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2023-2024 General Catalog 
    
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Special Education Online Practical Teacher Training (OPTT): Birth to Age 5 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 1050 - College Algebra (QL)  or MATH 1051 - Classical Algebra for Teachers (QL)  or STAT 1040 - Introduction to Statistics (QL)  or STAT 1045 - Introduction to Statistics with Elements of Algebra (QL)  

 

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

Freshman 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 1050 - College Algebra (QL)  or MATH 1051 - Classical Algebra for Teachers (QL)  or STAT 1040 - Introduction to Statistics (QL)  or STAT 1045 - Introduction to Statistics with Elements of Algebra (QL)  

4  or 4  or 3  or

5 

 
  Elective 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  

Teaching Support (suggested REH 1010 - Disability and Society (BSS) )

3

 

Elective

 

3

 

Total:

15-17

 

Total:

15

 
Comments
Comments

Freshman Summer

 Summer Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

 

Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes

Breadth Humanities (BHU) Course   3  

Breadth Integrated Studies Course

3

 

Elective

1

 

Total:

8

 
Comments
 

Sophomore 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     HDFS 4550 - Preschool Methods and Curriculum  or equivalent 3    
Breadth Creative Arts (BCA) Course   3   TEAL 2660 - Educational Psychology for Teachers   2    
University Studies Depth Course (DHA , DSC , or DSS ) 3   HEP 2000 - First Aid and Emergency Care   2    
Teaching Support 4   COMD 3200 - Child Language Development   3    
Elective 2   Elective  

Total:

15

 

Total:

16

 
Comments

Apply to SPED major by October 10th.

Comments

Sophomore Summer 

 Summer Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

 

Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

Communications Intensive (CI) Course   3  

University Studies Depth Course (different category)

3

 

Elective

3

 

Total:

9

 

Comments

Comments

Junior 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 5712 - Advanced Instructional Strategies for Preschoolers with Disabilities   3    
SPED 5711 - Introduction to Instruction for Preschoolers with Disabilities   3     SPED 5714 - Early Childhood Development and Social Competency: Implications for Intervention   3    

Total:

8

 

Total:

8

 
Comments
Comments

Apply for graduation

Junior Summer

 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    
SPED 5713 - Early Intervention: Services for Infants and Families   3    

Total:

7

 
Comments
 

Senior 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 5230 - Special Education Student Teaching (CI)  

3-15  
 

Enroll in 15 credits for first bachelor’s; 3 credits for second bachelor’s

SPED 5013 - Advanced Behavior Management and Instructional Strategies 

 

3 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total:

6

 

Total:

15

 

Comments 

Apply for student teaching

Comments

Major Course Requirements


Minimum Grade Requirements:

  • Grade of B- or better: All SPED and TEAL 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 C or better in all MATH and STAT 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 required in major coursework

Students are required to earn a grade of “B-” or better in all major courses (SPED, TEAL 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.

Professional Education (8 credits)


These courses must be passed with a grade of B- or higher before starting fall semester.

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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