Cut Time + Cost on WGU BA Special and Elem Ed (Dual Licensure)

Why WGU’s BA in Special Ed and Elementary Ed (Dual Licensure) is Perfect for Degree Hacking

WGU’s competency-based model and flat-rate, six-month terms let you move quickly through material you already know while focusing WGU time on clinicals and student teaching required for licensure. The program is online with monthly starts and clear paths to demonstration teaching. It’s built for speed and savings.

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Below are the key angles that make this degree highly hackable:

Built for Speed: Structure that Favors Hackers

• Competency-based courses so prior knowledge moves you faster, not stuck by seat time

• Flat-rate tuition per six-month term, complete more courses without paying more

• Frequent monthly starts and online delivery, easy to align around work and family

Classroom-Ready: Career Preparation that Pays Off

• Dual preparation for K–12 Special Education and Elementary classrooms, boosting placement options

• Integrated clinicals and student teaching that meet state licensure pathways where available

• Emphasis on assessments, IEPs, behavior supports, literacy, and math methods used daily on the job

Why Most People Take 3–4 Years (And How to Do It in 6–12 Months)

Why Most People Take 3–4 Years:

Many teacher-prep students follow a traditional, per-credit model and sequence every class at the university, stretching time and cost. They also miss lower-cost alternatives and delay transfer evaluations that would clear large portions up front. What typically derails timelines is simple process, not ability.

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Here’s the usual pattern:

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• They underuse transfers: Students send transcripts late or assume little will count, so they retake general education and survey courses at higher tuition.

• They skip exams for credit: Credit-by-exam options can clear basics like College Composition or Biology quickly, but many never schedule them.

• They don’t map licensure pieces: Without a plan for clinicals and student teaching windows, calendars slip by entire terms.

• They pay per credit elsewhere: Paying premium rates for lower-division classes instead of a flat-rate, competency term adds thousands.

Here's what degree hackers do that others don't:

• Max transfers first: Lock in gen eds and survey courses before enrollment using evaluated sources.

• Work the term: Front-load pass-ready assessments early in each six-month term to multiply completions.

• Reserve WGU for licensure pieces: Keep advanced methods, clinicals, and student teaching at WGU for alignment with state requirements.

• Result: 6 to 12 months, for $4,025 to $8,050 total tuition fee

Your BA in Special Ed and Elementary Ed shouldn’t cost four years and a small fortune. With a transfer-first plan and a focused WGU term strategy, you get licensed faster and start teaching sooner.

Strategy Guide: Tips on How to Hack WGU BA in Special Ed and Elementary Ed (Dual Licensure) Program

These tips are built from program guides, transfer policies, and proven pacing patterns. The aim is simple: move inexpensive credits in early, then sprint through WGU’s flat-rate terms while saving clinicals and student teaching for last. The psychology is momentum: stack early wins, clear assessments quickly, and keep WGU time focused on licensure-critical experiences.

WGU BA in Special Ed and Elementary Ed (Dual Licensure) Pre-Enrollment Hacks:

• Knock out gen eds cheaply - Use Study.com subscriptions ($95/month for College Starte plan; $235/month for College Saver plan) for College Composition, Intro Communication, US Government, Biology, and Quantitative Math equivalents before enrolling.

• Bank test credits fast - Schedule CLEP ($97/exam) or DSST ($100/exam) for areas you already know, like College Composition, Public Speaking, or College Mathematics, to clear requirements in a day.

• Get a custom degree plan - DegreeHacked.org builds a course-by-course map with provider and exam IDs so you enroll with a near-finished plan and reliable cost timeline.

• Submit transcripts early -Send all official transcripts and certifications before the 5th of the month prior to your start so WGU can lock transfers and finalize your Degree Plan.

WGU BA in Special Ed and Elementary Ed (Dual Licensure) Degree Hacking Plan

BA in Special Ed and Elementary Ed Transfer Credits: What Transfers and What Doesn’t

WGU evaluates prior college coursework and select certifications course-by-course to clear lower-division requirements where content aligns. Official transcripts must arrive before you start, and transfer credit isn’t awarded after matriculation. Demonstration teaching and clinical experiences are completed through WGU.

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Here’s a quick 146-competency unit (CU) map to frame your planning:

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• 30 CUs: General Education courses (highly transferable)

• 21 CUs: Professional/Education core courses (mix of transferable and WGU only)

• 79 CUs: Remaining special and elementary ed courses (WGU only)

• 16 CUs: Student teaching courses (WGU only)

BA in Special Ed and Elementary Ed Requirements: Course Transfer Strategy

Why Degree Hacking Works for WGU BA Special and Elementary Education (Dual Licensure) Students:

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• Bigger wins per dollar: Flat-rate terms plus pre-enrollment transfers keep tuition contained while velocity increases.

• Momentum over months: Clearing assessments rapidly compounds, turning one term into many completed courses.

• Licensure-focused schedule: You devote peak energy to methods, clinicals, and student teaching where WGU adds the most value.

Ready for Your Complete Plan?

Here’s what your degree-hacking plan includes:

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✓ A 146-credit map aligned to WGU course titles and competencies

✓ Online course provider picks plus CLEP/DSST exam IDs

✓ A cost and timeline model for 2–3 WGU terms

✓ Backups if transfer rules or catalog items change

Applying to WGU for the BA in Special Ed and Elementary Ed (Dual Licensure)

When to Apply: Best Timing for Enrollment

Apply once your external credits are banked and official transcripts are en route. WGU terms begin most months, and you’ll complete an intake interview before your start. Aim to have transcripts received by the 5th of the month prior to lock transfers.

WGU Admissions and Transfer Logistics

• Apply online in minutes, then complete an intake interview

• Send all official transcripts and any approved certifications for evaluation

• Transfer evaluations typically aim for completion within ~2 weeks of final transcript receipt

• No transfer awards after you start, so submit everything early

WGU Tuition and Other Aid Information

• Flat-rate tuition per six-month term: $4,025 (ncludes resource fees)

• FAFSA, federal grants, loans, and WGU scholarships available; monthly starts help you time funding

• Control tuition fee costs by finishing your courses quick via low-cost course providers and alternative credit options

WGU BA in Special Ed and Elementary Ed Career ROI

• Median annual salary: ~$64,270 for special education teachers;  $62,310 for elementary school teachers

• Degree payback time: ~2-3 months of median salary to cover 2 terms

• Common roles: K–12 Special Education Teacher, Elementary Classroom Teacher, Inclusion/Resource Teacher, Interventionist

• Strong demand signals, ongoing openings from retirements and turnover keeps hiring steady in many districts