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2022-2023 General Catalog 
    
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Special Education Online Practical Teacher Training (OPTT): Severe Emphasis - BA, BS


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Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling

USU OPTT is an innovative, online special education preparation program specifically designed for individuals currently working in a Utah school as a special education teacher or a special education paraprofessional. Applicants may choose to specialize in either birth to age 5 special education, K-12 severe, or K-12 mild/moderate disabilities, and will be fully qualified for special education licensure upon completion of this 5-semester program (fall-spring-summer-fall-spring). The program will be longer for applicants who are completing a first bachelor’s degree.

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  • For more information about Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling, see the website.
  • Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that student-specific plans may differ.
  • Admitted students must meet with an academic advisor. Current students should also meet with an academic advisor, and log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
  • Students following the recommended schedule listed below should be able to complete degree requirements in four years (eight semesters). 

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits 120

 

Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)

2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better 100 Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above) 40
Total USU Credits 30 Upper-division USU Credits 20
USU Credits within the Major 10 Credits in Minor (if required) 12
Credits in Major see below Credits in American Institutions 3
General Education Requirements   see link University Studies Depth Requirements   see link
NOTES: The highest math requirement for this degree is MATH 2020: Euclidean Geometry and Statistics for Elementary Education School Teachers (QI) .

 

Admissions Requirements for Pre-Special Education Program

New freshmen Admitted to USU in Good Standing

 

Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU 3.0 GPA

First Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

ENGL 1010: Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1)   3     HDFS 1500: Human Development Across the Lifespan (BSS)   3    
MATH 1051: Classical Algebra for Teachers (QL)  or  MATH 1050: College Algebra (QL)    4  or 4     MATH 2020: Euclidean Geometry and Statistics for Elementary Education School Teachers (QI)   3    
Breadth American Institutions (BAI) Course   3   Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS) Course   3  
Breadth Life Sciences (BLS) Course   3   Teaching Support (suggested SPED 4910: Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities  3  

Elective

3

 

Elective

3

 

Total:

16

 

Total:

15

 
Comments
Comments

First Year Summer Semester

 Summer Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

Teaching Support

3

 

 

Breadth Humanities (BHU) Course   3  

Total:

6

 
Comments\

Take PRAXIS 5001.

Comments

Second Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

ENGL 2010: Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2)   3     ELED 3100: Classroom Reading Instruction   3    
MATH 2010: Algebraic Thinking & Number Sense for Elementary Education School Teachers (QI)   3     TEAL 2660: Educational Psychology for Teachers   2    
Teaching Support (suggested REH 1010: Disability and Society (BSS)  3   SPED 4000: Education of Students with Disabilities   2    
University Studies Depth Course 3   HEP 2000: First Aid and Emergency Care   2    
Elective 3   COMD 3010: American Sign Language I (CI)   4    

 

 

 

Elective

3

 

Total:

15

 

Total:

16

 
Comments

Apply to SPED major by October 10th.

Comments

Second Year Summer Semester 

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

Elective

3

 

 

University Studies Depth Course (different category)

3

 

Breadth Creative Arts (BCA) Course   3  

Total:

9

 

Comments

Comments

Third Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

SPED 5011: Foundations in Special Education: Instructional Strategies, Behavior Management, and IEPs   2     SPED 5014: Foundations in Assessment   2    
SPED 5012: Basic Behavior Management and Instructional Strategies (QI)   3     SPED 5512: Curriculum for Students with Severe Disabilities: Life Skills: Content and Application   6    
SPED 5511: Reading/LA, Math, and Science for Students with Severe Disabilities: Content and Applications   6          

Total:

11

 

Total:

8

 
Comments
Comments

Third Year Summer Semester

 Summer Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes

SPED 5015: Law/Policies/Procedures  

3 

 

 

 

SPED 5018: Eligibility Assessment  

1 

 

 

Total:

4

 
Comments
Comments

Fourth Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

SPED 5016: Technology and Collaboration for Teaching Exceptional Learners   3     SPED 5017: Transition Planning and Collaboration for Exceptional Learners   3    
SPED 5013: Advanced Behavior Management and Instructional Strategies   3     SPED 5230: Special Education Student Teaching (CI)   3-15   15 credits for first bachelor’s; 3 credits for second bachelor’s.

Total:

6

 

Total:

18

 
Comments
Comments

Major Course Requirements


Minimum Grade Requirements:

  • Grade of B- or better: All SPED, TEAL and ELED courses (except SPED 4910 SPED 5230  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 B- or better in all MATH courses
  • 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.

Diversity Requirement


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/

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