Adding Special Education to Grades 4-8, Secondary and K-12 Certifications
Grades PreK-4 certification undergraduate students have the opportunity to add a second certification in Special
Education (PreK-8) as part of their undergraduate program. Undergraduate students in other majors, who are
interested in adding special education (PreK-8) or (7-12) to their certification cannot currently complete this as a
dual undergraduate major. However, interested Graded 4-8, secondary and K-12 certification students can earn
this certification at Messiah College post-graduation with a combination of undergraduate and graduate courses.
Students can plan ahead with their advisor and add undergraduate courses that will meet some of the
requirements toward special education certification which can be completed by taking the necessary graduate
level courses at Messiah College. Students can opt to do additional coursework to complete an entire graduate
program (M.Ed.) or to complete only the courses necessary to earn certification.
Interested students can also complete the ESL Program Specialist certification with a mixture of undergraduate
and graduate courses. This certification program can also be added to any undergraduate teacher certification
program by taking the undergraduate courses required for the certificate or a combination of undergraduate and
graduate courses as outlined below.
Course Equivalencies at Messiah College
The undergraduate course(s) on the left meet(s) the same certification requirement as the graduate course on the
right.
PreK-8 Special Education Certification
Undergraduate Courses
Graduate Courses
EDSP 207 Introduction to Special Education and
EDME 551 Effective Practices for Every Learner
EDSP 307 Inclusive Practices
EDSP 397 Instructional Strategies for Learners w
EDME 529 High Incidence Populations with F. Exp.
Mild/Moderate Disabilities
EDSP 399 Positive Behavior Support
EDME 527 Positive Behavior Support with F. Exp
EDSP 398 Instructional Strategies for Learners w Severe to EDME 526 Low Incidence Populations with F. Exp.
Profound Disabilities
EDSP 396 Infants, Toddlers and Families
EDME 528 Infants, Toddler & Families with F. Exp.
TEP 420 Special Education Internship
EDME 530 Special Ed. Internship & Seminar
EDUC 330 Instructional Design
EDME 503 Adv. Instructional Design & Assessment
No Undergraduate Course Equivalencies at Messiah: EDSP 409 Psychological Testing; EDME 504 Family &
Community Partnerships (these credits must be
taken in the graduate program)
Grades 7 to 12 Special Education Certification
Undergraduate Courses
Graduate Courses
EDSP 207 Introduction to Special Education and EDSP 307 EDME 551 Effective Practices for Every Learner
Inclusive Practices
EDSP 397 Instructional Strategies for Learners with
EDME 529 High Incidence Populations with F. Exp.
Mild/Moderate Disabilities
EDSP 399 Positive Behavior Support
EDME 527 Positive Behavior Support with F. Exp
EDSP 398 Instructional Strategies for Learners with Severe EDME 526 Low Incidence Populations with F. Exp.
to Profound Disabilities
TEP 420 Special Education Internship
EDME 530 Special Ed. Internship & Seminar
EDUC 331 Instructional Design
EDME Advanced Instructional Design & Assessment
No Undergraduate Course Equivalencies at Messiah: EDME 504 Family and Community Partnerships; EDME 537
Transition and Secondary Special Ed (these credits must be taken in the graduate program)
ESL Program Specialist Certification
Graduate Courses
EDME 502 Advanced Socio-Cultural Perspectives
EDME 518 Second Language Acquisition: Theories and
Context
EDUC 408 Seminar and Field Exp. in TESOL
EDME 521 TESOL Methods & Assessment w/ Field
Experience
No Undergraduate Course Equivalencies at Messiah: EDME 520; EDME 532 (these credits must be taken in the
graduate program)
Undergraduate Courses
EDUC 346 Socio-Cultural Perspectives
EDUC 308 and 309 together
While there are no undergraduate course equivalents, the Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement can be earned at
the graduate level and entails 12 credits of course work with related field experiences.