Inclusive Special Education Major

Special education is one of the fastest growing careers in the nation. In fact, more than 80 percent of the largest school districts in the country report an immediate need for inclusive special education teachers, and the number of children identified as having disabilities increases every year.

Program and License Information

An Intervention Specialist is an educator who has expertise in supporting students with disabilities in inclusive settings, designing and implementing educational programs, and providing an array of supports and services in the general education classroom and other educational settings. The  Inclusive Special Education major leads to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with eligibility for two Ohio initial four-year educator licenses: mild-moderate intervention specialist K-12 and moderate-intensive intervention specialist K-12.

Miami's Inclusive Special Education Program is fully accredited through the Ohio Department of Education and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the Council for Exceptional Children. While Miami participates in licensure of teachers through an interstate agreement, if you are planning to teach in another state, you should contact that state's Department of Education teacher licensure or certification office to determine requirements for certification or licensure in that state.

Educator Licensure

Advantages of Miami's Program

Come to Miami and you can graduate in four years with a wealth of classroom experiences. You'll participate in classroom observations, and assist veteran teachers before having a culminating student-teaching experience. Trust that you'll be provided with exceptional mentoring along the way and will be job-ready on graduation day. Our classes are small—lots of interaction with faculty members (in and out of the classroom) is the norm.

We have an active student chapter of our field's primary professional organization, the Council for Exceptional Children. This provides a direct transition into professional life after graduation. Miami offers many opportunities to become involved in service learning and undergraduate research. Special programs for students interested in a career teaching in urban areas is also available. In total, Miami University's Inclusive Special Education major has a lot to offer you:

  • Expect thorough preparation coupled with personal attention
  • Have diverse, real-world classroom experiences as early as your sophomore year
  • Learn strategies to incorporate technology in the classroom, with a particular emphasis on assistive technology
  • Gather a variety of out-of-classroom opportunities allowing you to grow personally and professionally

Course Requirements

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Graduates will be able to understand how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Graduates will be able to create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments so that individuals with exceptionalities become active and effective learners and develop emotional well-being, positive social interactions, and self-determination.
  • Graduates will be able to use knowledge of general and specialized curricula to individualize learning for individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Graduates will be able to use multiple methods of assessment and data sources in making educational decisions.
  • Graduates will be able to select, adapt, and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Graduates will be able to use foundational knowledge of the field and their professional ethical principles and practice standards to inform special education practice, to engage in lifelong learning, and to advance the profession.
  • Graduates will be able to collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways to address the needs of individuals with exceptionalities across a range of learning experiences.

Scholarships

Special Education Scholarship Award (SESA)

The Special Education Scholarship Award (SESA) may be available to a limited number of qualified undergraduate Inclusive Special Education (ISE) majors. The scholarship is awarded (when available funding permits) to incoming first-year students. It is a four-year, renewable award for recipients who remain ISE majors.

SESA is limited to Oxford students who have declared the ISE major on their admission applications. FAFSA and admission applications must be submitted by February 1 for consideration. Additional eligibility considerations include diversity, financial need, GPA, and ACT score. More information about scholarships is available from the One Stop office.

Special Education Regional Scholarship Award (SERSA)

The Special Education Regional Scholarship Award (SERSA) may be available to a limited number of qualified undergraduate ISE majors from the Hamilton and Middletown campuses. The scholarship is awarded (when available funding permits) to students who transfer to Oxford and have acquired at least 30 hours of instruction. The award is provided for up to two years for recipients who remain ISE majors.

What Our Students Say

Rob Cron

Rob Cron

Special Education major

"I chose education as my major because I was in Urban Teaching Cohort (UTC) classes that really showed me something of the inequalities that go on in our educational system...


“That made me pretty mad, so that’s why I chose education, and then I chose special education because that population is discriminated against and so marginalized. Even today when we’re supposed to be so tolerant, a lot of these students have really bad experiences.

“UTC has really pushed my education as a teacher, and I definitely recommend joining the UTC because it will challenge you in ways that you won’t get in other classes.

“I studied abroad in Cuba in the winter semester. It was really cool because we learned about a place that we don’t know much about—because the US embargo has it so locked down. It was so great to understand Cuba from their own perspective. It opened our eyes in a lot of ways."

A few more facts about me:

  • I will be part of the Urban Leadership Internship Program (ULIP) this summer in Chicago.
  • In the fall, I’ll be doing my student teaching in Chicago.

Emily Piper

Emily Piper

Special Education major

"I chose my special education because I have always loved helping people. The connection I feel to people with disabilities is so different than the connections we're used to making in our everyday lives - and it is incredible…

“I love being reminded to appreciate and love the simple things: I could not imagine doing anything else with my life!"

“I work for the Autism Society of North Carolina at Camp Royall in the summers and during breaks. I'm from Michigan, and I would like to teach for a few years and then go to grad school for Occupational Therapy. I am on the executive board for Autism Speaks U, the president of Student Council for Exceptional Children, in the honors college, and a member of the Alpha Phi fraternity."