Special Education Major
Students seeking full special education teaching certification must major in Elementary Education or Secondary Education/K-12 (including content area) in addition to the Special Education major. Other second majors, such as Communication Disorders or Psychology are unlikely to lead to full special education teacher certification.
36 credits
Required Courses: 36 credit hours
| SPED 120 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 236 | Foundations of SPED Instruction | 3 |
| SPED 258 | Seminar in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 280 | Practicum: Children and Youth with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 301 | IEP Development | 3 |
| SPED 312 | Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 336 | Methods in Instruction and Intervention for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 357 | Methods for Managing Students with Challenging Behavior | 3 |
| SPED 487 | Student Teaching: Special Education | 1-12 |
Special Education Sample Plan of Study
Special Education may not be a stand alone major. Typically students pair SPED with either ELED or SEED. Use those plans along with this plan to complete coursework for both majors. If not completing ELED or SEED, work with the Education Department Chair on substitution(s) for the SPED 487 Student Teaching requirement.
Following is one possible way to complete the major.
Students should fill in gaps with coursework required for the core curriculum and other majors/minors to take an average of 14 credit hours each fall and spring, and 3-4 credit hours each Interim. Total credit hours needs to be 124 for degree completion.
First Year
Fall Semester
| FYS 110 | First Year Seminar I (FS) | 4 |
| SPED 120 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Interim
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Spring Semester
| FYS 112 | First Year Seminar: Vocation | 1 |
| SPED 236 | Foundations of SPED Instruction | 3 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Second Year
Fall Semester
| SPED 258 | Seminar in Special Education | 3 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Interim
| SPED 280 | Practicum: Children and Youth with Disabilities | 3 |
Spring Semester
| SPED 301 | IEP Development | 3 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Third Year
Fall Semester
| SPED 312 | Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Interim
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Spring Semester
| SPED 357 | Methods for Managing Students with Challenging Behavior | 3 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
| SPED 336 | Methods in Instruction and Intervention for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Interim
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Spring Semester
| SPED 487 | Student Teaching: Special Education | 1-12 |