About the Program
The Inclusion program unifies Elementary Education and Special Education teacher preparation to prepare future teachers to meet the unique needs of elementary students with and without disabilities. The Inclusion program focuses on the knowledge, disposition, and skills necessary to effectively serve students with various educational needs in kindergarten through 12th grade. This undergraduate program underscores critical thinking and data-driven decision making. The program is grounded in evidence-based practices that emphasizes (a) deep knowledge in all content areas (b) fostering the application of content knowledge to the classroom, (c) differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all students, and (d) understanding the contextual aspects of teaching (e.g., the organizational and policy context).
The program links courses with field experiences in partner school settings. Students are given opportunities to practice specialized skills to meet the individual needs of elementary students with and without disabilities in the classroom; develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); engage in data-driven decision making; and develop instructional, material and environmental modifications to support access to general education curricula. The inclusion program leverages and extends competencies of elementary teachers to build effective instruction and support for all learners.
An Inclusion major graduate is qualified to teach children in general education grades kindergarten through 6 (K-6) as well as special education for students with support needs ranging from mild to intense. Graduates are prepared to support all leaners across a continuum of placements and to collaborate with a variety of professionals to meet the needs of students. The Inclusion Plan of Study outlines the required courses to complete the degree for licensure.
This program meets state and national licensure standards and is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the State of Indiana, State Board of Education. See Teacher Licensure Information in the plan below.
For more information about the degree program, visit the COE Office of Advising and Recruiting. Indiana Licensure information - Each student must meet all degree, program, and licensure requirements prior to being recommended for licensure.
Special Education/Elementary Education Major Change (CODO) Requirements
Special Education - Purdue University College of Education
College Scorecard (ed.gov)
Teacher Licensure Information
Successful completion of the Purdue University Inclusion: Special Education/Elementary Education Program, Inclusion: Special Education/Elementary Education, BA, and the State of Indiana licensure requirements results in an Indiana initial instructional License in Mild Intervention (P-12), Intense Intervention (P-12), Elementary Generalist (K-6), Reading (K-6), Early Literacy (P-5), and Blended and Online Teaching (K-6). Contact the Office of Teacher Education and Licensure for additional information regarding Teacher Education and licensure requirements.
Office of Teacher Education and Licensure - Purdue University College of Education
Teacher Education Program (TEP) Requirements and Milestones
- 2.5 Overall GPA is required for the Teacher Education Program.
- Students must successfully progress through Milestone A to enroll in any Professional Education **Restricted Methods course.
- Successful completion of all Major, Professional Education (including all Foundations Courses with linked Foundations Portfolio Common Assessments and **Restricted Methods Courses), Learner Specialty Concentration/Pathway, and degree courses are required prior to Milestone C. Program limitations restrict additional courses to be taken simultaneously with or following student teaching without advance authorization.
- Successful completion of all Foundations Portfolio Common Assessments are required prior to Milestone D.
- Blended and online Teaching licensure requirements are embedded into coursework for all Undergraduate Licensure Programs.
- Beginning July 1, 2025 - According to the Indiana State Board of Education, students seeking an Initial Indiana License in a content area involving literacy instruction, including special education, must obtain an early literacy endorsement, Science of Reading (P-5), as required under IC 20-28-5-19.7.
College of Education Pass/No Pass Option Policy
Education majors (which includes the total credit hour requirement to fulfill General Education: Educational Studies and General Education: Curriculum & Instruction) are not eligible to receive P/NP for required courses on your plan of study. Only electives and courses at the 500+ level can have a grade mode change.
Spring 2020 was the only exception approved for the entire campus.
World Language Courses
World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japanese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS=Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish)
Critical Course
The ♦ course is considered critical.
In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major. Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful. These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program.”
Disclaimer
The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.
Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
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