The B.A. in special education allows students to complete a baccalaureate degree in special education with a choice of specializations - licensure or non-licensure. Students who choose the licensure specialization will be licensed to teach K-12 special education. Students pursuing licensure in this manner complete all requirements necessary for Virginia licensure, including field experiences and student teaching, by the end of four years. Students who choose the non-licensure specialization will not be required to meet the Virginia teacher licensure testing requirements.
Degree Requirements — Special Education K-12 (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. Special education majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: All majors must take ED 480 Senior Seminar and EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice. Majors must take an additional WI course from the Liberal Arts Core or as a university elective. Majors must also complete the GP requirement from the Liberal Arts Core or as a university elective.
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 an 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 200SL | 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 Diverse 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 480 | Senior Seminar * | 3 |
| EN 301 | The Writing Process: Theory and Practice * | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| PSY 341 | Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities * | 3 |
Licensure specialization: Add ED 449 and ED 460SE (which must be taken at the same time).
Non-licensure specialization: Add ED 433 (1-6 credits) and an elective or electives with approval from an education advisor.
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 K-12 (B.A. in Special Education)
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an education advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| CNCT 100 | Connections * | 3 |
| HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course (economics, politics, or sociology) * | 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 200SL | Foundations of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course - EN 225 or EN 227 recommended * | |
| | Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course (Advanced Literature recommended) * | 3 |
| | Mathematics (MT) core course - MA 127 recommended * | |
| | One (1) content area course | |
ED 200SL: DSINQ course
Content area courses will be chosen from biology, English, history, or mathematics.
Year Two — Spring
| EN 301 | The Writing Process: Theory and Practice * | 3 |
| PSY 341 | Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities * | 3 |
| | Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course - TRS 201 or TRS 202 recommended * | |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) in a third discipline or Second Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) content area course | |
Content area courses will be chosen from biology, English, history, or mathematics.
EN 301: DSINQ and WI course
PSY 341: SS-2 core course
Year Three — Fall
| ED 254 | Technology for the K-12 Classroom | 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 Diverse Learners: PK-2 | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - 2nd WI course if not already completed * | |
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 |
| | |
| ED 480 | Senior Seminar * | 3 |
| PH | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - 3rd DSINQ course required if not already completed * | 3 |
Year Four — Spring (specialization - licensure)
| ED 449 | Strategies for Behavior Management for the Special Educator | 3 |
| ED 460SE | Student Teaching: Special Education * | 6 |
| | One (1) elective - GP course if not already completed * | 3 |
Year Four — Spring (specialization - non-licensure)
The number of electives required for students in the non-licensure track varies with the number of credits for which they take ED-433. Students must take enough credits in electives to meet the university’s 120-credit requirement. Students must take a GP course if not already completed.