College of Education

Promote Personal Growth for Students with Disabilities

The Michigan Department of Education endorses special education teachers in discrete educational categories of disability, four of which are offered at EMU:

1. Autism Spectrum Disorders
2. Cognitive Impairment
3. Emotional Impairment
4. Learning Disabilities

Depending on the disability, a student may have difficulty with cognitive processing, academics, behavior, life skills, language and communication, socialization, memory, and mental health.

As a Special Education (K-12) major, you will choose one of these concentrations with an option to add a second. No matter which concentration(s) you choose, you will focus on effective teaching and learning practices that promote academic, social-emotional, and personal growth for students with disabilities.

• Option 1 - Autism Spectrum Disorders
  Autism Spectrum Disorders is a neurologically-based disability causing persons to process information differently. ASD primarily impacts communication, socialization, and academics. This concentration prepares students for an SV endorsement.
• Option 2 - Cognitive Impairment
  A student qualifies for the cognitive impairment educational category based on intelligence, achievement, and adaptive behavior assessments. As a Michigan teacher with this SA endorsement, you can teach across the spectrum of cognitive impairment, from mild to severe multiple disabilities.
• Option 3 - Emotional Impairment
  This concentration, preparing for an SE endorsement, focuses on students identified as having emotional and behavioral disorders, those who experience mental health challenges, and those whose behavior puts them at risk for failure in school, home, and/or the community.
• Option 4 - Learning Disabilities
  Learning disabilities are associated with processing deficits that may impact a person’s ability to master various academic skills, including basic reading skills, reading fluency, reading comprehension, written expression, math calculation, math problem-solving skills, oral expression, and listening comprehension. Pursuing this concentration prepares you for an SM endorsement.

What You Will Learn

This major prepares students to successfully teach individuals with disabilities in various K-12 settings. Students will master the skills necessary for designing, implementing, and monitoring academic and behavioral interventions that allow youth to succeed in school and transition to independent adult living. Throughout the program, there is an emphasis on evidence-based interventions and practices. Students will further learn to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with parents/families/caregivers, general education teachers, related service providers, administrators, consultants, and community service agencies. Field experiences connect theory to reality. Students will be competent to assess, analyze data, and develop and implement individual education programs upon graduation.

Opportunities

Majors complete 100 hours of clinical experience with youth with disabilities before their special education student teaching placement. Students will be allowed to observe and work with learners in center-based programs, self-contained classrooms, resource rooms, and inclusive settings in urban, rural, and suburban districts. Most of these experiences will be associated with specific classes and assignments.

As noted above, an option exists for majors to complete an additional 15-16 credit hours of coursework toward a second special education endorsement at the same time as their initial special education endorsement (pending a passing score on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification).

Requirements in Michigan

In Michigan, special education endorsements must be paired with a general education content area of specialization. Therefore, students pursuing this major must also major in either Elementary - Early Childhood Teaching and Learning (with Certification) [BS] or Teaching and Learning (with Secondary Certification) [BS].

For Secondary Certification, in addition to satisfying the requirements of this major and Teaching and Learning (with Secondary Certification) [BS], students must also complete a secondary education major in a discipline (three majors in total). Students are highly encouraged to discuss the cost and time needed to complete this option with an advisor before beginning coursework.