Professional Development Opportunities in Special Education
The Department of Special Education offers a wide range of professional development activities in special education and disability services to support practicing educators in updating their knowledge and skills. Faculty collaborate with state and regional education and human services agencies as well as local public schools and community services to offer courses for continuing education and professional development credit.
Professional Development Models
Professional development models are offered through three models:
- Department-sponsored courses: content is based on current evidence-based practice, with course designed by WVU core faculty and monitored by adjunct faculty. These courses are generally open to any student enrolled in any WVU special education program and require payment of tuition and fees.
- State agency-sponsored courses: content is based on current training needs, with course designed by individuals employed by or under contract to the sponsor. These courses are generally open ONLY to certain groups designated by the agency and feature tuition waiver, but require payment of fees.
NOTE: Professional development courses provide continuing education credits, but NOT degree program credits. These credits may be used to meet professional development requirements or toward salary increments, but they may NOT be counted in ANY graduate degree program, either as substitutions for required courses or as elective courses.
Schedule of Offerings
Professional development courses available each semester are listed under the SPED prefix (for special education) or DISB prefix (for disability studies) and the 930 numberand PRDV designator in the Schedule of Courses.
Some courses are ONLY available to individuals who meet specific criteria, such as attendance at a state conference or employment in a given school system. For more information, please contact: sped@mail.wvu.edu.
Registration for Courses
Registration at courses based on attendance at scheduled event(s) and offered at a specific location is available ON-SITE. Registration for courses offered online and for open enrollment is available ONLINE.
- Individuals who are active students in a WVU program may register by completing the registration form on site or online.
- Individuals who are NOT currently enrolled at WVU will need to be admitted as a non-degree student (not pursuing a degree program) by submitting an application available online at WVU Graduate Admissions.
For assistance in registering in any professional development course, please contact WVU Extended Learning at 1-800-2LEARN2.