Academic Programs Catalog

College of Education

Undergraduate Program

The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree program with a major in special education.  This program is designed for students who plan to be certified as both a K-12 special education teacher and an elementary teacher.  The program combines preprofessional preparation in the learning disabilities area of special education and in elementary education.  Upon satisfactory completion of the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in special education, the bachelor's degree is granted.  However, in order for Michigan State University to recommend a person for an elementary teaching certificate with an endorsement in special education, that person must also complete the requirements for the Teacher Certification Internship Year Studies program described in the section on TEACHER CERTIFICATION in the Department of Teacher Education section of this catalog. 


Special Education

Admission      
To earn a degree in special education, students must apply and be admitted to the Teacher Certification Program administered by the Department of Teacher Education in the College of Education. Refer to Admission to the Teacher Certification Program in the Department of Teacher Education section of this catalog. Information about admission requirements and the application process can be found at http://education.msu.edu/academics/undergraduate/apply-teacher-prep.asp.

In addition to general admission requirements, applicants applying for admission to the Teacher Certification Program with a major in special education must also complete one or two supervised pre-admission experiences totaling at least 42 hours in the area of learning disabilities. Prospective special education students are strongly encouraged to talk with special education faculty about the potential value of sites for securing the required experience. Applicants to the special education program must submit a form verifying completion of the experience with the completed application. Only students who have completed the required experience will be considered for admission.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Special Education

  1. The University requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education.

    The completion of Mathematics 201 referenced in item 2. b. (1) below may also satisfy the University mathematics requirement.

    The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the Special Education major is met by completing Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education 301. That course is referenced in item 2. d. below.
    1. The following requirements for the major:
      a. Professional Education Courses (21 credits):
      All of the following courses with a grade-point average of 2.5 or above with no individual grade below 2.0:
      CEP 240 Diverse Learners in Multicultural Perspective  3
      TE 150 Reflections on Learning 3
      TE 301 Literacy, Learners and Learning in Context - Elementary (W) 3
      TE 403 Teaching of Science to Diverse Learners-Elementary 3
      TE 404 Teaching of Social Studies to Diverse Learners-Elementary 3
      TE 405 Teaching of Language and Literacy to Diverse Learners-Elementary 3
      TE 406 Teaching of Mathematics to Diverse Learners-Elementary 3
      b. Planned Program for Elementary Education for Special Education Majors (20 to 30 credits): 
      All courses are required unless otherwise stated. Some courses below are also required for or applicable to the Elementary Teaching Majors.  The Planned Program must total at least 20 credits that are not double-counted with the required teaching major. All candidates for elementary certification must pass each Elementary Planned Program course with a minimum grade of 2.0.
      (1) Both of the following mathematics courses (6 credits):
      MTH 201 Elementary Mathematics for Teachers I 3
      MTH 202 Elementary Mathematics for Teachers II 3
      Mathematics 201 and Mathematics 202 are required for the Elementary Mathematics Teaching Major in which case 0 credits count toward the Planned Program. Mathematics 201 and 202 are prerequisites for Teacher Education 406 and must be completed with a minimum grade of 2.0 prior to enrollment in Teacher Education 406.
      (2) The following course in children’s literature (3 credits):
      TE 348 Reading and Responding to Children’s Literature 3
      Teacher Education 348 is required for the Language Arts Teaching Major in which case 0 credits count toward the Planned Program. Teacher Education 348 is a prerequisite for Teacher Education 405 and must be completed with a minimum grade of 2.0 prior to enrollment in Teacher Education 405.
      (3) One of the following courses on language acquisition and development (3 or 4 credits):
      CSD 333 Oral Language Development 3
      ENG 302 Introduction English Language Studies 3
      LIN 200 Introduction to Language 3
      LIN 401 Introduction to Linguistics 4
      Special education majors are encouraged to take Communicative Sciences and Disorders 333, which is also required for the Learning Disabilities area of emphasis.  With a grade of at least 2.0, this course may be counted toward both the Planned Program and the Learning Disabilities requirements. Students completing the Language Arts Teaching Major may count one of the other courses toward the major, in which case 0 credits count toward the Planned Program.  Communicative Sciences and Disorders 333 can be applied to the Language Arts Teaching Major, in which case 0 credits count toward the Planned Program.
      (4) The following course on science in the elementary schools (3 credits):
      ISE 301 Science for Elementary Schools 3
      Integrated Science Education 301 is waived for the Integrated Science Teaching Major. Integrated Science Education 301 is a prerequisite for Teacher Education 403 and must be completed with a minimum grade of 2.0 prior to enrollment in Teacher Education 403.
      (5) The following U.S. History course (4 credits):
      HST 202 U.S. History to 1876 4
      History 202 is required for the Social Studies Teaching Major, in which case 0 credits count toward the Planned Program.
      (6) The following geography course (3 credits):
      GEO 204 World Regional Geography 3
      Geography 204 is required for the Social Studies Teaching Major, in which case 0 credits count toward the Planned Program.
      (7) One of the following arts courses (4 credits):
      IAH 208 Music and Culture (I) 4
      IAH 209 Art, the Visual, and Culture (D) 4
      IAH 241A  Creative Arts and Humanities:  Music and Society in the Modern World (D) 4
      IAH 241C  Creative Arts and Humanities:  Cultural and Artistic Traditions of Europe (I) 4
      IAH 241D Creative Arts and Humanities: Theater and Society in the West (I) 4
      IAH 241E  Creative Arts and Humanities:  The Creative Process (D) 4
      IAH 241F Creative Arts and Humanities: Traditions in World Art I (I) 4
      Students may use IAH 208 or 209 to satisfy the IAH 201-210 degree requirement and IAH 241A, 241C, 241D, 241E or 241F to satisfy the IAH 211-241 degree requirement. (4 credits may count toward both the Planned Program and the University’s Integrative Studies requirement in Arts and Humanities).
      (8) One of the following creative arts courses (3 credits):
      MUS 463 Methods and Materials of Elementary Music 3
      TE 430 Introduction to Arts in the Classroom 3
      TE 431 Learning through Drama 3
      TE 432 Learning through Movement 3
      THR 421 Creative Dramatics 3
      THR 422 Children's Theatre 3
      Language Arts Teaching Majors may apply one of these courses to the Language Arts requirements, in which case 0 credits count toward the Planned Program.     
      (9) The following health and physical education course (3 credits):
      KIN 355 Physical Activity and Health Education for Elementary Teachers 3
      c. Subject Matter Teaching Preparation (36 to 58 credits)
      Teaching Major. Four teaching majors (language arts, social studies, integrated science, and mathematics) are available for prospective elementary school teachers.  Elementary teacher candidates must choose one of the four teaching majors.  These majors, which are housed in the College of Education, provide prospective elementary teachers with the opportunity to focus academic studies in a set of closely allied subject areas that are central to the core curriculum in elementary and middle schools.  To enroll in one of these teaching majors, students must be admitted to the College of Education’s Elementary Teacher Certification Program.
      (1) Language Arts (36 to 46 credits)
      (2) Social Studies (49 credits)
      (3) Integrated Science (56 to 59 credits)
      (4) Mathematics (32 credits)
      d.  The following Area of Emphasis (19 credits):
      Learning Disabilities Area of Emphasis (19 credits):
      All of the following courses:
      CEP 301 Literacy Instruction for Students with Mild Impairments (W) 3
      CEP 449 Behavior Management in Special Education 3
      CEP 451 Models of Special Education Administration and Services 3
      CEP 452 Universal Design for Learning in the General Education Classroom 3
      CSD 333 Oral Language Development 3
      PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 4