Douglas Olsen
Wilkes University is an inclusive learning environment that offers a Dual Special Education Certification program to prepare candidates to work with special needs students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. The program focuses on developing educators who are competent, caring, and ethical, with the skills to meet the diverse learning needs of all students. Students in the program will complete courses such as Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience, Behavior Management with Field Experience, and Assessment in Special Education, gaining hands-on experience in both special education and regular education settings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Dual Special Education Certification |
| Mission | To develop competent, caring, and ethical educators who are able to meet the diverse learning needs of all students across a variety of age, grade, and ability levels. |
| Preparation | Facilitate competence in areas of academic, social, and emotional growth, and methods of maximizing a student’s capabilities through diagnostic and instructionally adaptive practices. |
| Certification | Special Education is a concentration that students may add to their initial program in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Middle Level Education, or Secondary Education to qualify for dual certification. |
| Courses | ED 180 – Educational Psychology, EDSP 226 – Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours), EDSP 227 – Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours), EDSP 300 – Assessment in Special Education, EDSP 302 – Special Education Methods |
| Student Teaching | Candidates will complete half their student teaching in a special education setting and half in a regular education setting. |
What You'll Learn
Dual Special Education Program
Wilkes University offers a Dual Special Education Program to develop educators who are able to meet the diverse learning needs of students across varying age, grade, and ability levels. The program's mission is to facilitate competence in areas of academic, social, and emotional growth, and methods of maximizing a student’s capabilities through diagnostic and instructionally adaptive practices.
The Dual Special Education Certification program prepares candidates to work with special needs populations in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades (PK-12). Students will follow the requirements for an initial certification program in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Middle Level Education, or Secondary Education, with a few course substitutions. Special Education is a concentration that students may add to their initial program to qualify for dual certification.
The Elementary and Early Childhood Education Major with Dual Special Education Certification requires students to complete the following courses in addition to the Elementary and Early Childhood program requirements:
- ED 180 – Educational Psychology (a final course grade of 2.5 and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 are required before proceeding to ED 190 and ED 191)
- EDSP 226 – Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 – Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 – Assessment in Special Education (this course replaces the PK-4 ED 344 – Assessment in Early Childhood and Elementary Education)
- EDSP 302 – Special Education Methods
All EDSP courses will substitute for the PK-4 ED 363—School, Family, and Community course. Special Education certification candidates will complete half of their student teaching in a special education setting and half in a regular education setting.
The Middle Level Education Major with Dual Special Education Certification requires students to complete additional courses while also fulfilling the Middle Level Education program requirements:
- EDSP 226 – Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 – Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 – Assessment in Special Education
- EDSP 302 – Special Education Methods (replaces the Middle Level ED 375—Middle Level Methods and ED 380—Content Area Literacy courses)
Similar to the Elementary and Early Childhood Education Major, Middle Level Education special education certification candidates will complete half of their student teaching in a special education setting and half in a regular education setting.
The Secondary Education Minor with Dual Special Education Certification requires students to complete additional courses on top of their specific program in the major:
- EDSP 226 - Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 - Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 - Assessment in Special Education
- EDSP 302 - Special Education Methods
Like the other two majors, Secondary Education special education certification candidates will complete half of their student teaching in a special education setting and the other half in a regular education setting.
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Special Education Certification
Wilkes University offers a Dual Special Education Certification program that prepares candidates to work with special needs students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade (PK-12). The program's mission is to develop competent, caring, and ethical educators who can meet the diverse learning needs of students across various age, grade, and ability levels.
Course Requirements:
To obtain the Special Education Certification, students must complete specific course requirements in addition to the initial certification program in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Middle Level Education, or Secondary Education. The following courses are mandatory:
- ED 180 – Educational Psychology: Students must earn a final course grade of 2.5 and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 before proceeding to ED 190 and ED 191.
- EDSP 226 – Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 – Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 – Assessment in Special Education: This course replaces the PK-4 ED 344 – Assessment in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.
- EDSP 302 – Special Education Methods: This course replaces Middle Level ED 375 and ED 380 for Middle Level Education majors.
Student Teaching:
Graduation and Certification Requirements:
To graduate and obtain certification, candidates must achieve their major and minor GPA requirements, successfully complete student teaching, and provide evidence of passing scores on all relevant PECT or PRAXIS II tests. Additionally, they must complete the Wilkes University application for graduation and the PDE Application Form PDE 338G for Pennsylvania Teacher Certification.
The Special Education Certification program at Wilkes University equips future educators with the skills and knowledge to effectively teach and support students with special needs. The program's blend of coursework and practical experiences ensures that graduates are well-prepared to meet the diverse needs of their future students.
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Special Education courses
Wilkes University offers a Dual Special Education Certification program that prepares candidates to work with special needs students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade (PK-12). The program's mission is to develop competent, caring, and ethical educators who can meet the diverse learning needs of students across various age, grade, and ability levels.
Course Structure
The Special Education Certification program at Wilkes University can be added as a concentration to an initial program, allowing students to qualify for dual certification. The specific course structure depends on the student's chosen major.
Elementary and Early Childhood Education Major with Dual Special Education Certification
Students majoring in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, with a concentration in Special Education PK-12, will complete the following additional courses:
- ED 180 – Educational Psychology (with specific grade requirements to proceed to ED 190 and ED 191)
- EDSP 226 – Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 – Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 – Assessment in Special Education (replaces the PK-4 ED 344 course)
- EDSP 302 – Special Education Methods (replaces the PK-4 ED 363 course)
Special Education certification candidates will complete half of their student teaching in a special education setting and the other half in a regular education setting.
Middle Level Education Major with Dual Special Education Certification
Students majoring in Middle Level Education, with a concentration in Special Education PK-12, will complete the following additional courses:
- EDSP 226 – Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 – Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 – Assessment in Special Education
- EDSP 302 – Special Education Methods (replaces the Middle Level ED 375 and ED 380 courses)
Similar to the Elementary and Early Childhood Education major, Middle Level Education students will also complete half of their student teaching in a special education setting and the other half in a regular education setting.
Secondary Education Minor with Dual Special Education Certification
Students minoring in Secondary Education, with a concentration in Special Education PK-12, will complete the following additional courses:
- EDSP 226 - Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 - Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 - Assessment in Special Education
- EDSP 302 - Special Education Methods
Like the other majors, Secondary Education minors will also divide their student teaching experience between special education and regular education settings.
Admission Requirements
Students preparing for teacher certification at Wilkes University must be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP). The criteria for formal admission include:
- Completing 48 semester hour credits, including 6 credits of Mathematics and 6 credits of English.
- Achieving a minimum GPA of 2.5 to register for specific courses (ED 190 and ED 191) and a cumulative GPA of 2.85 to proceed to 200-level ED courses.
- Achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program and continue in 300-level courses.
- Taking and passing a test of basic skills (PAPA or Praxis Core) or achieving specific SAT scores.
- Maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 after formal admission.
- Submitting specific documentation, including clearances and application forms.
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Special Education PK-12
Wilkes University offers a Dual Special Education Certification program that prepares candidates to work with special needs students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade (PK-12). The program's mission is to develop competent, caring, and ethical educators who can meet the diverse learning needs of students across various age, grade, and ability levels.
Students enrolled in the Dual Special Education Certification program will follow the requirements for an initial certification program in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Middle Level Education, or Secondary Education, with a few permitted course substitutions and additional requirements for the Special Education program. Special Education is a concentration that students may add to their initial program to qualify for dual certification.
Elementary and Early Childhood Education Major with Dual Special Education Certification (PK-12)
Candidates must complete the following courses in addition to the Elementary and Early Childhood program requirements:
- ED 180 – Educational Psychology (a minimum final course grade of 2.5 and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 are required to proceed to ED 190 and ED 191)
- EDSP 226 – Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 – Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 – Assessment in Special Education (replaces the PK-4 ED 344 course)
- EDSP 302 – Special Education Methods (replaces the PK-4 ED 363 course)
Special Education certification candidates will complete half of their student teaching in a special education setting and half in a regular education setting.
Middle Level Education Major with Dual Special Education Certification (PK-12)
Candidates must complete the following courses in addition to the Middle Level Education program requirements:
- EDSP 226 – Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 – Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 – Assessment in Special Education
- EDSP 302 – Special Education Methods (replaces the Middle Level ED 375 and ED 380 courses)
Similar to the Elementary and Early Childhood Education major, Middle Level Education candidates will also complete half of their student teaching in a special education setting and the other half in a regular education setting.
Secondary Education Minor with Dual Special Education Certification (PK-12)
Candidates minoring in secondary education and concentrating in Special Education PK-12 must complete the following courses in addition to their specific program in the major:
- EDSP 226 - Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 - Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 - Assessment in Special Education
- EDSP 302 - Special Education Methods
Like the other majors, Secondary Education candidates will also divide their student teaching experience between a special education setting and a regular education setting.
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Special Education PK-8
Wilkes University offers a Dual Special Education Certification program that prepares candidates to work with special needs students from pre-kindergarten to grade 8 (PK-8). This program can be combined with a major in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, allowing students to develop the skills necessary to meet the diverse learning needs of all students across different age groups.
The Special Education PK-8 program at Wilkes University focuses on both academic and practical aspects of special education. On the academic side, students are required to complete additional courses specific to Special Education, including:
- ED 180 – Educational Psychology
- EDSP 226 – Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 227 – Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours)
- EDSP 300 – Assessment in Special Education
- EDSP 302 – Special Education Methods
These courses provide a strong foundation in special education practices, including diagnostic and instructionally adaptive methods, to maximize student capabilities.
Additionally, the program emphasizes hands-on experience through field placements. Students begin observing in classrooms as early as their freshman year and gradually progress to teaching lessons and gaining experience in various school settings. This practical approach ensures that students not only understand the theoretical aspects of special education but also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world settings.
The Dual Special Education Certification program at Wilkes University is designed to produce competent, caring, and ethical educators who are well-equipped to work with students with special needs in the PK-8 age range. By combining academic coursework with practical field experiences, the program offers a comprehensive approach to preparing future educators to meet the diverse needs of their students.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Wilkes University offers a Dual Special Education Certification program that prepares candidates to work with special needs students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The program focuses on academic, social, and emotional growth, as well as methods to maximise a student's capabilities through diagnostic and instructionally adaptive practices.
To be eligible for the Dual Special Education Certification program, students must follow the requirements for an initial certification program in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Middle Level Education, or Secondary Education, with a few course substitutions and additional requirements for the Special Education program.
In addition to the requirements for the initial certification program, students in the Dual Special Education Certification program must complete the following courses: ED 180 – Educational Psychology, EDSP 226 – Special Education Methodology II with Field Experience (20 hours), EDSP 227 – Behavior Management with Field Experience (20 hours), EDSP 300 – Assessment in Special Education, and EDSP 302 – Special Education Methods.
Students pursuing the Special Education Certification at Wilkes University will complete half of their student teaching in a special education setting and half in a regular education setting. This provides a rich background of practical knowledge and allows them to teach lessons and learn about various school environments.
The mission of the Special Education Certification program at Wilkes University is to develop competent, caring, and ethical educators who can meet the diverse learning needs of students across different age groups, grade levels, and ability levels. The program aims to facilitate competence in areas of academic, social, and emotional growth, and maximise student capabilities through diagnostic and adaptive practices.
