Special Education Endorsement

The Special Education Endorsement Program at the University of Montana is designed to prepare teachers to work with children and students who are at risk for developmental disabilities and children and students with identified disabilities in inclusive P-12 settings. Courses include a clinical component that engages students in real world experiences working with students at risk and students with identified disabilities.

Courses are designed to address national and state standards and to promote professional competencies which have been endorsed by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) as key skills for teachers who may serve in a variety of roles.

Special Education does not qualify as a stand-alone licensure area in Montana. Those seeking licensure as special education teachers must also be licensed or currently pursuing licensure in a general education content area (elementary, secondary, K-12). UM offers undergraduate and graduate programs in special education for those seeking initial teaching licensure and those seeking to add a special education endorsement to a current teaching license.

Students seeking initial teaching licensure in elementary, secondary, or K-12 content areas can simultaneously complete the Special Education Endorsement program.

To see the full list of required courses for the Special Education endorsement, please review the Special Education Program of Study.

Students not yet admitted into the Teacher Education Program will apply for the special education minor when applying for admission to the Teacher Education Program in their content area. Applicants complete either the secondary/K-12 or elementary application following the instructions included within that application. Teacher Education Program applications can be found on the Department of Teaching & Learning forms page.

Students who have already been accepted into the Teacher Education Program and are now looking to add the Special Education minor must complete the Special Education Minor application.

For currently licensed teachers, we offer an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction which incorporates the required special education (P-12) endorsement coursework. For further details on this graduate program and instructions for application, please view our M.Ed. with Special Education website.

For those who already have a master's degree in education or an education related field, or those who are interested in the special education endorsement without pursuing a master's degree, you can pursue a 30-credit special education endorsement program at the graduate level or the post-baccalaureate (undergraduate) level. If you are interested in this track, please review the Special Education Program of Study. To apply, please complete the Special Education Endorsement Program application.

Kristi Murphy
Licensure & Assessment Manager
Teacher Education Services
kristi.murphy@umontana.edu
406.243.2121