Special Education
The special education program at Saint Martin's provides graduates with the education and training to work in settings such as an inclusionary classroom, a resource room, or a self-contained special education class. Completion of required courses for the teaching major will lead to an institutional recommendation that the student be endorsed in special education by the state of Washington.
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Why Saint Martin's University?
The University's special education program provides a rigorous educational environment in which faculty members work closely with their students. Small classes allow students to receive individual attention from faculty with extensive experience as University educators and in the kindergarten-12 education system.
Special Education program highlights:
- National accreditation
- Approved by the Washington State Board of Education
- 97% of our graduates find teaching jobs
- Study abroad opportunities open doors to teaching internationally
- Top employers includes public schools in Washington, Hawaii and California
- Educational endorsements aligned with most majors offered on campus
- Ongoing experience in schools throughout the program
Internships
Before commencement, you participate in a semester-long supervised student teaching internship to help you launch a successful teaching career.
Saint Martin's matches you with a local school to get hands-on experience:
- planning and teaching lessons
- managing the classroom
- preparing for your teacher certification exam
...all under the guidance of a mentor teacher!
Special Education Requirements
Students must apply to the College of Education and Counseling's special education program before taking any education courses at the 300 level and up. This is a Washington State requirement. Information on the application process can be obtained from the College of Education and Counseling main office in Old Main 476.
To ensure proper sequencing of courses, students planning to enter the program must consult an advisor from the College of Education and Counseling prior to registering for any Saint Martin's courses.
To contact the College of Education and Counseling program advisor email education@stmartin.edu or call 360-438-4333.
Core curriculum requirements
Please see the core curriculum section of the catalog.
Special Education program requirements
- ED 304: Practicum I (1)
- ED 312: Assistive Technology for All Learners (3)
- SED 359: Introduction to Exceptionalities (3)
- ED 362: Professional Issues and Abuse (1)
- ED 406: Planning and Assessment (1)
- ED 408: Practicum II (1)
- ED 414 -OR- HIS 326: Pacific Northwest History (3)
- ED 426: Methods of Teaching Language Acquisition (3)
- ED 395/495: Special Topics, Ed Elective (3)
- SED 461: Instructional Strategies for All Learners (3)
- SED 463: Management Strategies for Exceptional Learners (3)
- SED 465: Transition to Adulthood for Exceptional Learners (3)
- SED 466: Assessment of Exceptional Learners (3)
- SED 467: Special Education Law, Abuse, and the IEP (3)
- SED 469: Seminar and Practicum in Special Education (3)
Student Teaching Requirement
(This SED 493 course section is a SED version of the ED 494 course required in the Elementary and Secondary majors. It is not in addition to the ED 494 section.)
- SED 493: Internship: Special Education (10)
- ED 498: Teacher Internship Seminar (2)
Pre-professional courses
- ED 204: Culture, Equity & Education (3)
- ED 205: Learning and Development (3)
NOTE: The minor in SED does not include a complete endorsement in special education.
Upper-division courses
- SED 359: Introduction to Exceptionalities (3)
- SED 463: Management Strategies for Exceptional Learners (3)
- SED 465: Transition to Adulthood for Exceptional Learners (3) -OR- alternative SED elective for all majors except secondary education
- SED 466: Assessment in Exceptional Learners (3)
- SED 467: Special Education Law, Abuse and the IEP (3)
- SED 469: Seminar and Practicum in Special Education (3)
Visit the undergraduate academic catalog for a complete breakdown of special education requirements.
- Diversity in educational systems
- Technology for the classroom
- Educational law and issues of abuse
- Issues and trends in English language learners and bilingual education
- Secondary literacy
- Arts and movement
- Philosophy of reading instruction
Special Education at a Glance
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts
- Program Type
- 4+1 Accelerated
- Major
- Minor
- Campus
- Main (Lacey)
- Type of Instruction
- In Person
- Resources
- What can I do with this major?
