"What if I'm not sure about entering a graduate program or getting a teaching endorsement, can I still take classes?"
Yes, you can take classes. You could apply to graduate school as a non-degree, post-baccalaureate student. You could take either graduate or undergraduate level courses for more than one term or register as a full-time student (9 credits). Limited financial aid may be available to students needing undergraduate classes in preparation to apply to a graduate or professional program. (Contact Scholarships and Financial Aid for more information.) This admission is not available to applicants holding F-1 visas.
You could also apply as a non-degree, prompt admit student. An expedited application procedure is extended to applicants who plan to register for one term only and cannot be used again. No transcripts are required with this application and application fee. No financial aid is available with this admission status. International students may not apply in this admission category due to immigration and English proficiency constraints. Consult the current Graduate Bulletin for more information.
"So what can I do if I take these severe disabilities classes
anyway?"
By taking as few as one or two courses, as a non-degree seeking student you could:
Become a more informed paraeducator or parent and gain information about how to handle situations that stump you, when dealing with children with special needs.
Work in a preschool or day care setting and feel comfortable with a child with severe disabilities. You would learn ideas about what to teach them.
Work directly with all different kinds of children, with all different kinds of abilities!
By completing the endorsement in severe disabilities you may:
Work as a teacher in a team, working closely with special educators, general educators, family members, speech-language clinicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and vision specialists.
Provide services in both public and private schools, childcare centers, homes, hospitals, and other facilities which serve children with disabilities including those with severe disabilities.
Directly teach students with moderate/severe disabilities in general education buildings, community, and employment sites.
Teach in NE, students with diverse disabilities and abilities anywhere from birth to age 21. Settings might be: home-based, preschools, elementary or secondary schools, private schools.
Teach in any state of the nation in special education-moderate or severe disabilities and special education students with diverse disabilities (especially with a Masters degree too).
You could become a parent education coordinator, social service coordinator, education coordinator, program administrator, vocational specialist, inclusion facilitator (especially if you have a Masters degree).
The outlook for employment in almost all areas of special education is very strong. Teachers continue to be needed to serve students with disabilities in a variety of public school and other agency programs. See the section on Employment in Special Education on page 33 of the Masters Handbook.
