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
If you are a certified teacher in Washington State, you can apply to this program. Or, you may add it as an emphasis to your bachelor’s in education program for initial certification.
- 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.
Dr. Craig Schieber
A Q&A with Dr. Craig Schieber
Q: What is your terminal degree in and where did you get it from?
A: Doctor of Education from Seattle Pacific University. I majored in Instructional Leadership with an emphasis in Information Technologies.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Direct theater productions, run, read, garden.
Q: Do you teach any classes?
A: Right now I’m just doing field supervision, however in the past I’ve taught technology, curriculum, and assessment classes.
Q: Why did you decide to go into education?
A: I am fascinated by the growth process and the exchange of ideas. Joy comes in seeing and helping people realize their potential and beyond.
Q: Why do you enjoy serving students at CityU?
A: Because most of our students are non-traditional university students I am always honored to help them realize their dreams. These are courageous and strong people, most of whom are in the adult flow of life with responsibilities such as having a family, paying a mortgage, working a job, etc.
Q: What is one thing that you tell students?
A: They will get a relevant, practical education from dedicated practitioners.
Q: Any fond CityU memories that you can share?
A: My fondest memories come from times I have supervised and observed our students interning and student teaching in classrooms. Watching them learn our teacher’s art of reaching out and helping and nurturing kids’ natural curiosity is the best kind of memory.
Q: What might you tell a student who was thinking of attending CityU?
A: They will get a relevant, practical education from dedicated practitioners. They should be prepared and open to grow. They will come out of our program a different person. In the program we will work with them as they prepare to join a proud profession, which once they join, they wear 24 hours a day. It is a calling and a full life commitment.
Q: What is something you’ve learned from end-of-course evaluations that you applied later on?
A: This is one that has been confirmed by course evaluations. The most common cause of student dissatisfaction in classes is lack of feedback from instructors on student work. That is our major focus to find ways to get student expectations and instructor performance closer together on this all-important instructional experience.
Maria Gross
A Q&A with Maria Gross, Academic Program Director
Q: What did you study, and where did you graduate from?
A: Ed.D. Educational Leadership, Higher Education, University of Washington
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Travel, cook, read
Q: Why do you enjoy working at CityU?
A: I enjoy CityU because of its practitioner-based model through which application of concepts is foundational to education.
Q: What’s one thing you always tell your students that may or may not relate to your class?
A: I love teaching and expect and welcome them to challenge me and our education system.
