Special Education, Unified Special Education K-12 and Elementary/Middle K-9
Graduates of our remarkable program are licensed to teach both special education in K-12 classrooms and general education in K-9 classrooms. Graduates are also uniquely qualified to co-teach with another educator in an inclusive classroom. This is the only program of its kind in the UW System.
Become Confident in Your Classroom Skills
Curriculum throughout the major is designed to provide a unified approach in preparing teacher candidates for the diverse K-12 learning environment. Coursework will help you develop specialized instruction and interventions; make data-based decisions; advocate for early numeracy, mathematics and literacy awareness; provide behavioral support; practice culturally responsive teaching and promote project-based learning and inquiry. In addition to a full semester of student teaching, more than 200 classroom hours will be spent observing and aiding in both special education and general education K-12 classrooms.
Graduates are also uniquely qualified to co-teach with another educator in an inclusive classroom. This is the only program of its kind in the UW System.
Upon completion of the program, you will be prepared to work with all learners, including students with specific learning disabilities, emotional behavioral disabilities, communication disorders, autism, intellectual disabilities, sensory and physical disabilities. You will also be prepared to work with students who are gifted or are learning English as a second language.
Special education and inclusive practices majors also will have multiple opportunities to take their learning to the next level. Through cultural immersions, collaborative student-faculty research and service-learning experiences, you could participate in programming at the Kenai Peninsula school district in Alaska; conduct research and author a journal article or present at a local or national conference; or experience the Scottish special education system firsthand in Scotland. Majors also have the option to add a UWEC certificate in Interprofessional Early Intervention, which allows them to add the Early Childhood Special Education license.
As a graduate of the unified special education, K-12 and elementary/middle K-9 degree, you'll be prepared to teach any child and any young adult in any learning environment — making you highly qualified and extremely in demand.
Program Details
Licensure Information
Completion of teacher preparation programs at UW-Eau Claire meets licensure requirements in Wisconsin. Our programs may not meet requirements in other states. It is very important that individuals seeking licensure in another state obtain the most recent certification/licensure information directly from the state in which they seek employment. Find contact information on each state licensure office here.
Licensure requirements can change at any time. UW-Eau Claire’s Teacher Education Program Office ensures that our programs meet the requirements for licensure in Wisconsin. If you seek licensure in another state, be aware that their requirements could change at any time.
The United States Department of Education requires institutions to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure concerning whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification. Please note:
- Obtaining a Wisconsin Teaching License PRIOR to applying for a teaching license in another state is usually helpful and strongly recommended.
- "Meets requirements" means that a student is eligible for a license with stipulations, typically for 1-3 years, in that state. The stipulations are likely to be specific testing requirements and/or competency through a course or examination. In some instances, additional stipulations might be added.
- Licensure grade levels vary from state to state. Students who are eligible for a specific grade range in Wisconsin may be licensed for a narrower grade range in another state. Each state determines grade ranges for licensing differently.
- State licensure requirements may change at any time. Licensure questions should be referred to the Teacher Education Program Office (tep@uwec.edu).
Students in this program are eligible for two licenses (K-12 Special Education and K-9 General Education)
General Education K-9
The requirements of this program meet the requirements in the following states and territories:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa
The requirements of this program do not meet requirements in the following states or territories:
Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, Washington D. C., Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Cross-Categorical K-12
The requirements of this program meet the requirements in the following states and territories:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa
The requirements of this program do not meet the requirements in the following states and territories:
Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, Washington D. C., Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Through several school-based experiences, practicums, and student-teaching opportunities, you will gain experience working in both general and special education classrooms. This includes the opportunity to work with children in inclusive settings where general education and special education teachers co-teach, as well as an opportunity to help high school students with special needs plan their transition from high school to post-high school.
Expert faculty throughout the major will provide you with knowledge of grade level content as well as special education procedures as outlined by current federal legislation. You'll learn best practices and latest techniques for effective instruction, behavior management, inclusive practices, co-teaching, and intervention. You'll also become familiar with special education law, ethical behavior, and how best to consult and collaborate with parents, school personnel, and agencies.
Explore how different societies educate their youth and gain new ideas about how teachers reach their students by studying abroad. Many UWEC students choose to immerse themselves in other schools and communities early on in their college careers to better understand the world around them. One opportunity, Special Education in Scotland, allows you to travel with your peers and faculty to observe education abroad and learn about another culture.
Blugold Stories
Student teaching through UWEC matched me with my dream job! This photo represents me changing roles from a student at UWEC, to a teacher at EP Rock Elementary in the Hudson School District.
Your education will come to life through research opportunities offered in all areas of study. No matter your interests, the opportunity to explore and discover is available to you.
UW-Eau Claire students, majoring in special education and inclusive practices, developed a sensory room at the Eau Claire Children's Museum. Their research not only gave them real-world experience, but improved their community.
UW-Eau Claire and my amazing support system have pushed me to be the best version of myself, so I can be an inspiration for my future students.
Justthe
facts
Where can the unified special education program lead me after graduation?
Graduates of the unified special education program will hold licenses in K-12 cross-categorical special education and K-9 general education — including preschool (4K) and kindergarten — and will be well-prepared for a variety of specialized jobs. Our graduates go on to become special and general education teachers in both public and private schools. Some grads choose to continue their study in other areas of special education, including child life specialist programs, educational leadership, or administration. Alumni also are qualified to engage in research, develop curricular and instructional materials, or lead in-service teacher training.
Because of an ongoing shortage of teachers — and UW-Eau Claire's long history of producing exceptional teachers — our graduates have no problem finding jobs in Wisconsin and beyond.
Curriculum within the unified special education K-12 and elementary/middle K-9 major will help you meet the needs of all your students in the least restrictive, and most inclusive, environment possible — whether that be in a special education or general education classroom.
Here are a few courses in Special Education, Unified Special Education K-12 and Elementary/Middle K-9 at UW-Eau Claire.
SEIP 200
Introduction to Diverse Learners
Students will be introduced to the unique needs of diverse learners (4K-12) through the lens of Special Education. The identification and characteristics of multiple disability populations (learning, intellectual, emotional, physical, health, etc.) will be presented and discussed. Topics related to identification, services, disability/education law, research, current issues and trends, transition to post-school outcomes, family/parent roles, individual rights, cultural diversity and assistive technology will be addressed. This class meets the Liberal Education requirement of R3.
SEIP 331
Special Education Policies, Procedures, and Planning
This course is designed for students to begin the process of writing and reviewing IEPs for students in special education. Specific IEP forms will be used to demonstrate the procedures while discussing variations in the overall process. As students develop an IEP, the importance of measurable goals and appropriate accommodations/ modifications will be discussed. In addition, topics related to legal procedures, data collection, and collaboration will be addressed.
SEIP 402
Collaboration for Student Success
This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills related to collaboration skills with parents, teachers, agencies and other school personnel that impact students with disabilities. Parent and family relations, conflict resolution, co-teaching practices, Special Education law and ethical behavior will also be presented.
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