Special Education, BS

A. University Studies Requirements

Competency Requirements (9-13 credits), Breadth Requirements (21 credits), and Depth Education Requirements (5 courses). For more information, see General Education Requirements 

B. Professional Education Requirements (16-20 credits)

• FCHD 1500 - Human Development Across the Lifespan (BSS) 3 or
• PSY 1100 - Developmental Psychology: Infancy and Childhood 3

•  

• SPED 4000 - Education of Exceptional Individuals 2
• SPED 5530 - Technology for Teaching Exceptional Learners 3
• PSY 3660 - Educational Psychology for Teachers 2
• ELED 3000 - Historical, Social, and Cultural Foundations of Education and School Practicum (CI) 4-6 (6 credits required)
• FCHD 2600 - Seminar in Early Childhood Education 2
• FCHD 2630 - Practicum in Early Childhood Education 2
• (FCHD 2600  and FCHD 2630  are required only for students completing the Birth to Age 5 Certificate)

C. Special Education Major (42-60 credits)

Coursework includes: human growth and development; applied behavior analysis; introduction to systematic instruction (task analysis, curriculum-based measurement, behavioral objectives, contingent reinforcement); designing curriculum; Individualized Educational Programs (IEP); educational assessment, analysis, and adaptation of instructional materials; intervention strategies for academic and social behaviors; and parent involvement. Additionally, each  endorsement area includes practicum work with exceptional children or youth. Finally, all students must complete student teaching with students with disabilities. Most of the Special Education courses are presented in a hybrid format. Hybrid is a combination of live (face-to-face) classes and online classes. Courses vary in  terms of how much content is online. For example, students may attend class every other week, and during the in between weeks complete work using an online  tool (e.g., Blackboard).

D. Teaching Support (15 credits)

The support area is designed to enhance the Special Education major’s background. Areas recommended include communicative disorders, psychology, sociology, family and human development, recreation, and physical education. Students are encouraged to take courses which will prepare them for the PRAXIS exam.

E. Electives (7-20 credits)

Endorsement Areas

Students are required to complete the Mild/Moderate Disabilities Endorsement, the Severe Disabilities Endorsement, or the Birth to Age 5 Certificate.¹

The following courses are required for the special education training programs. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 is required for admission to the endorsement courses. Most of the courses should be taken during the junior year. Students enrolled in the endorsement programs are required to maintain a GPA  of at least 2.75. Students are required to earn a grade of C or better in all teacher licensure courses. Students must retake any licensure course for which a grade of less than a C was received. Each student will be allowed to repeat a maximum of only one didactic, practica, or student teaching course.

Birth to Age 5 Certificate (45 credits)

Students who are completing this certificate in addition to the Mild/Moderate Disabilities Endorsement or the Severe Disabilities Endorsement will need to  complete only those courses which they have not already taken under their endorsement.³

• SPED 5010 - Applied Behavioral Analysis 1: Principles, Assessment, and Analysis (QI) 3
• SPED 5040 - Foundations of Effective Assessment and Instructional Practices 3
• SPED 5050 - Applied Behavioral Analysis 2: Applications 3
• SPED 5060 - Consulting with Parents and Teachers 3
• SPED 5070 - Policies and Procedures in Special Education 1-3 (3 credits required)
• SPED 5200 - Student Teaching in Special Education (CI) 3-15 ² (15 credits required)
• SPED 5710 - Young Children with Disabilities: Characteristics and Services 3
• SPED 5730 - Intervention Strategies for Young Children with Disabilities 3
• SPED 5810 - Seminar and Field Experiences with Infants and Families 3-4 (4 credits required)
• SPED 5820 - Preschool Practicum with Young Children with Disabilities in Community Environments 5

Note:

¹After acceptance to the Special Education major and before beginning the practica, students are required to complete a background check for conviction of  violating any law (except traffic violations).

²SPED 5200  should be taken during the senior year.

³Students working toward the Birth to Age 5 Certificate are encouraged to complete either the mild/moderate disabilities endorsement or the severe disabilities  endorsement, as well as courses included in the Birth to Age 5 Certificate. For additional information, see the special education advisor.