Special Education B.S.ED. Dual Certification/Double Major

Required credits to graduate with this dual certification/double major degree:

Special Education Program Goals

The goal of the special education program is to prepare teacher candidates for entry to special education professional practice with the knowledge and skills to practice safely, ethically and effectively with a multi-categorical population of students with special needs. The program consists of a double major in professional education (early childhood, elementary or secondary) and special education as candidates must master appropriate core academic subject matter as well as be prepared for the complex challenges of teaching individuals with exceptional learning needs. The skills of general educator and special educator complement each other, and as such, dual certification is a goal of this program. The special education program seeks to prepare students to:

• Apply specialized pedagogical knowledge and skills.
• Master appropriate core academic subject matter content.
• Demonstrate instructional strategies and assessments that are developmentally appropriate for diverse learners.
• Observe, document, and analyze characteristics, behaviors and learning environments of populations with special needs.
• Apply effective verbal and non-verbal communication, multi-media, computers, and current technology skills in specialized settings.
• Demonstrate professional dispositions and ethical practice through collaborative interactions

Students desiring certification as an entry level special educator (strategist) must complete the essential studies requirements for the baccalaureate degree and double major in both professional education (early childhood, elementary or secondary) and special education. Professional education core requirements are established for early childhood education, elementary education and secondary education degrees. Secondary education requires additional study in the content area of choice. Special education majors must complete at least 5 semester hours of student teaching in special education in addition to the 10 semester hour core requirement. The special education major is offered both entirely online and through a hybrid of online and on campus courses; the major can also be added to existing baccalaureate degrees with a minimum of 30 unduplicated additional credits.

Special Education majors must complete 36 hours of essential studies. The following Essential Studies courses require a minimum grade of "C": COMM 110, ENGL 110, ENGL 120 or ENGL 125, GEOG 103, MATH 103 or 104, and PSYC 111. Follow all prerequisites for their respective certification level and the Teach Education program. 

A list of approved essential studies courses is available here.

Criteria for Admission, Continuance, and Exiting the Teacher Education Program

Student Learning Outcomes:

• SLO 1: Learner & Learning: Students understand diversity in learning and developmental processes and create supportive and safe learning environments for students to thrive.

• SLO 2: Content: Students understand subject matter deeply and flexibly so they can advance their students’ learning, address misconceptions and apply ideas to everyday life.

• SLO 3: Instructional Practice: Students will plan instruction, utilize effective instructional strategies and technologies, and continuously assess students for mastery and decision-making purposes.

• SLO 4: Professional Responsibility: Students will take responsibility for student learning, collaborative relationships, their own professional growth, and the advancement of the profession.