At Taylor, we believe that every person is born in the image of God, worthy of living a fulfilling life.
That influences how we interact with each other and how we treat people, regardless of their ability level. With this focus on teaching special education, our students are able to be witnesses of Christ—showing His love not just in words, but in action—through one-on-one and group interaction with these students.
Taylor University offers two tracks for Special Education: Mild-Moderate and Intense Intervention. These programs prepare and equip future educators to teach students with mild to intense special needs.
If you aspire to develop a broad array of instructional strategies and/or have a heart for interacting with students with disabilities, adding a mild-moderate intervention P-12 Special Education licensure will prepare you with a range of teaching methods. This mild intervention program prepares you for a teaching license in working with students with high incidence disabilities (disabilities that are more prevalent than others). These may include:
If you seek to deepen your special education program with a broader range of instructional strategies, adding an intense intervention P-12 Special Education licensure to your mild intervention licensure will prepare you to meet the needs of students with low incidence disabilities (disabilities that are less prevalent than others). These may include:
Special Education is a licensure that can be added to an Elementary Education degree:
Students interested in course descriptions and academic policies can check out our Undergraduate Catalog.
A Taylor liberal arts education will prepare you to live and work in a fast-changing world. It also goes a step further: laying a strong spiritual foundation that cultivates wisdom. You’ll become a well-versed individual, equipped with critical thinking skills, a lifelong love of learning, and an appreciation for God’s creation.
Special Preparation for Your Career
You'll begin practicing Mild Intervention and Intense Intervention in the classroom during your freshman year and continue through student-teaching placements senior year. Upon graduation and passing certification exams, you will be licensed by the State of Indiana to teach students in both general education and special education settings.
The license can transfer to almost anywhere in the United States and makes you highly marketable as a teaching professional. With a national shortage of special education teachers and the federal mandate for public school systems to provide services, there is a real need for qualified, compassionate special education teachers.
Bring Special Olympics to Campus
Work as a referee, team host, scorekeeper, timekeeper, or skill session volunteer at Taylor’s annual Special Olympics basketball tournament, hosted in the Kesler Student Activities Center. Interact and make friends with people of all ages with special needs, learning their unique perspective on life and encouraging them to enjoy the game and play their best.
Contact
Melissa Jessup
Department Chair, Director of Special Education, Assistant Professor of Education