies for English Learners | |
EDUC 629 | Inclusion and English Learners | |
EDUC 682 | Shaping School Culture | |
EDUC 683 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Education | |
EDUC 694 | School Law for Teachers | |
EDUC 695 | Resource Management in Education | |
EDUC 696 | Engaging External Stakeholders | |
| Total Credits | 3-6 | |
Capstone Coursework (7 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 680 | Research and Critical Inquiry for Leaders | 4 |
| EDUC 693 | Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 7 | |
Degree Plan
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| EDUC 611 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDUC 614 | Inclusivity with Collaboration | 3 |
| EDUC 615 | Student Teaching for Students with Exceptionalities (only initial licensure) | 3 |
| EDUC 630 | Inclusivity in the Content Areas | 3 |
| EDUC 632 | Overview of Special Services | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDUC 612 | Assessment and Programming | 3 |
| EDUC 615 | Student Teaching for Students with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDUC 631 | Inclusive Methods and Strategies for Literacy | 3 |
| EDUC 633 | Differential Literacy Assessment | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDUC 680 | Research and Critical Inquiry for Leaders | 4 |
| EDUC XXX | EDUC Elective (only added-endorsement) | 0-3 |
| Credits | 4-7 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDUC 693 | Capstone | 3 |
| EDUC XXX | EDUC Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 37-40 | |
Careers
Take the first steps toward your dream career.
Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.
The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
How It Works
Discover the route built for you.
The M.A. in Special Education includes multiple pathways for those seeking an initial licensure, added-endorsement or alternative licensing for non-licensed or already-licensed graduate students.
Each of our asynchronous, online courses has been built to match four sets of teacher preparation standards in the state of Colorado: Colorado Special Education Generalist Standards, Special Education Professionalism Standards, Culturally-Linguistically Diverse Teacher Standards and the Teacher Quality Standards.
In addition to coursework, you will complete a master’s capstone project and create a special education milestone electronic teaching portfolio.
Our program provides a yearlong-residency model complete with a coaching team both locally, in the resident’s K-12 school and district, regionally for initial licensure students and through Western with a clinical coach.
Help students succeed.
The state and country need well-prepared, knowledgeable special educators who are experts in both pedagogy and the legal dimensions of serving students designated as requiring special services.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
Education Department
Department Co-Chairperson
Brooke Hanks, M.A.Senior Lecturer
Department Co-Chairperson
Tara Mason, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Inclusive Education
Undergraduate Assistant
Barbara Woerner, B.Ed.Placement Coordinator, Undergraduate Program Advisor
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Crawford Hall 101
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
