More than one hundred years old, Western Colorado University is a public university that offers 100+ four-year degrees, as well seven master's track programs, five of which are accelerated five-year programs. In 2017, Forbes magazine designated Western Colorado University as one of the top 100 institutions in the West and in 2019, Western received an $80 million dollar gift from alumnus Paul Rady to partner with CU Boulder to create a world class school of Computer Science and Engineering in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Sitting atop the world at 7,702 feet, Western was named three times by Elevation Outdoors magazine as the "Top Adventure School in the West." Having an average class size of fourteen, Western offers a one of kind opportunity for world class education in a small town environment.
Western student Justine Chang won TEACH Colorado's $1,000 "Shape the Future" scholarship. See her reason for teaching below!
Our inclusive-focused special education programs are grounded in the Colorado State Standards for Special Education and Teacher Quality. Each course includes the philosophical and legal perspective of “the why” alongside the practical application of the primary roles and tasks of a special educator. We have eight courses in our special education licensure program with a year-long student teaching residency.
Our Special Education Teacher Candidates are from a wide range of pathways entering our online special education program. In our initial licensure program, candidates are either (1) traditional residents working 24 hours per week in a special education classroom or (2) alternative special educators working full-time. In our added endorsement program, we have pathways for already-licensed teachers. Our special education candidates are either (1) alternative full-time teachers in special education or (2) adding their special education endorsement while maintaining their role as a general education teacher. If students would like to earn their master’s degree, Western has two master's degree pathways depending on the student’s teaching background.
For 2022-2023, Western Colorado University and Fort Lewis College are partnering through a CEEDAR Grant to provide intensive mentor and paraprofessional training along with a technology incentive package for paraprofessionals enrolling in Western's special education teacher licensure programs. Please contact Dr. Tara Mason, tmason@western.edu, for more information.
Students at Western Colorado University have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with Western Colorado University to see if you can, too!
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Description
Grants, Stipends, Scholarships
Donald P. Timm Scholarship: For Graduate students who are degree-seeking, demonstrate financial need and maintain a minimum of 3.0 grade point average. Eight to ten scholarships of up to $1,000 are available to students enrolled in the licensure year of the program. Two to three scholarships of up to $500 are available to students who have earned their teaching license and are pursuing a Master's degree in Education.
Exceptional Resident Award: For those students seeking licensure who stand out as promising teachers. Exhibits curiosity and is innovative in lesson design and delivery. Recipients receive recognition at graduation with a cord and reimbursement of up to $500 for travel expenses to attend graduation at Western Scholarship of up to three graduate credits to be used towards completion of a master's degree at Western.
Education Department Scholarships: Awarded on a competitive basis by the Education Department to a limited number of incoming Licensure + M.A. in Special Education students who demonstrate the potential to make outstanding contributions to the profession. Awards range between $500 and $1,500. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a conferred undergraduate or graduate degree, a demonstrated financial need, and a proven dedication to or intention to work with students in rural areas or with underrepresented populations.
Our program layers support for teacher growth and inclusive education practices throughout the yearlong residency that consists of 24 to 27 graduate-level credits. Students in the program have a faculty support team that includes a clinical coach, Western faculty, a mentor teacher, and a regional coordinator. To meet the Colorado State Special Education Teacher Standards, students complete a series of 30 Special Education ePortfolio Milestone projects. Additionally, our special education professionals complete courses with integrated with culturally-linguistically diverse standards, fulfilling the English Learner professional development required for all teachers by CDE. Our program believes in comprehensive support and guides teacher candidates through their yearlong residency with four cycles of SMART goals, which build off of each other and help teacher candidates grow their inclusive special education teaching and learning.
Program Hallmarks
Our program is a practitioner-based program, which means that our students complete a yearlong residency with summative projects assigned in their coursework completed in their K-12 residency classroom settings. We strive to implement best practices within inclusive education, where special education is not a "place" and can be seen as an intensive, collaborative service that meets students' intensive learning needs. Special Education Teacher Candidates complete a series of 30 Special Education ePortfolio Milestone projects. These projects include conducting an Assistive Technology (AT) evaluation, facilitating an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting and evaluation, completing an initial evaluation, a positive behavior support plan, and implementing a three-week differentiated content area curriculum unit collaboratively with a general education teacher. Special Education professionals are the learning leaders in their school buildings. They can provide intensive support for both adults and students on their caseload aligned with best practices towards inclusive schools and systems of support for all learners. Western's Inclusive Special Education program strives to prepare special education professionals for a collaborative and inclusive education model through our hands-on milestone summative projects.
At Western, we believe all K-12 Students deserve an equitable and accessible K-12 education. Our inclusive special education program promotes high-leverage teaching practices grounded in intensive support for all student learning needs, culturally and diversity-focused teaching, collaborative teaming, family partnerships, and differentiation within inclusive classrooms.
Our multiple pathways set Western apart from other programs. All of our residents are supported by a comprehensive team of educational professionals, and receive coaching and support to improve their teaching practice. We also provide a guidebook for each teacher resident with quarterly checklists, SMART goal recommendations, and more to guide them on their teaching and learning journey.
Founded as a normal school in 1918, Western is an 100-plus year institution that emphasizes innovation and is continually evolving—leading the way on Colorado's Western Slope and throughout the state. Western's innovative online license plus master's model allows new teachers to start their careers knowledgeable, ready to teach and lead. We offer programs to support alternative candidates, paraprofessionals looking to obtain their own teaching license, as well as those looking for a exciting, rewarding career change.
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