Interested persons must apply to the Department of Special Education. If accepted, students begin the program in the summer. The licensure course work (approximately 41 credit hours) is completed in two years. This part-time program is designed for working teachers. During the school year students take two courses a term. Whenever possible, coursework is scheduled during the school year for the same weeknight from 4:00 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. Coursework is also scheduled during the summer. It is possible to complete the program as a full-time student if desired.

Students in the Added Endorsement in Special Education complete two practicum and two work samples as part of their supervised field experiences. In Oregon, special educators must complete preparation for teaching students with mild to severe disabilities and the program addresses the continuum of student’s instructional needs. Depending on the type(s) of teaching license an individual has been granted by TSPC and their previous supervised student teaching experiences, students in this program may or may not need to complete student teaching in special education. Faculty advisors assist students in determining whether or not student teaching in special education is needed in order to be licensed in special education by TSPC. Students in this program may petition to fulfill their supervised field experience requirements at their work site.

The following diagram gives an overview of the scope and sequence of the Added Special Educator Endorsement program: