Program Details
City University of Seattle offers an Endorsement in Special Education for certified teachers who want to become highly qualified to work with special needs students in preschool through grade 12. Our courses build your knowledge base and pedagogy in the following areas:
- human growth and development
- special education law
- assessment and evaluation tools
- inclusion and specialist paradigms
- Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
- teacher and community collaboration
You can apply to CityU’s special education endorsement program if you are an actively certified teacher or administrator in Washington State. You may also complete the program as part of your initial certification in our Bachelor of Arts in Education.
- Flexible learning: This endorsement is offered via mixed mode with convenient in-person classes and supplemental online learning so you can continue teaching while working toward further certification.
- Practitioner faculty: Our expert special education faculty will bring your learning to life with real world examples.
- Career advancement: When you complete a special education endorsement, you improve your job prospects and, in some cases, your earning potential. The mindset of a special education teacher is needed throughout many parts of today’s educational landscape.
When you complete CityU’s special education endorsement you’ll need to pass the Washington Educator Skills Test (WEST-E ®) to become highly qualified in Washington State.
Learn more by talking with our CityU advisors.
Bryan Carter
Q&A with Bryan Carter, Albright School of Education Chair of Undergraduate Programs
Q: What is your terminal degree in and where did you get it from?
A: Ph.D. in History from Oklahoma State University.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: I spend time with my dog Ellis and write history.
Q: What classes do you teach?
A: Field Experiences, World History, Diversity, Current Issues in Education
Q: Why did you decide to start teaching?
A: My father was a teacher of 41 years, and while I tried to avoid the career, I ended up following in his footsteps.
Q: Why do you enjoy teaching at CityU?
A: I like the flexibility our programs provide students.
Q: What might you tell a student who was thinking of taking one of your classes?
A: I teach my students to think critically and realize there are no easy answers.
Q: Any fond CityU memories that you can share?
A: Graduation is always exciting!
Q: What might you tell a student who was thinking of taking one of your classes?
A: Be confident, be prepared, and have fun!
Q: What is something that you have learned from end-of-course evaluations that you applied later on?
A: I’ve worked on responsive feedback to my students so they get more out of my classes.
Leanna Aker
Q&A with Leanna Aker, Associate Program Director
Q: What is your terminal degree in and where did you get it from?
A: I have a Ph.D. in Education from Seattle Pacific University. My dissertation explored practices that best engage middle school science learners.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: I enjoy reading, cooking, and competing my dogs in agility.
Q: What classes do you teach?
A: I’ve taught a variety of courses in teacher preparation here at CityU, including STEM, assessment and internship courses.
Q: Why did you decide to start teaching?
A: All through high school, I was known as the person who explains anything to anyone, and thus served a sort of informal “tutoring” role. I found this really satisfying and realized that helping others to succeed could be a long and rewarding career.
Q: Why do you enjoy teaching at CityU?
A: I enjoy helping pre-service teachers navigate the challenges of balancing and integrating field work and coursework. I love watching our students grow throughout the course of their programs.
Q: What might you tell a student who was thinking of taking one of your classes?
A: I always ask my students to actively shift between two roles in class: that of a learner, and that of a future teacher. I want them to learn from the experiences in class, but also to reflect on how they felt as a learner in the class.
Q: Any fond CityU memories that you can share?
A: Watching students’ capstone presentations is so rewarding… It is amazing to see how much students grow over the course of their programs.
Q: What might you tell a student who was thinking of taking one of your classes?
A: I would tell a student that they are going to be involved in a class with practical application in the classroom. I try to model evidence-based teaching practices in my courses.
Q: What is something that you have learned from end-of-course evaluations that you applied later on?
A: Students want to know that they have spent time on meaningful assignments, and they want meaningful feedback. I keep striving to ensure that my courses have practical application and are relevant to teaching contexts.
