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Special Education

Program Information

The Special Education Certification Program in Mild Interventions at IPFW is a teacher preparation program for those professional wanting to educate students with Mild Disabilities.  IPFW students, who complete the program, are eligible for Mild Interventions certification through the State of Indiana which includes Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation and Emotional Handicaps.

This special education program includes coursework dealing with characteristics of students with Mental Retardation, Learning Disabilities, and Emotional Handicaps. Additionally, the coursework addresses current best practices of cognitive and behavioral methodologies in the inclusive classroom, as well as differentiated instruction in the general education classroom.  The coursework is balanced by courses in consultation & collaboration, transitions, standardized assessment, behavior management, inclusion, and trends & issues in Special Education.

There are three options to obtain the Mild Interventions Certification:

  1. Undergraduate Certification: Satisfactorily complete 26 credit hours of undergraduate courses in special education. Undergraduate students must also complete a degree in elementary or secondary education.
  2. Graduate Certification: Satisfactorily complete 24 credit hours of graduate courses in special education.
  3. Master of Science in Education with a Major in Special Education: Satisfactorily complete 36 credit hours of graduate courses in special education and research methods.

To learn more about the specific area that meets your needs, click on the link in the upper right hand corner.

Indiana License Types and Coverage

Students are admitted under newly adopted rules established by the Indiana Professional Standards Board (the agency that governs teacher education in the state of Indiana). These rules are referred to as Rules 2002. In order for a student to receive the Mild Intervention Certification, you must hold a current general education license.

The Mild Intervention license will be limited to the coverage (grade level) of the individual’s current license. That is, if a teacher enters the program with certification in elementary education, the license the teacher receives in Mild Intervention is limited to teaching at the elementary level. This will ensure the individual meets the “Highly Qualified” definition as set out in “No Child Left Behind”. However, the “Highly Qualified” status for secondary candidates will be determined by current licensed content areas (i.e., Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies) or by the student’s school corporation.  In order to extend the coverage of their special education license (i.e., beyond the elementary or secondary level) additional coursework and/or practicum would be required.

Applying for a License

Upon completion of all degree and course requirements, and application procedures, candidates submit their application materials to the Director of Licensing in Neff 234. The completed application packet along with the appropriate fees must be returned to the director for processing.  Information about the new state licensing framework and standards for educational professionals may be found on the web site of the Indiana Professional Standards Board (www.doe.state.in.us/dps/).