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Special Education K-12 (B.A. in Special Education)

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.

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 both the licensure and non-licensure specializations need to take courses as specified to ensure fulfillment of state licensure or degree requirements. Also, course rotations vary, and not every course is available each semester. Course rotations are specified in the course descriptions. Individual advising by the School of Education 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 all Education courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA in all Education courses. 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 Requirements

See 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 an advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements. Some coursework fulfills teaching licensure requirements as specified by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Education Core

The following courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C and a minimum 3.0 GPA in all Education courses:
ED 200SLFoundations of Teaching and Learning

3

ED 254Technology for the K-12 Classroom

3

ED 309Special Education: Foundations and Characteristics of Exceptional Learners

3

ED 323Literacy Instruction: Diagnosis and Corrective Strategies

3

ED 329Collaborative Models for Special Education

3

ED 339Individualized Education Programs and Strategies for the General Curriculum

3

ED 345Transition, Family, and Community Services for Individuals with Disabilities

3

ED 351Assessment to Support Learning in K-12

3

ED 355Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners: PK-2

3

ED 378Teaching Mathematics Methods PK-6

3

ED 379Teaching Science Methods PK-6

3

ED 480Senior Seminar

3

Secondary Teaching Methods

Select one of the following, the course must be completed with a minimum grade of C and a minimum 3.0 GPA in all Education courses:
ED 366Secondary Teaching Methods in Science

3

OR

ED 367Secondary Teaching Methods in History and Social Science

3

OR

ED 368Secondary Teaching Methods in English

3

OR

ED 369Secondary Teaching Methods in Mathematics

3

Additional Requirements

EN 301The Writing Process: Theory and Practice

3

PSY 110Human Growth and Development *

3

Content Area Electives

Nine (9) credits in one of the following: biology, English, history, or mathematics, with at least one (1) class at the 300+ level.

Specialization Requirements

Licensure specialization: Add ED 460SE and ED 461 (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.

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 101Composition I *

3

PSY 110Human Growth and Development *

3

TRS 100Theological Inquiry *

3

HI History (HI) core course *

3

One (1) elective

3

EN 101: WR core course
PSY 110: SS core course
TRS 100: TRS core course

Year One - Spring

EN 102Composition II *

3

Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) core course *

3

Natural Science (NS) core course with lab (BIO 120 and BIO 120L recommended) *

4

Philosophy (PH) core course *

3

One (1) elective

3

EN 102: WR core course

Year Two - Fall

ED 200SLFoundations of Teaching and Learning

3

Literature (LT) core course *

3

Mathematics (MT) core course - MA 127 recommended *

3-4

Social Science (SS) core course *

3

One (1) content area course

Content area courses will be chosen from biology, English, history, or mathematics.

Year Two - Spring

ED 309Special Education: Foundations and Characteristics of Exceptional Learners

3

Depth in Sciences (DSCI) core course *

3

Depth in Humanities core course

3

One (1) content area course

Two (2) electives

6

Content area courses will be chosen from biology, English, history, or mathematics.

Year Three - Fall

ED 254Technology for the K-12 Classroom

3

ED 345Transition, Family, and Community Services for Individuals with Disabilities

3

ED 351Assessment to Support Learning in K-12

3

ED 355Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners: PK-2

3

EN 301The Writing Process: Theory and Practice

3

Content area courses will be chosen from biology, English, history, or mathematics.

Year Three - Spring

ED 323Literacy Instruction: Diagnosis and Corrective Strategies

3

ED 329Collaborative Models for Special Education

3

ED 378Teaching Mathematics Methods PK-6

3

ED 379Teaching Science Methods PK-6

3

 

Year Four - Fall

ED 339Individualized Education Programs and Strategies for the General Curriculum

3

 

ED 366Secondary Teaching Methods in Science

3

OR

ED 367Secondary Teaching Methods in History and Social Science

3

OR

ED 368Secondary Teaching Methods in English

3

OR

ED 369Secondary Teaching Methods in Mathematics

3

 

ED 480Senior Seminar

3

Depth in Faith and Reason core course *

3

One (1) elective

3

 

Year Four - Spring (specialization - licensure)

ED 460SEStudent Teaching: Special Education

6

ED 461Classroom Management in the PK-12 Classroom

3

One (1) elective

3

Year Four - Spring (specialization - non-licensure)

ED 433Research

1-6

Electives

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. Electives must be approved by the education advisor. 

* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.