Special Education Teaching Credential Programs

Preliminary Education Specialist Credential in Three Specializations

Specializations Overview

The Preliminary Special Education (Education Specialist) Credential authorizes the holder to teach in specific disability areas of specialization named on the credential. Those are:

Early Childhood Special Education: work with infant, toddler and preschool-age children with disabilities
Mild to Moderate Support Needs: teach students with disabilities in grades K-12, and adults up to age 22
Extensive Support Needs: teach students with a wide range of disabilities in grades K-12, and adults up to age 22

Special Educators in the Spotlight

Early Childhood Special Education Specialization

The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) specialization prepares educators and other professionals to work with infant, toddler and preschool-age children with exceptionalities and their families.

ECSE Course Sequence Options

There are 3 options in the ECSE program:

4-year ECSE ITEP: Integrated Teacher Education Program: a bachelor's plus credential pathway for undergraduate Child Development majors
2-semester ECSE stand-alone credential option
3-semester ECSE stand-alone credential option
4-semester ECSE stand-alone credential option

Mild/Moderate Support Needs Specialization

The Mild/Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) specialization prepares educators and other professionals to work with students with disabilities in grades K-12, and adults up to age 22.

MMSN Course Sequence Options

There are 2 options in the mild/moderate support needs program:

Extensive Support Needs Specialization

The Extensive Support Needs (ESN) specialization includes autism, deaf-blindness, moderate to severe intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, and serious emotional disturbance. It gives you permission to teach in grades K–12 and in classes organized primarily for adults through age 22. Credential holders may teach in:

Resource rooms or services
Special education settings
General education settings
Special schools
Home/hospital settings
State hospitals
Development centers
Correctional facilities
Non-public, non-sectarian schools and agencies
Alternative and non-traditional instructional public school settings other than classroom

ESN Course Sequence Options

There are 2 options in the Extensive Support Needs program:

Advising

Future Students

If you intend to apply, or are in the process of applying, to a credential program and need pre-admission support, contact Dalia Corrigan at [email protected].

Contact your credential advisor (shown below by specialization) for academic advising and program support if you are already enrolled in a credential program.