Special Education (K-12) Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Special Education)
This program of study allows students to complete a baccalaureate degree in special education and also be licensed to teach special education, general curriculum, in grades K-12 at the end of four years. Students pursuing licensure in this manner complete all requirements necessary for Virginia licensure, including field experience and student teaching, at the end of four years.
Admission Requirements: Students in this program must seek admission to the teacher licensure program and apply for student teaching. See the education section for admission requirements and procedures.
Degree Planning: Students in this program must take courses as specified to ensure fulfillment of state licensure requirements.
Also, course rotations vary, and not every course is available each semester. Course rotations are specified in the Course Descriptions. Individual advising is important to ensure students meet all major and teaching licensure requirements.
Minimum Grade Requirements: A grade of a C or better is required in professional studies courses. Professional studies courses are those associated with teacher preparation. An overall 2.5 GPA is required.
Degree Requirements — Special Education Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Special Education)
This degree requires 120 credits.
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements. Some coursework fulfills teaching licensure requirements as specified by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
| ED 200 | Foundations of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| ED 254 | Technology for the K-12 Classroom | 3 |
| ED 323 | Literacy Instruction: Diagnosis and Corrective Strategies | 3 |
| ED 329 | Collaborative Models for Special Education | 3 |
| ED 339 | Individualized Education Programs and Strategies for the General Curriculum | 3 |
| ED 345 | Transition, Family, and Community Services for Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| ED 351 | Assessment to Support Learning in K-12 | 3 |
| ED 355 | Literacy Instruction for Diversity Learners: PK-2 | 3 |
| ED 358 | Teaching Mathematics and Science | 6 |
| | | |
| ED 366 | Secondary Teaching Methods in Science | 3 |
| | OR | |
| ED 367 | Secondary Teaching Methods in History and Social Science | 3 |
| | OR | |
| ED 368 | Secondary Teaching Methods in English | 3 |
| | OR | |
| ED 369 | Secondary Teaching Methods in Mathematics | 3 |
| | | |
| ED 449 | Strategies for Behavior Management for the Special Educator | 3 |
| ED 460SE | Student Teaching: Special Education * | 6 |
| EN 301 | The Writing Process: Theory and Practice * | 3 |
| MDS 480 | Senior Seminar * | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| PSY 341 | Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities * | 3 |
ED 449 and ED 460 SE must be taken at the same time.
Nine (9) credits in one of the following: biology, English, history, or mathematics, with at least one (1) class at the 300+ level.
Sample Degree Plan — Special Education Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Special Education)
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
| DSC 101 | DISCOVER First-Year Seminar * | 3 |
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
Year One — Spring
| BIO 120 | Introduction to the Biological World * | 3 |
| BIO 120L | Introduction to the Biological World Lab | 1 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Two — Fall
| ED 200 | Foundations of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| ED 254 | Technology for the K-12 Classroom | 3 |
| | | |
| EN 225 | Literary Superheroes * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EN 227 | Short Fiction * | 3 |
| | | |
| MA 127 | Applied Geometry * | 3 |
| | One (1) content area course | |
Content area courses will be chosen from biology, English, history, or mathematics.
MA 127: MT core course
Year Two — Spring
| EN 301 | The Writing Process: Theory and Practice * | 3 |
| PSY 341 | Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities * | 3 |
| | | |
| TRS 201 | Understanding Religion * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| TRS 202 | Religions of the World * | 3 |
| | | |
| | Fine Arts (FNA) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) content area course | |
Content area courses will be chosen from biology, English, history, or mathematics.
PSY 341: SS-2 core course
TRS 201 or TRS 202: TRS-2 core course
Year Three — Fall
| ED 345 | Transition, Family, and Community Services for Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| ED 351 | Assessment to Support Learning in K-12 | 3 |
| ED 355 | Literacy Instruction for Diversity Learners: PK-2 | 3 |
| | Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Content area courses will be chosen from biology, English, history, or mathematics.
Year Three — Spring
| ED 323 | Literacy Instruction: Diagnosis and Corrective Strategies | 3 |
| ED 329 | Collaborative Models for Special Education | 3 |
| ED 358 | Teaching Mathematics and Science | 6 |
| | One (1) content area course | |
Year Four — Fall
| ED 339 | Individualized Education Programs and Strategies for the General Curriculum | 3 |
| | | |
| ED 366 | Secondary Teaching Methods in Science | 3 |
| | OR | |
| ED 367 | Secondary Teaching Methods in History and Social Science | 3 |
| | OR | |
| ED 368 | Secondary Teaching Methods in English | 3 |
| | OR | |
| ED 369 | Secondary Teaching Methods in Mathematics | 3 |
| | | |
| MDS 480 | Senior Seminar * | 3 |
| | Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Four — Spring
| ED 449 | Strategies for Behavior Management for the Special Educator | 3 |
| ED 460SE | Student Teaching: Special Education * | 6 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.