Special Education Licensure Programs (SELP)

The Special Education Licensure Program (SELP) provides professional preparation for undergraduate and graduate students as special education teachers. The program features exemplary teaching, scholarship and community service for the purpose of increasing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

The Special Education Program offers courses leading to licensure or additional endorsement in special education. A non-licensure option is also available.

Faculty

Christi Kasa, Ph.D., Department Chair and Associate Professor
Elaine Cheesman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Emily Nusbaum, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Laura Marshall, M.A., Senior Instructor
Scott Kupferman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Application and Admission

Visit our website for requirements.

Initial License in Special Education With or Without MA

In the newly designed program students will complete the requirements to be recommended for the initial license as Special Education Generalist.

Students in the Department of Special Education Initial Licensure Program are provided the experiences and academic support to learn how to meet the needs of all students with disabilities in the general education classroom. Students will be taught to focus on student strengths in order to support academic and social progress in inclusive environments. Course work and practicum placements will be linked by assignments. These carefully planned assignments will allow students to practice their skills and develop techniques and materials that will lead to their successful development as teachers.

The initial licensure is a cohort model program that begins each fall. The program requires students to take each class in the semester as indicated on the initial licensure program planning form. Students must commit to completing these courses in sequence.

Students have the option of taking two courses in the summer (SPED 5001 or SPED 5000) as unclassified students before they start the program.

The initial licensure program requires a significant amount of time spent working in the field. Applicants who anticipate problems in completing the 800 clock hour field experience courses of the program (4 week practicum, internship, and student teaching) should speak with a faculty member immediately in order to discuss their individual situation.

Applications and Admissions Requirements

Please visit our website for admissions information.

Course Requirements

First Year Courses - 25 Credit Hours

Fall (9 credit hours)

Spring (10 credit hours)

SPED 5020 - Significant Support Needs
TED 5570 - Elementary Literacy Methods
SPED 5030 - Elementary/Secondary Internship
(one day per week in the field)

Summer (6 credit hours)

SPED 5021 - Designing Positive Classroom Environments
SPED 5025 - Fieldwork in Inclusive Classrooms
(4 weeks - 1/2 day in the field)

*SPED 3000/5000 and 3001/5001 can be taken in the summer prior to beginning the program. Students would take this as an unclassified student. Both SPED 5001 and SPED 5000 will be offered in 8‐week sessions. SPED 5000 will meet the first 8 weeks of the semester and SPED 5001 will meet the second 8 weeks of the semester; both of these classes will have online components. Each 8‐week session will meet the requirements for a full semester course.

Second Year Courses - 18 Credit Hours

Fall (9 credit hours)

Spring (9 credit hours)

Total Hours for Initial Licensure: 43

Additional Courses For Master’s Degree - 9 Credit Hours

Students wishing to receive a Master’s degree will need to take three additional courses listed below. These courses can be taken at the same time as licensure courses or after the completion of the license. Courses must be taken in the order listed below. LEAD 5700 and SPED 5091 may be taken concurrently. LEAD 5700 must be taken before SPED 5090.

Undergraduate Licensure in Special Education

The College of Education and the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences (LAS) jointly offer the undergraduate special education licensure program. The LAS content area with licensure in special education requires approximately 124 semester hours of course work. This degree combines a liberal arts education with a content focus and a comprehensive special education teacher licensure program. Students in the undergraduate SELP will receive a BA in one of the five majors:

English
Biology
Geography
Spanish
History

Acceptance into the SELP requires a minimum of a 2.5 GPA, acceptance into the College of Letters of Arts and Sciences, and successful completion of the SELP application process.

Application and Admissions Requirements

Please visit our website for admissions information.

Course Requirements

First Year Courses - 25 Credit Hours

Fall (9 credit hours)

Spring (10 credit hours)

SPED 4020 - Significant Support Needs
TED 4570 - Elementary Literacy Methods
SPED 4030 - Elementary/Secondary Internship
(One day per week in the field)

Summer (6 credit hours)

SPED 4021 - Designing Positive Classroom Environments
SPED 4025 - Fieldwork in Inclusive Classrooms
(4 weeks - 1/2 day in the field)

*SPED 3000 and 3001 can be taken in the summer prior to beginning the program. Students would take this as an unclassified student. Both SPED 3001 & SPED 3000 will be offered in 8‐week sessions. SPED 3000 will meet the first 8 weeks of the semester and SPED 3001 will meet the second 8 weeks of the semester; both of these classes will have online components. Each 8‐week session will meet the requirements for a full semester course.

Second Year Courses - 18 Credit Hours

Fall (9 credit hours)

Spring (9 credit hours)

Total Hours for Initial Licensure: 43 Hours

Curriculum Planning Form

Print or view Undergraduate Initial Licensure Curriculum Planning Form.