The Early Childhood Special Education/Special Education Dual Certification Birth-Grade 12 named option in the Special Education, BSE no longer admits new students after Fall 2028 and the program will be discontinued Fall 2031. If you have any questions, please contact the department (see contact box).
Requirements
The Special Education: Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)/Special Education K-12 Dual Certification option will prepare students to work as educators and early interventionists for children with disabilities from birth through grade 12.
Prerequisite for Program Admission
This course must be completed by the end of the summer of the application year and is calculated into the major gpa required for graduation.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| RP & SE 300 | Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
ECSE/Special Education Professional Sequence
Students complete a four-semester sequence of professional courses after admission to the program. Although some courses may be completed prior to program admission, the remaining professional methods courses and clinical (field) experiences must be followed sequentially and taken in consecutive semesters unless a modification is approved. Class schedules for the professional sequence courses are determined in advance.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| CURRIC 550 | Methods, Materials and Activities in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| CURRIC 663 | Learning Environments for Initial Education Programs 1 | 3 |
| HDFS 262 | Development of the Young Child (preferred) 1 | 3 |
| or ED PSYCH 320 | Human Development in Infancy and Childhood | |
| RP & SE 320 | Introduction to Teaching in Special Education | 3 |
| RP & SE 435 | Overview of Early Childhood Special Education 1 | 3 |
| RP & SE 465 | Language and Reading Instruction for Students with Disabilities (also meets Communication B) | 3 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| RP & SE/CURRIC 365 | Teaching Mathematics in Inclusive Settings | 3 |
| RP & SE 455 | Early Childhood Special Education Methods: Inclusive Strategies for Infants and Toddlers | 3 |
| RP & SE 464 | Diagnosis, Assessment, and Instructional Planning in Special Education | 3 |
| RP & SE 472 | Methods in Transition and Vocational Education | 3 |
| RP & SE 475 | Special Education Practicum: Early Childhood and Elementary | 1 |
| RP & SE 475 | Special Education Practicum: Early Childhood and Elementary | 2 |
| RP & SE 510 | Partnering with Families and Other Professionals in Early Childhood Special Education 1 | 3 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| HDFS 663 | Developmental and Family Assessment | 3 |
| RP & SE 460 | Early Childhood Special Education Methods: Inclusive Strategies for Preschool and Early Elementary | 3 |
| RP & SE 466 | Diversity in Special Education | 3 |
| RP & SE 476 | Special Education Practicum: Secondary (Grades 4-12) | 3 |
| RP & SE 515 | Access to the General Curriculum for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| Select one 1 | 3 | |
| School and Society | ||
| History of American Education (also meets U.S./European history) | ||
| Development, Learning and Education Foundations in Special Education | ||
| Semester 4 | ||
| RP & SE 467 | Elementary Student Teaching Seminar | 2 |
| RP & SE 473 | Classroom Management for Inclusive Classrooms | 3 |
| RP & SE 477 | Special Education Student Teaching: Elementary (PK - Grade 9) | 10 |
- 1
May be completed prior to scheduled semester, including prior to program admission.
Four-Year Plan
Special Education Sample Four-Year Plan
Early Childhood Special Education/Special Education Dual Certification Option
This four-year sample graduation plan is designed to guide your course selection throughout your academic career; it does not establish a contractual agreement. Use it along with your DARS report, the Guide, and the Course Search and Enroll app to create a four-year plan reflecting your placement scores, incoming credits, and individual interests. You will likely revise your plan several times during your academic career here, based on your activities and changing academic interests. Consult with an academic advisor to develop a personalized plan of study and refer to the Guide for a complete list of requirements.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A (fall or spring semester) | 3 | Communication A (fall or spring semester) | 3 |
| RP & SE 300 | 3 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Liberal Studies course work | 9-12 | Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 |
| Liberal Studies course work | 3-6 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Liberal Studies course work | 10 | Quantitative Reasoning B | 3 |
| General Elective course work | 2 | Liberal Studies course work | 3 |
| General Elective course work | 6 | ||
| 12 | 12 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CURRIC 550 | 3 | RP & SE/CURRIC 365 | 3 |
| CURRIC 6631 | 3 | RP & SE 455 | 3 |
| HDFS 262 or ED PSYCH 320 (262 is preferred)1 | 3 | RP & SE 464 | 3 |
| RP & SE 320 | 3 | RP & SE 472 | 3 |
| RP & SE 4351 | 3 | RP & SE 475 | 1 |
| RP & SE 465 (also meets Communication B) | 3 | RP & SE 475 | 2 |
| RP & SE 5101 | 3 | ||
| 18 | 18 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HDFS 663 | 3 | RP & SE 467 | 2 |
| RP & SE 460 | 3 | RP & SE 473 | 3 |
| RP & SE 466 | 3 | RP & SE 477 | 10 |
| RP & SE 476 | 3 | ||
| RP & SE 515 | 3 | ||
| Select one1 | 3 | ||
ED POL/HISTORY 412 (also meets U.S./European history) | |||
| 18 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
- 1
May be taken prior to scheduled semester, including prior to program admission. A minimum of 120 credits is still required to complete the degree.