Special Education Online Practical Teacher Training (OPTT): Birth to Age 5 Emphasis - BA, BS

Minimum University Requirements

• Total Credits: 120
• Credits of C- or better: 100
• Total credits taken at USU: 30
• Credits of upper-division courses required for the major 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     

Admission 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 2.0 GPA.
• 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  

Major 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: 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.

• MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL) 4 credit(s) or
• MATH 1051 - Classical Algebra for Teachers (QL) 4 credit(s) or
• STAT 1040 - Introduction to Statistics (QL) 3 credit(s) or
• STAT 1045 - Introduction to Statistics with Elements of Algebra (QL) 5 credit(s) or
• STAT 1080 - Foundations of Data Science (QL) 3 credit(s)

•  

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

Professional Education (8 credits)

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

• HDFS 4550 - Preschool Methods and Curriculum 3 credit(s)
• SPED 4000 - Education of Students with Disabilities 3 credit(s)
• TEAL 2660 - Educational Psychology for Teachers 2 credit(s)

Birth To Age 5 Specialization (32-44 credits)

• First Year Fall:

• SPED 5011 - Foundations in Special Education: Instructional Strategies, Behavior Management, and IEPs 2 credit(s)
• SPED 5012 - Basic Behavior Management and Instructional Strategies (QI) 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5711 - Introduction to Instruction for Preschoolers with Disabilities 3 credit(s)

• First Year Spring:

• SPED 5014 - Foundations in Assessment 2 credit(s)
• SPED 5712 - Advanced Instructional Strategies for Preschoolers with Disabilities 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5714 - Early Childhood Development and Social Competency: Implications for Intervention 3 credit(s)

• First Year Summer:

• SPED 5015 - Law/Policies/Procedures 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5713 - Early Intervention: Services for Infants and Families 3 credit(s)

• Second Year Fall:

• SPED 5013 - Advanced Behavior Management and Instructional Strategies 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5016 - Technology and Collaboration for Teaching Exceptional Learners 3 credit(s)
• SPED 5018 - Eligibility Assessment 1 credit(s)

• Second Year Spring:

• SPED 5230 - Special Education Student Teaching (CI) 3-15 credit(s) (15 credits for first bachelor’s; 3 credits for second bachelor’s)

Teaching Support (15 credits)

• COMD 3200 - Child Language Development 3 credit(s)
• HEP 2000 - First Aid and Emergency Care 2 credit(s)

• 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)
• HDFS 2400 - Couple and Family Relationships (BSS) 3 credit(s)
• HDFS 2660 - Parenting and Child Guidance (HR) 3 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/

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 Online Practical Teacher Training (OPTT): Birth to Age 5 Emphasis BA, BS

• Special Education Online Practical Teacher Training (OPTT): Birth to Age 5 Emphasis BA, BS - 4 Year Degree Map