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Course schedules for Special Education

Our special education programs teach you the skills to work with students with disabilities in US schools. You will work with several mentors as you learn the skills and responsibilities of a public school special education teacher.

Courses are 100% online, including Zoom video teleconferencing to learn from members of your cohort, expert faculty, and professionals in the field. Because the program is online, it accommodates full-time work. You'll only need to consider scheduling the Zoom meetings.

  • Master of Arts in Education
  • Endorsement Pathway
  • Alternative Endorsement Pathway
Master of Arts in Education

The Master of Arts in Education: Special Education is a 31-credit program. Upon completion, you may apply to the Colorado Department of Education for an endorsement as a Special Education Generalist.

You can complete this program in 31 credit hours, building off your existing teaching license. If you do not already have a teaching license, you may add 6 credits of coursework to the MAE program (for a total of 37) and complete 800 hours of student teaching to prepare you for initial licensure.

Upon completion, you may apply to the Colorado Department of Education for an endorsement as a Special Education Generalist.

Below is the course schedule for the MAE in Special Education and additional licensure courses. Please note where the sequence differs based on enrollment in an even or odd year.

Fall 1 (8 credits)

  • ED 671: Foundations of Special Education (4 credits)
  • Even year enrollment - ED 672: Identification & Assessment of Students with Disabilities (4 credits)
  • Odd year enrollment - ED 674: Literacy Methods for Students with Disabilities (4 credits)

To add Initial Licensure

  • ED 605: Field Based Practicum (3 credits)

Spring 1 (8 credits)

  • ED 673: Family & Professional Relations and IEP Development (4 credits)
  • ED 676: Support Systems for Significant & Behavioral Needs (4 credits)

To add Initial Licensure

  • ED 615: Student Teaching (3 credits)

Summer (4 credits)

  • ED 600: Introduction to Graduate Research (3 credits)
  • ED 781: Graduate Research (1 credit)

Fall 2 (8 credits)

  • Odd year enrollment - ED 672: Identification & Assessment of Students with Disabilities (4 credits)
  • Even year enrollment - ED 674: Literacy Methods for Students with Disabilities (4 credits)
  • ED 675: Mathematical Interventions for Students with Disabilities (4 credits)

Spring 2 (3 credits)

  • ED 680: Capstone Project (3 credits)

View course descriptions in catalog

Endorsement Pathway

The Special Education Endorsement is a 24-credit program, including 240 internship hours in a special education classroom, or engaged in administrative or professional development activities. If you already have a teaching license, you may want to add a special education endorsement to your teaching qualifications. Through our program, you will be able to monitor progress for students with disabilities, advocate for students with disabilities, plan transitions for a variety of settings, and process and identify strategies for Response to Intervention (RtI).

Fall 1 (8 credits)

  • ED 671: Foundations of Special Education (4 credits)
  • Even year enrollment - ED 672: Identification & Assessment of Students with Disabilities (4 credits)
  • Odd year enrollment - ED 674: Literacy Methods for Students with Disabilities (4 credits)

To add Initial Licensure

  • ED 605: Field Based Practicum (3 credits)

Spring 1 (8 credits)

  • ED 673: Family & Professional Relations and IEP Development (4 credits)
  • ED 676: Support Systems for Significant & Behavioral Needs (4 credits)

To add Initial Licensure

  • ED 615: Student Teaching (3 credits)

Fall 2 (8 credits)

  • ED 675: Mathematical Interventions for Students with Disabilities (4 credits)
  • Even year enrollment - ED 674: Literacy Methods for Students with Disabilities (4 credits)
  • Odd year enrollment - ED 672: Identification & Assessment of Students with Disabilities (4 credits)

View course descriptions in catalog

Alternative Endorsement Pathway

The Special Education Alternative Endorsement is a 12-credit program that allows someone who has been hired as a special education teacher to earn a Special Education endorsement (and initial licensure when needed) through an alternative pathway. The Alternative Certification pathway may be completed in 1 or 2 years, depending on the individual pace of progress through course content. It is a flexible program that allows candidates to determine the number of credits that can be taken each semester with a minimum of 3 credits per semester. 

 

If you are pursuing initial licensure, ED 605 is an additional 3-credit course and is offered each fall semester.  

 

Candidates must be hired into a special education position and secure a Statement of Assurance from the school/district. Candidates will receive guidance and support from mentors as they work full-time as a teacher of record while completing accompanying coursework in the special education alternative certification pathway including initial licensure coursework if needed. Through Fort Lewis’ program, candidates will gain skills in IEP development, progress monitoring, advocating, transition planning, behavior management, working with a variety of students, and various assessment strategies.  

 

The Colorado Department of Education offers this emergency pathway to assist school districts who are unable to fill special education teaching positions with a licensed special education teacher. It is a rigorous program that requires concurrent employment as a special education teacher-of-record while completing intensive alternative certification coursework. 

 

Fall

  • ED 677: Special Education Alternative Licensure I (3 credits minimum, course can be repeated)

Spring

  • ED 678: Special Education Alternative Licensure II (3 credits minimum, course can be repeated)

View course descriptions in catalog

A note about summer semesters

Completing an intensive summer graduate course requires approximately 50-60 hours per week. Be prepared for a full-time commitment.

You are responsible for in-person or synchronous virtual class meetings, independent work, small-group discussions, and individual conferences.

​While independent assignments have flexibility, the compressed nature of these courses requires fast turnaround and precise sequencing.