Special Education - BA, BS

Minimum University Requirements

• Total Credits: 120
• Credits of C- or better: 100
• Total credits taken through USU: 30
• Total major required credits taken at USU: 10
• Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
• Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
• Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
• General Education Requirements    
• University Studies Requirements   
• Undergraduate Degree Requirements     

Admissions Requirements For This Program

• New freshmen must be admitted to USU in Good Standing.
• Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU must have a 3.0 GPA.

Major Requirements

• Grade of B- or better: All SPED, TEAL, and ELED courses (except SPED 4910 , SPED 5200 , and SPED 5900 )
• Grade of C+ or better: ENGL 1010  (required for program admission; ENGL 1010  can also be met with AP ENGL or an ACT score of 30 or higher)
• Grade of C or better: BAI , BLS , BPS  (required for program admission); HDFS 1500  
• Grade of C- or better in MATH 1050  or MATH 1051 ; Grade of C or better in MATH 2010  and MATH 2020 .
• Grade of C- or better: All other courses required for the bachelor’s degree.
• Courses used to fulfill major requirements may not be taken pass/fail, except those courses that are only taught on a pass/fail basis.
• 3.0 GPA in major coursework.
• Students are required to earn a grade of “B-” or better in all major courses (SPED, TEAL, ELED prefixes). Students who receive a grade below “B-” must retake the course. Each student will be allowed to repeat a maximum of one course (course is defined as didactic courses, practica and student teaching). Students who receive two grades below “B-” or withdraw from two practica (or one practica two times) will not be permitted to continue in special education. Student teaching may not be repeated without appeal and approval by the appropriate special education program committee.

Additional General Requirements (13 credits)

• HDFS 1500 - Human Development Across the Lifespan (BSS) 3 credit(s)

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• MATH 1051 - Classical Algebra for Teachers (QL) 4 credit(s) or
• MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL) 4 credit(s)

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• MATH 2010 - Algebraic Thinking & Number Sense for Elementary Education School Teachers (QI) 3 credit(s)
• MATH 2020 - Euclidean Geometry and Statistics for Elementary Education School Teachers (QI) 3 credit(s)

Professional Education (22 credits)

Students must be admitted to the Special Education program before taking these courses. All courses listed below must be passed with a grade of B- or better before beginning the next semester of SPED courses.

• ELED 3100 - Classroom Reading Instruction 3 credit(s)
• SPED 4000 - Education of Students with Disabilities 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5030 - Assessment in Special Education 2 credit(s)
• SPED 5040 - Foundations of Effective Instructional Practices 4 credit(s)
• SPED 5105 - Introduction to Visual Impairments 1 credit(s)
• SPED 5120 - Ocular Disorders and Examination Techniques 2 credit(s)
• SPED 5122 - Educational Implications for Students with Low Vision 2 credit(s)
• SPED 5130 - Literary Braille Codes 3 credit(s)
• TEAL 2660 - Educational Psychology for Teachers 2 credit(s)

Visual Impairment Specialization

Students may add visual impairment courses to this degree to get a visual endorsement to add to their special education license. This endorsement is issued by the state of Utah, not the university. For more information, students should visit http://sper.usu.edu/undergrad/visual-impairments and contact their advisor.

• Spring:

• SPED 5010 - Applied Behavioral Analysis 1: Principles, Assessment, and Analysis (QI) 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5070 - Policies, Procedures, and Collaboration in Special Education 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5140 - Advanced Braille Codes & Abacus Instruction 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5170 - Instructional Management for Students with Visual Impairments (0-21) 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5310 - Teaching Reading and Language Arts to Students with Disabilities 1-4 credit(s) (enroll in 4 credits)
• SPED 5510 - Curriculum and Assessment for Students with Severe Disabilities I 2 credit(s)

• Summer: (courses taken at U of U campus)

• SPED 5110 - Social and Psychological Implications of Visual Impairments 2 credit(s)
• SPED 5150 - Teaching Children with Dual Sensory Impairments (Deaf/Blind) 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5160 - Introduction to Orientation and Mobility 2 credit(s)
• SPED 5135 - Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairments 3 credit(s)

• Fall:

• SPED 5050 - Applied Behavioral Analysis 2: Applications 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5080 - Transition-Focused Education and Collaboration 2 credit(s)
• SPED 5175 - Early Literacy for Young Children with Visual Impairment, Birth to Five 2 credit(s)
• SPED 5190 - Understanding the Brain, Damage to the Brain and Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment 2 credit(s)
• SPED 5530 - Family/Professional Collaboration and Technology for Teaching Exceptional Learners 3 credit(s)

• Student Teaching:

• SPED 5200 - Student Teaching in Special Education (CI) 3-15 credit(s) (enroll in 15 credits)

Visual Impairment Teaching Support

Students may add visual impairment courses to this degree to get a visual endorsement to add to their special education license. This endorsement is issued by the state of Utah, not the university. For more information, students should visit http://sper.usu.edu/undergrad/visual-impairments and contact their advisor.

• SPED 5105 - Introduction to Visual Impairments 1 credit(s)
• SPED 5120 - Ocular Disorders and Examination Techniques 2 credit(s)

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• Select the remaining credits from the following courses:

• REH 1010 - Disability and Society (BSS) 3 credit(s)
• SPED 1010 - Disability and Society (BSS) 3 credit(s)
• SPED 4910 - Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities 1-3 credit(s)
• ELED 1010 - Orientation to Elementary Education 3 credit(s)
• COMD 3010 - American Sign Language I (CI) 4 credit(s)
• COMD 3200 - Child Language Development 3 credit(s)
• HDFS 2400 - Couple and Family Relationships (BSS) 3 credit(s)
• HDFS 2660 - Parenting and Child Guidance (HR) 3 credit(s)
• HEP 2000 - First Aid and Emergency Care 2 credit(s)
• HEP 3000 - Drugs and Human Behavior 3 credit(s)
• PSY 1400 - Analysis of Behavior: Basic Principles 3 credit(s)
• PSY 1410 - Analysis of Behavior: Basic Principles Lab 1 credit(s)
• SOC 1010 - Introductory Sociology (BSS) 3 credit(s)
• SW 1010 - Introduction to Social Welfare (BSS) 3 credit(s)

Diversity Requirement (3 credits)

All special education majors need to take ONE of the following classes (or another advisor-approved course) to complete their diversity requirement. The diversity requirement must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Licensure Notification

This program typically leads to licensure and was designed to meet licensing qualifications in the state of Utah. If students wish to work in another state within the United States, they should review the qualifications for that state and the Education Licensure Compliance Table provided by School of Teacher Education and Leadership.

For more information, please contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership at https://cehs.usu.edu/teal/

Additional Information

Undergraduate study leads to the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education with licensure to teach students with mild/moderate disabilities, severe disabilities, early childhood (birth to age 5) or visual impairments. The degree requires a total of 120 credits. Students must choose an emphasis area.

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your  Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120

Suggested Degree Map - Special Education BA, BS

• Special Education BA, BS - 4 Year Degree Map