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Paula Kohler, Interim Chair
Brooks Applegate
Kristal Ehrhardt
Paul Farber
Monica Harris
George Haus
Gunilla Holm
Brian Horvitz
Robert Leneway
Elena Lisovskaya
Gerald Pillsbury
Shaila M. Rao
G. Thomas Ray
Liliana Rodriguez 
Sarah Summy
Elizabeth Whitten

The Department of Educational Studies offers an undergraduate program for the preparation of special education teachers, service, and elective courses in educational technology, and service courses in educational foundations. The special education program prepares teachers in the area of learning disabilities and endorsements in either emotional impairments or cognitive impairments at the K-12 level of special education. Students completing the special education undergraduate curricula and who successfully complete the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification earn an Elementary Provisional Teaching Certificate in one of the above areas of specialization.

Special Education

Admission 
Students who desire to major in Special Education must be admitted to the pre-education curriculum of the College of Education. This status, however, does not assure admission to the Professional Education Curriculum of the department. The selection of students to the Professional Education Curriculum in Special Education occurs in January each year after review of all applications by a departmental faculty committee.

Each year the Department of Educational Studies establishes the maximum number of new students who can be admitted to each of the special education curricula for the following year. The minimum criteria for admission consideration include:

1. Completion of the Western Michigan University College of Education Pre-Education Curriculum.
2. Attainment of junior status (at least 56 semester hours completed or in process at the time of application).
3. Attainment of a minimum 2.5 grade point average. 
4. Achievement of passing scores on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) - Basic Skills Section.
5. Completion of a minimum of 30 clock hours of documented contact with a person(s) with disabilities. Students must contact the department to secure the appropriate forms for documenting this experience or to secure assistance in meeting this requirement.
6. Submission of an application for admission to the Special Education Professional Education Curriculum by the announced date.

All completed applications will be evaluated using the following specific criteria:

1. Forty percent weighting based on grade point average at the time of application.
2. Thirty percent weighting based on performance on the Basic Skills Test (state required literacy test).
3. Ten percent weightings each for semester hours completed, under-represented group membership, and other (subjective) criteria.

Students selected for admission will comprise a cohort which will begin taking courses in the Special Education sequence the following fall semester. Courses must be taken in the prescribed sequence. Six semesters (course work plus intern teaching) are required to complete the Professional Curriculum in Special Education.

Further information regarding admission requirements and procedures may be obtained by directly contacting the department.

Advising
The Department provides advising to all students who wish to major in Special Education, whether or not they are currently enrolled in the Department’s curricula. Students are expected to meet with College of Education advisors and Special Education advisors early in their college careers.

Intern Teaching
Students complete three, ten-week intern teaching assignments, one in General Education, one in Learning Disabilities, and one in Emotional Impairments or Cognitive Impairments. Intern teaching placement is made only within prescribed areas in Southwest Michigan, Detroit area, and Germany. Intern Teaching placement in or near home school districts should not be anticipated or expected.

Special Education Curricula

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts

State Elementary Provisional Certificate
Minimum Hours Required 130 hours

University General Education Requirement (40 hours)

Baccalaureate Writing Requirement

Academic Minor (20-24 hours)

Endorsement Major

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