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

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

Early Childhood Special Education   164
Elementary Special Education 148-151
Secondary Special Education 155-183

 

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, 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.

 

Requirements

Early Childhood Special Education Core Courses

HPER 210First Aid & CPR

1

SPED 237Special Needs in ECE

3

SPED 389Foundations of Special Education

3

SPED 330/PSYC 330Behavior Modification and Management

3

SPED 336/EC 336Social & Emotional Development & Guidance in ECE

3

SPED 338/EC 338Home, School, Community Relations

3

SPED 340Assessment & Documentation in Infant & Toddler Programs

3

SPED 343Classroom Accommodations and Modifications

3

SPED 344Augmented and Alternative Communication

3

SPED 387Learning Disabilities Practicum

1.00-2.00

SPED 396Special Education Law

3

SPED 400BSpecial Education Student Teaching

5

Students are required to take SPED 387 for 2 SH.

 

Elementary Special Education Core Courses

HPER 210First Aid & CPR

1

SPED 389Foundations of Special Education

3

SPED 330/PSYC 330Behavior Modification and Management

3

SPED 338/EC 338Home, School, Community Relations

3

SPED 350/EDUC 350Reading Assessment and Intervention

3

SPED 351/EDUC 351Remedial Reading Practicum

1.00-2.00

SPED 382Intellectual Disabilities

3

SPED 383Intellectual Disabilities Practicum

1.00-2.00

SPED 384Emotional Disturbance

3

SPED 385Emotional Disturbance Practicum

1.00-2.00

SPED 386Learning Disabilities

3

SPED 387Learning Disabilities Practicum

1.00-2.00

SPED 396Special Education Law

3

SPED 397Assessment of Students with Disabilities

3

SPED 400BSpecial Education Student Teaching

5

Students are required to take SPED 351 for a minimum of 1 SH.

Students are required to take SPED 383, SPED 385, and SPED 387 for a minimum of 2 SH each.

 

Elective Requirements (1-4 SH)

Choose one of the courses listed below

EC 204Sign Language II

4

EC 211Observations, Assessment, and Interpretation Techniques

3

EC 341Routines, Guidance & Learning Environments for Infants and Toddlers

3

HPER 333Adapted Physical Education

2

PSYC 360Introduction To Personality Theory

3

PSYC 370Psychology of Abnormal Behavior

3

SPED 237Special Needs in ECE

3

SPED 336/EC 336Social & Emotional Development & Guidance in ECE

3

SPED 343Classroom Accommodations and Modifications

3

SPED 344Augmented and Alternative Communication

3

SPED 388Autism Spectrum Disorders

3

SPED 395Transition

2

Secondary Special Education Core Courses

EDUC 318Reading in the Elementary School

3

HPER 210First Aid & CPR

1

EDUC 307Math Strategies in the Elementary and Middle School Classroom

3

SPED 330/PSYC 330Behavior Modification and Management

3

SPED 350/EDUC 350Reading Assessment and Intervention

3

SPED 351/EDUC 351Remedial Reading Practicum

1.00-2.00

SPED 382Intellectual Disabilities

3

SPED 383Intellectual Disabilities Practicum

1.00-2.00

SPED 384Emotional Disturbance

3

SPED 385Emotional Disturbance Practicum

1.00-2.00

SPED 386Learning Disabilities

3

SPED 387Learning Disabilities Practicum

1.00-2.00

SPED 389Foundations of Special Education

3

SPED 395Transition

2

SPED 396Special Education Law

3

SPED 397Assessment of Students with Disabilities

3

SPED 400BSpecial Education Student Teaching

5

Students are required to take SPED 351 for a minimum of 1 SH.

Students are required to take SPED 383, SPED 385, and SPED 387 for a minimum of 2 SH each.