Special Education Major with Teaching Certification Pre-K – 12

Liberal Arts Curriculum and General Education (PDE) Requirements

WRI 100 College Writing (WRI-1) 3 credits
WRI-2 satisfied in major with SPE 241 The Exceptional Child
ENG 101, 102, or 120 American or British Literature (HUM) 3 credits
Humanities Elective: US History Course Recommended (HUM) 3 credits
MAT 202 Mathematics for the Early Childhood Educator (ML) 3 credits
Math Elective: MAT 110 Probability & Statistics Recommended (ML) 3 credits

Ethics LAC 3 credits

PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology (SS) 3 credits
Social Science Elective (SS) 3 credits
DNC 209 Creative Movement and Embodied Learning (ART) 3 credits

Art Elective (ART) 3 credits

Science Elective w/lab (SCI) 4 credits

Science Elective (No Lab) (SCI) 3 credits

CCC 206 Sophomore Experience or other GS course (GS) 3 credits

First Year Experience (Traditional Students Only) 4 credits

FYS 1XX First-Year Seminar 3 credits
CCC 101 College Life 0.5 credits
CCC 102 Exploring Your Future 0.5 credits

Electives: 18 credits

Total credits for LAC /PDE requirements and electives: 62 credits

Required Education and Special Education Courses:

EDU 100 Foundations of American Education 3 credits
EDU 102 Educational Psychology 3 credits
EDU 151 Field Experience I 1 credit
SPE 241 The Exceptional Child: Special Education Process 3 credits
SPE 245 Field Experience II 1 credit (co-requisite SPE 241)
SPE 250 Subject Area Content Access 3 credits
ECE 207  Literacy Teaching and Learning (Pre-K to Grade 5)or EDU 211 Teaching Writing 3 credits
SPE 220 Evidence-Based Approaches (pre-req SPE 241) 3 credits
EDU 214 Reading in the Content Area 3 credits
EDU 359 Teaching the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Student 3 credits
SPE 310 Intensive Reading, Writing, and Mathematics 3 credits
SPE 315 Autism: Evidence-Based Practices 3 credits
SPE 333 Data-Driven Decision-Making: Screening, Assessment & Evaluation 3 credits
SPE 344 Adaptations, Modifications, and Assistive Technology 3 credits
SPE 347 Evidence-Based Approaches for Students with Emotional Disorders 3 credits
SPE 348 Low Incidence Disabilities 3 credits
SPE 355 Field Experience III: Special Education 1 credit
SPE 356 Field Experience IV: Special Education 1 credit

Student Teaching

SPE 375 Student Teaching: Special Education 9 credits
EDU 374 Professional Education Seminar 3 credits – must be taken with SPE 375
EDU 374 Professional Education Seminar 3 credits – must be taken with SPE 375

Total Special Education Major Credits = 58 credits

Total Major Credits = 120

Please note:

• Students may not be enrolled in any other courses during their student teaching semester.
• Students must complete the above courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• To officially declare the Special Education major, students must successfully complete 48 credits, and meet Basic Skills Testing requirements when applicable. As of the time of this document (April 2023) basic skills testing requirements have been waived for all students who formally declare the education major through July 8, 2025. Please note that testing requirements are subject to change by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) at any time.
• A grade of C- or higher must be earned in all education courses.
• Students who are not proficient in oral/written communication in the English language as determined by classroom performance and the evaluation of cooperating mentor teachers in Field Experiences may be required to take additional courses to meet basic competencies in English communication.

Students may pursue the Special Education major in the accelerated 3-year degree format, completing at least 120 credits in three years (with summer study) rather than the standard four. Please see the catalog section on “3-Year Bachelor Degree” programs for details.