Teaching Endorsements

Washington State University’s online endorsements give you the knowledge and credentials you need to advance your career.

Each program consists of WSU courses selected and assembled by a WSU college. The programs are offered to both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students. In either case, students will first have to be admitted to the University. 

Special Education Teaching Endorsement

WSU’s Special Education Endorsement program provides the skills and knowledge required for those who want to teach students with special needs in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

The endorsement courses are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels (except Spec Ed 301). Students can complete just the endorsement courses or if taken at a graduate level, the graduate courses may be applied to the Master’s (EdM) in Special Education.

Students wishing to complete just the endorsement courses and students interested in the EdM program must complete the add-on endorsement application, available on the College of Education website, and follow standard WSU Graduate School and department admission procedures.

Financial aid is available to students enrolled in five or more credits and who are applying those credits towards a graduate degree. Learn more about financial aid.

  • Spec Ed 301 – Education of Exceptional Children
  • Spec Ed 401/501 – Teaching Students with Disabilities
  • Spec Ed 402/502 – Assessment of Students with Disabilities
  • Spec Ed 403/503 – Secondary Education for Students with Disabilities
  • Spec Ed 404/504 – Professional Skills in Special Education
  • Spec Ed 409/509 – Early Childhood Special Education
  • Spec Ed 421/521 – Inclusion Strategies for Special Education Teachers
  • Spec Ed 471/571 – Effective Assessment and Instruction in Reading for Diverse Learners
  • Spec Ed 499 – Evidence Portfolio (consult advisor)

FallSpringSummer
Spec Ed 301Spec Ed 301Spec Ed 301
Spec Ed 401/501Spec Ed 402/502Spec Ed 403/503
Spec Ed 404/504Spec Ed 403/503Spec Ed 404/504
Spec Ed 409/509Spec Ed 409/509
Spec Ed 421/521Spec Ed 471/571Spec Ed 421/521
Spec Ed 499Spec Ed 499Spec Ed 471/571

To review course descriptions and required course materials, visit the Schedules of Classes where you’ll find terms listed for Global Campus. Select the term you wish to enroll in, then select SPEC_ED from the list of prefixes. Courses offered that term will be listed. Select the More Information link listed with the course to review course details as they are confirmed, as well as required textbooks, links to past syllabi, and more.


Reading Endorsement

Please note: The College of Education is currently not admitting new students to the reading endorsement program.

“There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.”

–Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

WSU’s Reading Endorsement program provides educators with the skills and strategies necessary to better support the learning and development of P-12 students. This program is designed for current and future educators who wish to expand their areas of endorsement or learn more about contemporary literacy research and practice.

WSU’s completely online program embeds curriculum development, pedagogical skills, and diagnostic assessment in tandem with tutoring experience. It helps educators understand a range of important topics, including using literacy assessments to plan instruction, implementing a wide range of instructional strategies across the disciplines, and understanding the cognitive, social, and cultural dimensions of literacy.

19 graduate credits

  • TCH LRN 528 – Literacy within the Disciplines
  • TCH LRN 544 – Teaching Children’s and Young Adult Literature
  • TCH LRN 546 – Teaching Writing
  • TCH LRN 551 – Psychology of Reading
  • TCH LRN 553 – Assessment and Instruction for Reading
  • TCH LRN 558 – Improving Reading Comprehension K-12

After successfully completing these courses, candidates must also pass the reading NES in order to apply for the add-on endorsement.

Primary Contact:

Deanna Day-Wiff 
Associate Professor 
dday-wiff@wsu.edu