Online Bachelor’s in Special Education
Open doors by unlocking your potential.
Exceptional children require highly skilled educators that can plan and administer special education curricula while facilitating a safe and effective classroom. The Online Bachelor’s in Special Education (SpecEd4U) is designed to provide an avenue for professionals who are currently working with students as a para-educator, special education assistant and/or supporting individuals with disabilities.
Why UW-Whitewater Online?
- Nationally recognized faculty
- Flexible and convenient for your schedule
- Scholarships available for qualifying students
- 98% employment rate for college graduates
Cross-categorical licensure
Graduates meet requirements for teaching license.
Fully Online
No requirements to come to campus.
Ranked #1 in Wisconsin
More teaching licenses awarded than any other university.
Online Bachelor’s in Special Education
The Online Bachelor in Special Education has been designed to prepare you for success as a student and in your career. The courses are fully online and offered in 8-week and 3-week course sequences, this allows students the opportunity to work in their current school district and partner with UW-Whitewater for on the job field experiences and student teaching.
This partnership is an excellent opportunity for districts to help support their educational assistants in seeking special education licensure. Students will have an opportunity to practice and implement the knowledge and skills obtained from their classes to positively impact the children and support their cooperating teachers.
The program begins in the fall with a cohort of up to 30 students. Once this limit is reached, registration will be closed until the next year. Below is an example of what the course structure will look like in the program.
Fall Year One – First Semester
|
First 8-Weeks |
Second 8-Weeks |
|---|---|
|
• EDFOUND 222 (3) |
• SPECED 322 (3) |
Spring Year One – Second Semester
|
First 8-Weeks |
Second 8-Weeks |
|---|---|
|
• SPECED 321 (3) |
• SPECED 361 (3) |
Summer Year One
|
First 3-Weeks |
Second 3-Weeks |
|---|---|
|
• SPECED 466 (3) |
• SPECED 406 (3) |
Fall Year Two – Third Semester
|
First 8-Weeks |
Second 8-Weeks |
|---|---|
|
• SPECED 360 (3) |
• SPECED 440 (3) |
Spring Year Two – Fourth Semester
|
First 8-Weeks |
Second 8-Weeks |
|---|---|
|
• SPECED 458 (3) |
• SPECED 465 (3) |
Summer Year Two
|
First 3-Weeks |
Second 3-Weeks |
|---|---|
|
• SPECED 473 (3) |
• SPECED 475 (3) |
Fall Year Three
15-Week Directed Teaching
- Requirements: Letter of support from school district, 3.0 GPA or Praxis II, Grades C or better in all major courses. Recommended: Passing of WI Foundation of Reading Test.
SPECFLD 489 A (6) D (5) ID or B (3)C(3)D(5) EBD/LD AND SPECED 480 (3)
Program Completion Requirements
Pass Phase 4 Portfolio, edTPA and Directed Teaching
Students may be required to take additional courses for program admission based on academic report.
To ensure a high-quality student group, all students in the Bachelor’s in Special Education must meet the requirements below.
Students transferring in college credits must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 or appropriate ACT/SAT/CORE scores
To be considered students must provide proof of the following:
• School Affiliation documentation used for program Fieldwork Placement
• School Affiliation documentation used for Directed Teaching Placement
For next steps complete the Request Information form and a program representative will be in touch.
There are several application paths an online bachelor's student might take including as transfer, reentry, freshman, or second-degree seeking applicants. You may even be an international applicant.
If you aren’t sure which application path to follow or need help completing the UW-System E-Application, complete the Request Information form and a program representative will get in touch with you.
Transfer applicants
Transfer applicants are students that have attended another college or university (including having earned an associate degree) but have never attended UW-Whitewater. You will find detailed application and transfer information at University Admissions.
Reentry applicants
Reentry applicants are students that have previously attended UW-Whitewater. Application information can be found at University Admissions.
Freshman applicants
Freshman applicants are students that have never attended a college or university. If you have never attended a college or university, regardless of age, you would be considered a freshman applicant. You can find application information for freshman applicants at University Admissions.
Second-Degree seeking applicants
Second-Degree seeking applicants are students who have already earned a bachelor's degree and would like to pursue another. If you would like to earn another bachelor’s degree, you can apply to UW-Whitewater’s online bachelor's program as a special student with full credentials. To complete your degree, you would only need to fulfill the College of Letters and Sciences BA or BS requirements and the requirements for the major you choose.
Unofficial Transcript Review
Transfer, Reentry, and Second-Degree Seeking students, can request an unofficial transcript review. An unofficial review will give you an idea of which of your credits might transfer and how those transfer credits might apply to the online bachelor's program. To request a review, complete a request more information form and a program adviser will get in touch with you.
The online bachelor’s program at UW-Whitewater is a superior value at $409 USD per credit for Wisconsin resident and $829.86 USD per credit as a non-resident for the 2024-25 academic year. Visit the Tuition and Fees webpage for complete information.
Course materials
Textbook rental is included in the cost of tuition for many courses through the University Bookstore's Textbook Rental program.
Financial aid
Students completing a degree program may be eligible for financial aid in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, or employment. All of these make up a “Financial Aid Package” and may be offered singly or in various combinations. Since funds are limited, priority for aid is based on financial need and how promptly applications are filed. To find out, or if you have other financial aid questions, contact the financial aid staff person assigned to you or try uwwfao@uww.edu or 262-472-1130.
