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Accelerated Cross-Categorical Special Education Online

Accelerate your journey toward becoming a special education teacher with Edgewood College’s program. Reduce the time and resources necessary to obtain your teaching license while benefiting from the guidance of highly qualified faculty and staff.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Fulfill your goal of helping students with special needs

Our Accelerated Teacher Education Partnership is designed to equip individuals with the necessary credentials to become teachers in a shorter timeframe of 12-24 months. The Cross-Categorical Special Education track focuses on teaching elementary, middle, or high school special education from early years through adolescence. Through this program, students will have the opportunity to partner with a sponsoring school district and gain hands-on experience in a physical classroom setting. Aspiring teachers will work alongside experienced mentors during their teaching experience while concurrently completing coursework. Earned credits can be applied toward the Master of Arts in Education. 

Our asynchronous and 8-week long classes provide flexibility for students, allowing them to balance their academic and professional commitments. This program is specifically tailored for emergency-licensed teachers, career changers, recent college graduates, and working adults. To successfully complete the program and obtain a teaching license, students must complete all coursework, earn a GPA of 3.0 or higher, receive positive marks from their clinical instructors, pass either the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test or the Edgewood College Alternative FoRT Reading Portfolio, and successfully complete the teacher performance assessment in the final semester of the program.

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Does the Accelerated Teacher Education program have a student teaching requirement?

Yes, students in this program should be prepared for a full-time, supervised student teaching experience during their final semester. To ensure success, students are advised to take a break from other full-time daytime commitments during their final semester in order to fully dedicate themselves to the student teaching experience. 

Students who qualify for a licensing exception may be authorized to use their paid teaching employment to fulfill the student teaching requirement. Please speak with your admissions counselor to determine qualification. 

TUITION
CALENDAR
ADMISSIONS
COURSES
CONTACT US
Pay your tuition with flexible payment plans

We understand finances are an important factor in considering your higher education options. Our online programs are competitively priced and can be paid by the course for added flexibility.

Tuition rates listed apply to the 2024-2025 academic year. More detailed information about tuition and financial aid can be found here.

Explore our tuition options tailored to your teaching location:

  • For educators teaching in an Edgewood College approved partner school district, tuition is $9,750, with a rate of $325 per credit hour.

  • For those teaching outside of a partner district, tuition is $19,800 at a rate of $660 per credit hour.

See here for a full list of Edgewood College partner school districts. Don’t see your school on the list? Reach out to Mike Meissen via email at mmeissen@edgewood.edu or by calling (608) 663-2846 to learn more about the partnership and how you can partner with us.

Financial aid
Financial aid is available to those who qualify and who are U.S. citizens. Complete the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov.

Edgewood College Federal School Code: 003848

Contact us:
Phone: 608.663.4300
Fax: 608.663.3495
Email: ecentral@edgewood.edu
Mailing address: 1000 Edgewood College Dr. Madison, WI 53711

Browse our program start dates

Our online programs are designed to fit your schedule. Find your ideal start date below.

8-Week Format

Term 

Start Date  

Application Deadline 
Spring I 1/21/25 1/7/25
Spring II 3/24/25 3/10/25
Summer I 5/19/25 5/5/25
Summer II 7/7/25 6/23/25

Course registration is due the day before courses begin for each term.

Admissions requirements

1.  Completed graduate application.

2. Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate academic credits received from each United States accredited or equivalent post-secondary institution attended should be sent directly to the Admissions Office.

3. Evidence of a baccalaureate or more advanced degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for regular admissions status. The cumulative grade point average is computed on the highest degree held at the time of application to the Edgewood College graduate program.

4. Two letters of recommendation from college or university professors, supervisors, and/or professional colleagues addressing the applicant’s potential for success in graduate school.

5. A written personal statement explaining what the applicant hopes to gain from participation in the program, what the applicant brings to the program, and how specific background experiences will aid in the success of the applicant as a student.

6. Demonstrated content proficiency through completion of an undergraduate major or major equivalent coursework in the academic disciplines of the licensure(s) being sought (within the fields of science, social studies, English, and/or mathematics).

7. All Division of Education students seeking clinical placements and/or WDPI licensure must comply with the State of Wisconsin requirement for a Criminal Background Check. This background check is required prior to official admission to licensure programs. Edgewood College uses https://www.viewpointscreening.com/edgewood for all Education background checks.  Completion of this required background check is mandatory before any field placement in a school, an integral part of the field work associated with courses throughout each program.

These courses are required 

To complete the Accelerated Teacher Education Partnership online program, students must complete 24 credit hours of coursework and fulfill their clinical teaching experiences. 

The initial licensure sequence includes 24 credits of coursework, supervised clinical field experiences, and supervised student teaching. These credits can then be applied toward a 30-credit Master of Arts in Education degree.

 

View Course List

 

U.S. Student Graduate Admissions Contact Information

Email: GPS@edgewood.edu

Phone: 608-663-4299

International Student Graduate Admissions Contact Information: powered by upGrad

Email: onlineadmissions@edgewood.edu

Phone (by region):

  • Europe, Middle East, Africa: +44-7441-936004
  • Asia Pacific except India: +65 6232 6730
  • North and South America: +1 240-719-6120 
  • Vietnam: 1900-23-23-06