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Inclusive Special Education Major FAQs

Read these frequently asked questions to learn more about the inclusive special education major at Miami.

Important Update

The Inclusive Special Education (K-12) program has been discontinued for new students as of Fall 2024. If you are interested in pursuing special education licensure, please visit our Dual Licensure page for more information on the combined program options now available.

Can I enroll at Miami as an Inclusive Special Education major, graduate in four years and go straight to a teaching position without going to graduate school?

Yes. Miami's Inclusive Special Education program is designed to allow our students to earn a degree in four years and go straight into a classroom position. There is a high demand for intervention specialists and school districts actively recruit new graduates.

Our students appreciate being placed in real-world situations as early as their sophomore year and continue through the senior year with student teaching and the senior capstone. These field experiences in reading and math allow students to initially observe, eventually assist veteran teachers, implement teaching methods presented in class, and tutor children in reading.

Do I have to get my master’s degree or enroll in a five-year program to get a teaching license?

No, when you complete Miami’s undergraduate program you are eligible for a 2-year Resident Educator license. That is the first step to becoming a teacher.

What license will I obtain through the Inclusive Special Education Program?

Once you have successfully completed the undergraduate program and passed the required Ohio Assessments for Educators, you are eligible for the State of Ohio Mild-Moderate and Moderate-Intensive Intervention Specialist licenses, K-12.

What is an intervention specialist?

The role of an intervention specialist can vary greatly. The role is largely determined by the needs, policy and philosophy of the hiring school district and the Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for his/her students. An intervention specialist may have his/her own classroom where, during parts of the school day, children come to receive special instruction in a needed subject area, take a test in a modified presentation or receive assistance in a needed area of development or skill.

Are there other licensure programs available at Miami?

Yes, the Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in early childhood education, middle childhood education, and adolescent/ young adult education. Other Miami departments offer licensure programs in art, music, and foreign language.
There is also the dual program, Primary + Special Education, which allows you to apply for two teaching licenses - PK-5 general and special education.

What sets your programs apart from those of other universities?

  • Our program prepares students for two Ohio teaching licenses.
  • Our program emphasizes and explicitly teaches inclusive practices so that all students may be served in the least restrictive environment in schools.
  • Our program has a strong focus on social justice.
  • Our program philosophy acknowledges disability as a marker of diversity.

Cohort? What is a cohort?

A cohort is simply a group of students who take certain courses together. Typically, it is the group of students who are admitted during the same year. Cohort students often become close personally and professionally, even after graduation.

What testing is required?

The Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) tests are required for licensure in Ohio. The current required OAE tests for mild/moderate and moderate/intensive licensure are: 004: Multi-Age Assessment and Knowledge, 043: Special Education Professional Knowledge, 090: and Foundations of Reading. For more information, visit Ohio Assessments for Educators.

Cohorts, Ohio Assessments for Educators, licensure programs—it all seems overwhelming. Will there be advisors to help me understand the process?

Absolutely. That’s an advantage to majoring in Inclusive Special Education at a university where the department is focused on undergraduates. As a small program, you will know the Program Advisor well and have close access to the faculty in the program.

Will I take all of the classes in my major with only other Inclusive Special Education majors?

No. The majority of your major classes will be in educational psychology, but you will also take classes with general education majors from the Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry (TCE.)

You will take one block of classes in the middle childhood content area including several reading methods classes in TCE. This provides a necessary understanding of general education curriculum and Ohio content standards and establishes the groundwork for collaboration between general education and special education.

What are career prospects like for graduates of Miami’s teacher education programs?

Our graduates are highly regarded. This, paired with the high demand for qualified special educators today, makes the transition from student to teacher an easy one. Our graduates have enjoyed a near 100% placement rate for some time. 

I want to be a special education teacher in a state other than Ohio, can I do that?

Miami has developed a website that contains our determination of whether or not each of our programs that are intended to lead to licensure or certification satisfy the curricular requirements in each state. Please see Miami’s State Authorization and Professional Licensure website for additional information about state requirements for licensure or certification. You should also meet with your academic advisor on an ongoing basis to make sure you are following a plan of study that allows you to meet your academic goals. 

Although we have reciprocity with many states, teacher/professional licensure requirements are subject to change. Please check the appropriate Department of Education website in your state of interest for the most up-to-date license requirements.

Contact Us

Department of Educational Psychology
201 McGuffey Hall
Oxford, OH 45056