Department of Special Education

Chairperson: Kimberly Weber

Master of Education in Special Education

Program Director: Kimberly Weber

The Department of Special Education offers preparation for special educators within schools and other agencies. Candidates gain core competencies and then specialize in areas of interest. Individual field experiences are available to meet specialized needs. Three tracks of study are offered: Track One in Functional Analysis, Track Two in Early Childhood Special Education, and Track Three in General Special Education (usually completed for candidates who have an endorsement in another area and are seeking to add an endorsement in special education). The Department of Special Education offers teaching endorsements in Special Education (pre-school-12) and Early Childhood Special Education (birth-3). After successfully completing nine credits of the program with a 3.00 GPA or higher in each course, candidates submit an application for candidacy. This application requires an advisor recommendation and faculty review.

Admissions

Each applicant must submit the following materials to the School of Education Graduate Admissions Office:

• 1) A completed application form (see the School of Education website: http://www.gonzaga.edu/soe/grad) and non-refundable fee.
• 2) A written statement of purpose addressing the applicant’s interest in graduate studies that relates to some area in the field, assessing the applicant’s current strengths, and describing what the applicant hopes to gain from a master’s degree program.
• 3) Two letters of recommendation sent directly from the recommending persons to the School of Education Graduate Admissions Office using the Confidential Recommendation form (see the School of Education website).
• 4) A resumeé.
• 5) An official transcript from each college or university attended (international applicants must submit foreign transcripts in the original language and an English copy), final transcripts must bear a posted Bachelor's degree.  Only degrees and courses from a regionally accredited institution will be accepted.
• 6) The official score from the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) general aptitude test or the Miller Analogies Test (must be less than five years old). This requirement may be waived if the applicant has an advanced degree, or graduated from the undergraduate Special Education program at Gonzaga University, or graduated from another program at Gonzaga University earning a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
• 7) Submission of an official TOEFL score of at least 550 (minimum score of 80 if taken via internet) by each international applicant who graduated from a foreign college or university and whose native language is not English.
• 8) Submission of a financial declaration form and supporting documentation by each international applicant.
• 9) An interview with the Special Education faculty.

Prerequisite

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required.

Program Outline: 32 credits

Certification requirements for the State of Washington frequently change. It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the certification officer in the School of Education for the most current information regarding state certification.

Additional requirements will include:

• 1) Completion of the Character and Fitness form.
• 2) WSP/FBI clearances.
• 3) Passing the Washington State West B (basic competency test) if the student is not already certified in the State of Washington.
• 4) Acceptance into teacher certification.
• 5) Completion of all other State of Washington certification requirements, such as passing the WEST E in each endorsement area the candidate is completing.

Electives

If a student previously took the equivalent of a core course or a course from the chosen track, then an elective course from the following special education courses may be substituted with the approval of the academic advisor, chairperson, and the dean.

Master of Initial Teaching (MIT) in Special Education

Program Director: Anjali Barretto

The Department of Special Education offers preparation for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree to seek certification in Special Education along with a masters degree. Candidates who enter the Master of Initial Teaching in Special Education focus on learning competencies for understanding students with disabilities, policies, and procedures regarding special education laws and compliance issues. Coursework and practicum experiences are linked in such a manner that candidates apply knowledge immediately in applied settings. The Department of Special Education offers initial teaching endorsements in Special Education (pre-school-12) and Early Childhood Special Education (birth-3).

Admissions

Each applicant must submit the following materials to the School of Education Graduate Admissions Office:

• 1) A completed application form (see the School of Education Website: http://www.gonzaga.edu/soe/grad) and non-refundable fee.
• 2) A written statement of purpose addressing the applicant’s interest in graduate studies that relates to some area in the field, assessing the applicant’s current strengths, and describing what the applicant hopes to gain from a master’s degree program.
• 3) Two letters of recommendation sent directly from the recommending persons to the School of Education Graduate Admissions Office using the Confidential Recommendation form (see the School of Education website).
• 4) A resumeé.
• 5) Two official transcripts from each college or university attended (international applicants must submit foreign transcripts in the original language and an English copy), final transcripts must bear a psted Bachelor's degree.  Only degrees and courses from a regionally accredited institution will be accepted.
• 6) The official score from the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) general aptitude test or the Miller Analogies Test (must be less than five years old). This requirement may be waived if the applicant has an advanced degree or graduated from the undergraduate Special Education program at Gonzaga University or graduated from another program at Gonzaga University earning a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
• 7) Submission of an official TOEFL score of at least 550 (minimum score of 80 if taken via internet) by each international applicant who graduated from a foreign college or university and whose native language is not English.
• 8) Submission of a financial declaration form and supporting documentation by each international applicant.
• 9) An interview with the Special Education faculty.

Prerequisites

1. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required.

2. Passing score on all three areas of the WEST B exam (content tested: reading, math, and writing)

3. Provisional acceptance may be given in some cases for one semester in order for candidates to complete necessary admission requirements.

Program Outline: 46 credits

Certification

In order to be eligible to receive an endorsement, the graduate candidate must be accepted into Teacher Certification. The candidate must also take and pass the necessary content course requirements, pass the WEST E in the specified content area of special education to obtain a Washington State teaching certificate and an endorsement to teach special education (P-12).