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.
| ED 200SL | Foundations of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| ED 254 | Technology for the K-12 Classroom | 3 |
| ED 309 | Special Education: Foundations and Characteristics of Exceptional Learners | 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 |
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.
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 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological 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
| BIO 120 | Introduction to the Biological World * | 3 |
| BIO 120L | Introduction to the Biological World Lab | 1 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| | Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) core course * | |
| | Philosophy (PH) core course * | |
Year Two - Fall
| ED 200SL | Foundations of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| MA 127 | Applied Geometry * | 3 |
| EN | Literature (LT) core course * | 3 |
| | Social Science (SS) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) content area course | |
MA 127: MT core course
Content area courses will be chosen from biology, English, history, or mathematics.
Year Two - Spring
| ED 309 | Special 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 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 | 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 (300+ level 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 |
| | Depth in Faith and Reason core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Four - Spring (specialization - licensure)
| ED 460SE | Student Teaching: Special Education | 6 |
| ED 461 | Classroom Management in the PK-12 Classroom | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 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.
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.