Special Education, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science: Major in Special Education
The Special Education, BS is designed to prepare special education teachers for students kindergarten-age 22. An applicant must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 (A = 4.0), a minimum of 50 hours of prior experience with individuals with disabilities, and sophomore or higher standing prior to entering the professional education sequence of the program. A minimum of 125 semester hours of credit is required for graduation. To proceed to the five-semester professional education sequence, students must have completed all degree requirements outside of the professional education coursework.
Students pursuing teacher licensure programs in the College of Education (COE) must meet requirements in a series of sequential gateways. Included in the gateway requirements are successful completion of specified coursework, achievement of appropriate grade point averages, requirements for clinical experiences, and appropriate tests for the licensure area. Meeting all Gateway requirements leads to degree and licensure completion.
In order to be recommended for licensure, candidates are required to maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 (A = 4.0). Candidates in teaching licensure programs must maintain a C- or better in ALL content and professional education coursework. For teacher education licensure requirements applicable to all curricula, see the Council on Teacher Education.
Licensure requirements are subject to change without notice as a result of new mandates from the Illinois State Board of Education or the Illinois General Assembly.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science: Major in Special Education
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation Seminar | ||
| EDUC 101 | Education Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| Composition | ||
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced composition. Students are encouraged to select a course that will also meet a requirement in another general education area. 3 | 0-4 | |
| Language other than English | ||
| Three years of one language other than English in high school or completion of the third semester of college-level language | 0-12 | |
| Humanities/Arts | ||
| SPED 117 | The Culture of Disability | 3 |
| Humanities/Arts elective 3 | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies 3 | 9 | |
| One Western/Comparative Culture(s) | ||
| One US Minority Culture(s) | ||
| One Non-Western Culture(s) | ||
| Natural Sciences and Technology 3 | ||
| Life and/or Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Social/Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Intro Psych | ||
| Intro Experimental Psych | ||
| KIN 262 | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning 3 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning I (MATH 103 is recommended) | 3-4 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning I or II 3 | 3 | |
| Electives | ||
| Elective courses (if needed to complete the 125 hour graduate requirement) | 2-8 | |
| Professional Education Requirements | ||
| EDUC 201 & EDUC 202 | Identity and Difference in Education and Social Justice, School and Society (or program-approved equivalent courses) | 6 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Child Psych | ||
| Educational Psychology | ||
| Intro to Human Development | ||
or other approved course | ||
| SHS 320 | Development of Spoken Language | 3 |
| EDPR 250 | School & Community Experiences (LBS) | 4 |
| EDPR 420 | School Access & Supports (LBE) | 6 |
| EDPR 420 | School Access & Supports (LBS) | 6 |
| EDPR 420 | School Access & Supports (LBT) | 6 |
| CI 431 | Teaching Elementary Mathematics | 4 |
| CI 475 | Teaching Elementary Reading and Language Arts I | 4 |
| Special Education Core Requirements | ||
| SPED 317 | Characteristics & Eligibility | 3 |
| SPED 424 | Foundations of Assessment | 3 |
| SPED 426 | Preparing for Professional Practice | 3 |
| SPED 431 | Assistive Technology and Physical Disabilities | 2 |
| SPED 438 | Collaboration with Diverse Families in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 440 | Instructional Strategies I | 4 |
| SPED 441 | Instructional Strategies II | 4 |
| SPED 444 | Facilitating the Transition to Adulthood for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 446 | Curriculum Development I | 4 |
| SPED 447 | Curriculum Development II | 4 |
| SPED 448 | Curriculum Development III | 4 |
| SPED 461 | Alternative and Augmentative Communication and Literacy | 3 |
| SPED 470 | School-Wide Behavior Supports in Learning Environments | 3 |
| SPED 471 | Individualized Behavior Supports for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| Total Hours | 125 | |
TOTAL minimum hours include general education and professional education credits.4
- 1
Applicants may contact the Department of Special Education for further information on the prior experience requirement.
- 2
Six hours of ROTC upper level courses (300 level or above) can count toward the degree as free electives.
- 3
General Education Requirement: Courses must be selected from the Campus General Education Approved Course List.
- 4
The total hours required for the degree may be higher for students who do not complete the language other than English requirement in high school.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science: Major in Special Education
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| EDUC 101 | 1 | Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| EDUC 201 | 3 | PSYC 100 | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | SPED 117 | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) or General Education course | 4 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course (MATH 103 recommended) | 4 | General Education course (Humanities & Arts with a Cultural Studies; Western or Non-Western designation) | 3 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| EDUC 202 | 3 | CI 431 | 4 |
| EPSY 201, HDFS 105, or PSYC 216 | 3 | CI 475 | 4 |
| KIN 262 | 3 | SPED 317 | 3 |
| SHS 320 | 3 | SPED 424 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Elective course | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| EDPR 250 | 2 | EDPR 250 | 2 |
| SPED 431 | 2 | SPED 438 | 3 |
| SPED 440 | 4 | SPED 441 | 4 |
| SPED 446 | 4 | SPED 447 | 4 |
| SPED 470 | 3 | SPED 448 | 4 |
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| EDPR 420 (LBE) | 6 | EDPR 420 (Section: LBS) | 6 |
| SPED 444 | 3 | EDPR 420 (Section: LBT) | 6 |
| SPED 461 | 3 | SPED 426 | 3 |
| SPED 471 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 125 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science: Major in Special Education
- Students will develop a deep understanding of central concepts, tools of inquiry and structures of the discipline of special education and of the content they teach.
- Students will apply multiple methods of assessment to generate data for use in monitoring learner progress and guiding teacher decision-making.
- Students will demonstrate consistently in their practice a commitment to fairness, collaboration, professionalism, and the belief that all students can learn.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science: Major in Special Education
College of Education
Education Building, 1310 S. Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
College of Education website
Department of Special Education
288 Education Building
Special Education email
Phone: (217) 333-0260
Department of Special Education website
Department of Special Education faculty
Office of Undergraduate Programs
110 Education Building
Education Academic Affairs email
(217) 333-2800
Admissions & Academics website
Student Academic Affairs website