Special Education Certificate

Certificate Overview

Many licensed general education teachers are facing the challenge of meeting the needs of students with disabilities in their classrooms. BW's special education certificate is designed to provide the tools and skills needed in the general education classroom to better serve learners with disabilities.

BW's focus on applied learning means you will be able to make immediate use of what you learn. The special education certificate program is entirely online and offers flexibility for working teachers.

This certificate is beneficial for:

Licensed teachers seeking to meet the challenge of serving the needs of learners with disabilities in their classrooms.
Administrators who are interested in the needs and services for students who have disabilities. As leaders in their buildings/district, a large percentage of time is spent working with others on issues related to the needs of learners with disabilities. Thus, understanding their needs is essential.

Note: The certificate is not endorsed by the state of Ohio, nor does it confer any official state licensure.

Questions?

Contact:
Dr. Debra Janas
Professor and Coordinator, Intervention Specialist Program
djanas@szsfddz.com

Special Education Certificate Curriculum

The certificate includes a sequence of three courses (9 credit hours) and is offered completely online. It is designed for K-12 teachers as well as administrators who are interested in understanding the support required for students with disabilities. These courses may also be applied toward the Advanced Practice Minor as part of the MAEd degree.

EDU 573 Education of Children with Special Needs (Fall, Spring, Summer 1)
EDU 574 Introduction to Students with Mild/Moderate Educational Needs (Fall, Spring)
EDU 576 Classroom Management for Students with Mild/Moderate Educational Needs (Fall)

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Application Process

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New students may enroll in this certificate program throughout the year in the fall, spring and summer terms. It is recommended that students apply for admission at least four weeks prior to the term they wish to enroll.

Baldwin Wallace University welcomes each student's application for admission and will carefully review the academic preparation and achievements of each applicant. All aspects of an application are considered and used as the primary means for informing an admission decision. The admission committee recommends candidates have a GPA of 3.0 or above.

Required Application Materials

Application

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Official College/University Transcripts

Please submit ALL official college/university transcripts. To be considered official, transcripts sent directly from the college/university attended to the Baldwin Wallace office of admission.*

Electronic transcripts should be sent to admit@szsfddz.com
Paper copies should be sent to:
Admission Office
Baldwin Wallace University
275 Eastland Road
Berea, OH 44017

*BW transcripts for current or former students will automatically be obtained by the office of admission at no cost.

Colleges and Universities Attended Outside the United States

Candidates with degrees earned from foreign institutions must have a course-by-course evaluation completed with degree verification by an approved credential evaluation service as part of the BW application process.

BW has approved the following credential evaluation services: Education Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, SpanTran and World Education Services (WES). This evaluation must be sent directly to BW from the credential evaluation service to be considered official.

Recommendations

Using the recommendation form within the online applicant portal, please provide two professional recommendations from people qualified to evaluate your background and potential for success.
Recommenders should be familiar with your achievements and goals. We encourage recommendations to come from employment/internship managers or supervisors, college professors, or academic advisors.
Please note: Recommendations will not be accepted from any member of your family, a spouse/partner, or close friend, even if they work in the same field.

Teaching Certificate or License

Once your application has been submitted, the admission committee will check with the Ohio Department of Education to verify each applicant's certificate or licensure history.

Criminal Record

When applying for admission as a graduate student to BW School of Education teacher licensure programs, candidates are asked whether they have ever been found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony that was not expunged or sealed. Candidates with a criminal record that has not been expunged or sealed may not be eligible for admission to the teacher licensure programs at Baldwin Wallace University. If you are already a licensed teacher, please note that an expunged or sealed record may impact a teacher's eligibility to qualify for an Ohio teaching license following completion of the program. Eligibility for a teaching license varies by state and may be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the professional teacher licensing board in that state.

School Partnership Program

Many teachers enrolled in BW's graduate education programs are employed by school districts that participate in the BW School Partnership Program, providing them with a simplified application process and other benefits. Please see if you qualify for more information on streamlined application processes.

2024-25 Tuition

MAEd Program for K-12 Educators	Per Credit Hour
MAEd Graduate Courses	$580

Unlike many graduate education programs, BW does not charge additional per-credit-hour fees.

Tuition Discounts

School Partnership Program

Baldwin Wallace offers a discounted tuition at $525 per credit hour for educators in school districts that are premier partners. Learn more about our school partnership program.

BW Graduate Alumni Award

BW alumni who enroll in this program are eligible for the BW Graduate Alumni Award.

Financial Aid

Loans for Graduate Students

Graduate students in the School of Education may pursue financial support in the form of educational loans.

If this is your first graduate degree, or if you earned a graduate or professional degree unrelated to K-12 education, you may consider pursuing federal direct student loans, graduate PLUS loans, or private education loans.

Graduate students who have already earned a master's degree related to K-12 education may utilize private education loans, which often have interest rates and repayment options that are as competitive or perhaps even better than the federal loans.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Qualifying students can borrow up to $20,500 in Direct Student loans per academic year. Students must apply through the FAFSA annually. To qualify for a loan, you must be enrolled at least half time: for first time MAEd students, this equates to at least three credit hours per term. View more information on federal direct student loans.
Federal Graduate and Professional Student Plus Loans: In addition to federal direct student loans, first time MAEd students may also be eligible for the Federal Graduate and Professional Student PLUS Loan Program. Students must apply through the FAFSA annually and have non-adverse credit.
Private Education Loans: Private education loans are a financing option for teachers who choose to not utilize federal loans or do not qualify for the federal loans due to already having earned a master's degree related to K-12 education. The FAFSA is not required to pursue these loans, but a credit check is typically required. Due to the wide-variety of private education loan offerings it is advised that you should compare multiple lenders prior to making your decision. To assist with this process, Baldwin Wallace offers resources and online comparison tools for selecting and applying for a private education loan.