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Dual Major Bachelor's in Elementary Education/Exceptional Needs Education

If you want to be ready to teach every student who enters your classroom, the Elementary/Exceptional Needs Education dual major may be for you! Graduates of this program are prepared for licensure in elementary education (K-6) and special education (P-12) classrooms. Through a variety of conceptual, methods, and practical courses and field experiences, this program will help you develop the skills and perspectives to find, understand, and meet the needs of each learner. Graduates may choose to pursue licensure in elementary education, special education, or both.

If you understand and embrace the value of each individual and want to help students discover the richness of who they are and all they bring to the world, we invite you to consider majoring in Elementary and Exceptional Needs Education.

What Makes IWU Different?

Education Pioneer

IWU has provided on-campus education for more than 100 years.

Rooted in Christ

Faith-integrated curriculum and a commitment to changing the world.

Superior Support

Center for Student Success for counseling, tutoring, and more!

After Graduation
Potential Careers

  • Special Education Teacher
  • Education Administrators
  • Elementary School Teachers
  • Directors, Religious Activities and Education
  • Kindergarten Teachers
  • Tutors
  • Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
  • Preschool Teachers
  • Instructional Coordinators
  • Teacher Assistants
  • Librarians
  • Adapted Physical Education Specialists


Work in Various Industries

  • Industry

Program Requirements
Indiana Wesleyan University students are assessed multiple times as they progress through the Teacher Education Program and acquire the knowledge, skills and dispositions required of successful educators.
  1. Admission to the Teacher Education Program.
    • Cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a 3.0 in each teaching major, including teacher education courses. All professional education courses completed with a grade of C- or less must be repeated.
    • Formal application.
    • Teacher Education Program Assessments: interview; reading and writing on demand assessments.
  2. Admission to student teaching. Students apply for admission to student teaching a year prior to the academic year in which the student teaching semester occurs.
    • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the major.
    • Design a lesson plan that is assessed by a School of Teacher Education faculty member using an assessment rubric that is expressly designed for that purpose.
  3. Students apply for admission to student teaching a year prior to the academic year in which the student teaching semester occurs.

The student teaching semester culminates with the following assessments:

  • Students develop a standards-based portfolio during the student teaching semester, assembling artifacts in five different domains that provide evidence that they have met the standards and expectations required of them. The portfolio is assessed with a rubric designed expressly for that purpose.
  • Student teachers develop a Teacher Work Sample that is designed to determine the degree to which their teaching has been effective in producing the learning expected of their students.
  • As the concluding activity of the student teaching semester, a defense committee, consisting of the student's supervising teacher, School of Teacher Education faculty, other University faculty and practicing P-12 teachers, conducts an interview with each student teacher. The student teacher is assessed on his or her professional impression and also the degree to which he or she answers questions successfully.
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Accreditation

Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.

The IWU Teacher Education Program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and is a member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE).
Take the Next Step

Ready to jumpstart your career? Apply now! Or, if you have any questions about the program, contact us via the Request Info button.

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