When your career success is defined by the success you can create for others, that’s a magical thing. Pursuing a degree in any area of special education is met with challenges, yet provides even greater rewards. The path you choose may have you working with young children, young adults or somewhere in between. The opportunities are endless and the choice is yours!

The special education and inclusive practices department offers the following programs:

1. Adaptive Music Program type: Certificate Delivery: On Campus Campus: Eau Claire Campus

   Our adaptive music certificate is an add-on certificate program for music education majors looking to become more informed and inclusive in their teaching.

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2. Director of Special Education and Pupil Services Program type: Graduate Certificate Delivery: Online

   This 15-credit online certificate program is for those who are ready to step into a leadership role as a director of special education and pupil services.

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3. Special Education, Unified Early Childhood, BS Program type: Major Delivery: On Campus Campus: Eau Claire Campus

   The only program of its kind in this region, this major is a dual-licensure program aimed at supporting Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction guidelines requiring that all students be taught in the least restrictive — and most inclusive — environments possible. Graduates leave with licensure in both early childhood special education and early childhood regular education, and can teach children from birth to third grade.

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4. Special Education, Unified Special Education K-12 and Elementary/Middle, BS Program type: Major Delivery: On Campus Campus: Eau Claire Campus

   Prepare to work with all learners, including those with autism, intellectual disabilities, sensory and physical disabilities, as well as those who are gifted or learning English as a second language. Graduates are licensed to teach special education in K-12 classrooms as well as math, science, social studies and language arts in regular education, K-9 classrooms.

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5. Special Education, Unified Special Education k-12 and Elementary/Middle, Online, Teaching (Transition to Teaching Pathway) Program type: Major Delivery: Online Campus: Eau Claire Campus

   This is a route for nontraditional undergraduate and other adult learners to complete a preparation program and become practicing teachers. The end result of this pathway is eligibility for licensure in both 4k-9 Elementary/Middle Education and 4k-12 Special Education.

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Rigorous program + talented students = top-notch teachers

If you have a strong desire to advocate for all learners, to make success and achievement more accessible at any ability level, and to create stronger communities by equipping every student with skills and confidence to become engaged citizens, a UW-Eau Claire degree in special education and inclusive practices will set you well on that path.

With a nationwide shortage of special educators, early educators and early childhood special educators, no matter which major you choose, your skills and expertise will be in high demand. And with both majors allowing you to teach both special education and regular education, our graduates have no problem finding jobs. In fact, our Blugolds are highly sought after by districts and administrators who understand the incredible levels of school-based experiences our students receive, and the impact our Blugolds have already had in local communities prior to graduation.  

The curriculum throughout the special education and inclusive practices department is designed to be efficient and effective, with most students graduating in four years. Keeping in mind the COEHS mission, Blugold special education students receive teacher preparation rooted in the principles of cultural competency, diversity, technology and theories of collaborative leadership, which results in dual certification. Educators form the bedrock of communities, and our graduates leave here ready to enable all Pre-K-12 students to achieve their goals.