Mild/Moderate Special Education ,Certificate
Disability, High Incident, INCLUSION, Inclusive, Intervention, Learning Disabilities, Mild-Moderate, Special Education, classroom
Earn your teaching credential, and make a difference in the lives of children with a variety of needs.
The certificate program in mild/moderate special education prepares students to make connections and provide equitable learning environments to meet the diverse learning needs of students in kindergarten through grade 12.
This certificate may be added only to certain programs at Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation. Students are eligible for dual-teaching certification after completing this certificate program and one of the following Bachelor of Arts in Education programs:
- BAE in early childhood education
- BAE in elementary education
- BAE in elementary multilingual education
- BAE in secondary education
Students learn how to work and partner with communities and schools to co-construct and negotiate roles and responsibilities in order to deliver effective special education programming. Coursework is grounded in data; theoretical foundations; federal, state and local policies; and a sense of responsibility to student and community needs.
When students add this certificate to a bachelor's degree program listed above, they are eligible to earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Mild/Moderate Disabilities, K-12, from the Arizona Department of Education. To teach in an Arizona public school, graduates must pass the appropriate Arizona educator exams: National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments.
Format option
This program is also offered via ASU Sync. ASU Sync students attend live classes remotely via Zoom. Classes are designed to foster active collaboration and discussion in real time with faculty and peers. ASU Sync students must reside in Arizona throughout the duration of the program. Students with F-1 or J-1 immigration status are not permitted to complete courses via Sync and should speak with an advisor about other options to complete this program.
Students seeking to use GI Bill® benefits for ASU Sync programs should contact the Pat Tillman Veterans Center regarding certain limitations.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
- College/school:
Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation
- Location: Tempe, ASU Sync
2026-2027 Catalog Year
| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
|---|
| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
|
This certificate requires 19 credit hours. |
||
| Required Courses | ||
|
RDG 413 Elementary Methods for Literacy Instruction and Assessment
4 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 4 |
|
SPE 321 Classroom and SPE Assessment
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
SPE 323 Effective Practices and Behavior Interventions: Supports for Exceptional Students
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
SPE 411 Special Education History and Law
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
SPE 423 Evidence-Based Practices for Students with Exceptional Needs
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
TEL 331 Foundations of Literacy: The Science of Reading
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
|
This certificate program is open only to students majoring in early childhood education, elementary education, elementary multilingual education and secondary education undergraduate teacher preparation programs in MLFC.
Students are required to have a valid Arizona DPS Identity Verified Prints fingerprint clearance card.
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student but may not be eligible for an institutional recommendation for Arizona teaching licensure without additional preparation beyond the certificate.
Graduates are highly sought-after teachers in public, charter and private education institutions. Graduates with degrees in special education may also pursue roles such as education resource specialist, interventionist or curriculum developer.
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
In addition to completing this certificate and a teacher certification program major, students are required to earn a passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the AEPA/NES exam and a passing score on the subject knowledge portion of the AEPA/NES exam in each area an Arizona teaching credential is sought. Subject knowledge exam waiver may apply. Students should contact MLFC for more information.
Division for Advancing Educator Preparation
|
ED 118
educationadvising@asu.edu
480-965-9995
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
