Special Education: High-incidence Disabilities M.Ed. and Certification
Priority deadline January 5th
Applications accepted until June 1st, 2024
What you can earn
Duration
Credits earned
Format
Time commitment
Upcoming deadline
Championing high-incidence inclusion
The Special Education in High-Incidence Disabilities (SEHI) program equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to support students with learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other conditions that are commonly encountered in educational settings.
In this program, you'll be part of a supportive cohort, progressing through the program together, which provides a sense of community and collaborative learning. You'll delve into educational foundations, special education, assessment, and practicum experiences. You'll also spend time in special education classrooms in the Seattle area, gaining invaluable real-world exposure to different special education contexts.
All SEHI graduates earn their master's in Special Education. We offer two other pathways that support your academic and career goals:
- M.Ed. + initial special education teaching certification (2 years)
- For students who need an initial special education teaching certificate
- Enables the completion of your general education reading certification simultaneously, meeting Washington state requirements
- M.Ed. + special education endorsement (1 year)
For students who already hold a WA special education teaching certificate
- M.Ed. only (1 year)
For students with a WA special education teaching certificate and a special education endorsement
Curriculum
Overview
The SEHI program takes a comprehensive approach to learning, immersing students in a supportive cohort structure that balances academic coursework with invaluable real-world experience in special education classrooms. Over the course of 1-2 years (depending on your pathway), you'll delve into educational foundations, special education, assessment and practicum experiences.
- 87 credits are required for the initial certification pathway
- 45 credits are required for the endorsement pathway
Courses
The M.Ed. in SEHI-LED requires 60 credits. All course choices are negotiated with your adviser. There is limited flexibility due to state teaching competency requirements, and most classes in the SEHI program are required. If you have completed previous special education coursework, consult your adviser for a possible waiver of requirements.
- 6 credits in Educational Foundations
- 25 credits in Special Education
- 12 credits in Assessment & Research Methodology
- 17 credits in assignments in Special Education (e.g. practicum, internship)
- Initial certification pathway
Students completing the initial certification will also complete a reading endorsement. The course work for the special education certification and reading endorsement can be completed in 6-7 quarters (including summer).
- Quarter 1: Classes 3-4 days/week, 10-15 hours/week in school placement
- Quarter 2: Classes 3-4 days/week, 10-15 hours/week in school placement
- Quarter 3: Classes 3-4 days/week, 10-15 hours/week in school placement
- Quarter 4: Intensive summer reading endorsement program (3-5 days/week)
- Quarter 5: Classes 2-3 days/week, 10-15 hours/week in school placement (Master's exam)
- Quarter 6: Student teaching: 40 hours/week at school (edTPA)
- Special education endorsement pathway
Students adding a special education endorsement to their existing Washington state certification can complete the program in 4 quarters (including summer).
- Quarter 1: Classes 3-4 days/week, 10-15 hours/week in school placement
- Quarter 2: Classes 3-4 days/week, 10-15 hours/week in school placement
- Quarter 3: Classes 3-4 days/week, 10-15 hours/week in school placement
- Quarter 4: Classes 2-3 days/week
Admission requirements and process
Materials
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Your bachelor’s degree can be in-progress when applying but must be completed before the program starts.
- Unofficial transcript(s) with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Include one from each institution from which you've earned a degree and one from every institution you have attended in the previous 5 years.
- Your transcripts must include your name, coursework and degree (if completed)
- If you are offered admission, the UW Graduate School will request an official transcript from your most recent degree earned
The UW Graduate School requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0, or 3.0 for your most recent 90 graded quarter credits (60 semester credits). However, we review your application holistically. If your GPA is below 3.0, contact us at edinfo@uw.edu for advice on how to strengthen your overall application by connecting with a Graduate Admissions advisor.
- Two letters of recommendation
During the online application process, you will be given instructions for adding your recommenders and getting their letters submitted electronically. All recommenders must submit their letters online.
- Resume/vita
A current academic and professional resume or vita is required. In addition to educational degrees and professional experience, you should include a listing of all relevant awards, publications, presentations or other achievements that will help us evaluate your application.
- Statement of Purpose
The admissions committee uses your statement of purpose, along with other evidence, to determine whether your goals are well-matched with our programs. Your statement should address goals, relevant experience, future plans and how the desired specific program meets your needs. Be sure to include personal experiences that have prepared you for the challenge of graduate school, topics like:
- Scholarly interests
- Career goals
- Your match for the program
- Faculty interests
Your statement should be 1-2 pages, double-spaced.
- Personal history statement (optional)
While optional, you can add to your application by submitting a personal history statement with each application. This statement should address your intellectual growth and development, inclusive of and beyond your academic goals. Speak to topics like:
- Educational, cultural and economic opportunities and disadvantages you've experienced
- Ways these experiences affected the development of your special interests, career plans and future goals.
- Any additional topics requested on a specific program's page
Statements should be no longer than two pages long. And while there are no standard formatting requirements, we encourage double-spaced text with a legible font.
- WEST-B: Basic skills test
You must include basic skills test scores with your application.
Most applicants take the Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic (WEST-B) for their basic skills test. In lieu of WEST-B, you may also use reading, writing and math subtest scores from the following providers:
- Praxis I
- CBEST
- ACT
- Older scores that do not include a writing subtest can be used for reading and math, but must be supplemented with a new writing test
- Call 319-337-1270 to order your ACT score report, to request that your scores be sent to University of Washington, Seattle (code 4484)
- SAT
- Older scores that do not include a writing subtest can be used for reading and math, but must be supplemented with a new writing test
- Call 866-756-7346 and ask that your scores be sent to University of Washington, Seattle (code 4854)
You can upload your score report when completing your application. Official scores are only needed if you don’t have a score report or if you haven’t previously submitted scores to UW as an undergraduate.
Submitting
- Gather all required documents
- Visit the Graduate School website
- Log into your account or create a new profile if you are a first-time applicant
- Complete all steps in application process and upload your documents
- Pay the nonrefundable $85 application fee
- You may request a fee waiver during the application process
- Submit your application
Next Steps
International
We value and welcoming applications from international students! If you are applying from outside the United States, there are additional requirements and application materials.
- Prior degree requirements
- At minimum, you must have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree (a four-year degree from an institution of recognized standing)
- Evaluation of your degree will be based on:
- The national system of education in the foreign country
- The type of institution
- The field of study and level of studies completed
- Transcripts
- International transcripts must be submitted in the original language.
- Your transcript should include date of graduation and title of the awarded academic degree
- If your transcript is not in English, you must also provide a certified English translation
- You do not need to have your transcript evaluated for the degree by an agency
- English language proficiency
Per UW Graduate School policy, you must submit a demonstration of English language proficiency if your native language is not English and you did not earn a degree in one of the following countries:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Canada
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Trinidad and Tobago
The following tests are accepted if the test was taken fewer than two years ago:
- TOEFL
- Minimum score: 80
- Recommended score: 92+
- The UW's 4-digit code is 4854
- IELTS
- You must request from the center where you took the test that your scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system (E-TRF) to the following address:
- University of Washington All Campuses, Organisation ID 365, Undergrad & Graduate Admis, Box 355850, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States of America
- Minimum score: 6.5
- Recommended score: 7.0+
- School information for submission:
University of Washington, All Campuses
Undergraduate & Graduate Admission
Box 355850
Seattle, WA 98195
- You must request from the center where you took the test that your scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system (E-TRF) to the following address:
- Duolingo
- Minimum score: 105
- Recommended score: 120+
- Follow the instructions on the Duolingo website to submit your scores
- Financial ability
If apply and are offered admission to UW, you will need to submit a statement of financial ability.
Costs and funding
Estimated Costs
We are a tuition-based program. Estimated tuition rates are based on your residency:
- Washington state residents: $19,584 per year
- Out-of-state students: $35,352 per year
Estimates are subject to change and may differ due to course load and summer quarter enrollment. Estimates include building fees, technology fees, U-Pass, etc. Additional program-specific fees are not included in this estimate.
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