Recent federal mandates in the areas of special and general education focus on creating school communities where students with diverse abilities learn together. These mandates demand a teacher with exceptional talents. UNM's Dual licensure Program in Special Education prepares students to be just such a teacher.

The Special Education Dual License Program is based on the belief that all children are valued members in the school community. The Dual License program prepares students to work with a diverse learning population and teaches strategies that are effective for all learners by providing:

UNM's state-of-the-art preparation is one of the few of its kind in the country that prepares teachers to be effective across the full continuum of educational settings for all students. During the two-year program, students complete coursework to earn a dual major in special education and elementary education while they gain a wealth of classroom experience and effective strategies for all learners. Graduate are eligible for New Mexico licensure in special education (PreK–12) and elementary education (K–8).