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Bachelor of Science: Special Education Application and Admission Special Education Faculty Program of Study Degree Worksheet*   Undergraduate Catalog*   Program Assessment System   Clinical Practice Requirements Certification in South Carolina   *Requires Adobe Acrobat

Education students must formally apply to the School of Education and take the Praxis I before they can continue in the degree program, typically second semester sophomore year.  The undergraduate major in special education (BS) includes 56 specific hours in general education, 42 hours for the major, 13 during the Clinical Practice semester, and 11 hours for electives. 

The special education courses include several that require observations in the schools and two field experience seminars with 40 hours of in-school work each semester.  Students elect from one of two strands: 

• Working with students with learning and emotional disabilities in the regular academic curriculum.
• Working with students with mental and emotional disabilities in a more functional curriculum.

The capstone "course" is the semester-long clinical practice experience. Students must submit an application to student teach one full semester prior to the semester of clinical practice (by the last day of drop/add).  Special education majors are supervised in the schools for field experience and clinical practice by experienced cooperating teachers (many of whom are former graduates of our programs) and professors.

NOTICE:  It is critical that students complete virtually all of the general education requirements before beginning the program of study.  The program begins each fall for juniors.   See the program worksheet.

All undergraduate candidates are required to meet assessment criteria at four decision points in the Undergraduate Assessment Plan to successfully complete the program. Students will be tracked using our Assessment System flowchart.

Until all the following requirements for admission to teacher education programs are met, candidates may not take any teacher education program courses except EDFS 201--Introduction to Education.

1. Complete program-specified minimum number of general education requirements.

2. Minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.

3. Passing scores on all three Praxis I tests.

4. Complete EDFS 201 with a grade of "C" or better.

5. Evidence of qualifications for teacher education program according to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

6. Three assessments of disposition to be completed by: 

• One general education professor
• EDFS 201 instructor
• Someone knowledgeable about candidate's involvement with children/youth.

7. Supporting evidence: 

• Basic technology competency
• Baseline self-assessment of knowledge, skills and dispositions related to the SOE Teaching and Learning Standards.

Transfer students must have transcripts evaluated by the Office of the Registrar to determine general course equivalence. All education courses and those that might be considered professional education requirements will be further evaluated by the School of Education.

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Program of Study
(56 Hours Required)

• Special Education Program Worksheet
  
  

  Semester	Fall	Spring
  Freshman	General Courses	General Courses
  Sophomore	General Courses	Professional Education Coursework -- 9 hours  (Must complete 9 hours of Professional Education coursework by graduation) *EDFS 201--Introduction to Education (3) Must be taken prior to all other education courses.
  Junior	General Courses Professional Education Curriculum Cont'd EDFS 303--Human Growth and the Educational Process (3) EDFS 326--Technology for Teachers (3) Specialized Curriculum -- 33 Hours (Must complete 33 hours of Specialized coursework by graduation.) EDFS 345--Intro to Exceptional Children and Youth (3) EDFS 411--Intro to Curriculum & Instruction for Students with Disabilities (3)	Specialized Curriculum Continued EDFS 330.SPE--Classroom Management (3) *EDFS 350--Field Experience in the Instruction of Students with Disabilities, Part I (3) EDFS 351-- Characteristics of Students with Emotional Disabilities (3)  +EDFS 352-- Characteristics of Students with Learning Disabilities (3) or #EDFS 353 -- Characteristics of Students with Mental Disabilities (3) EDFS 437--Educational Assessment of Students with Disabilities (3)
  Senior	Specialized Curriculum Continued  EDFS 412--Social Competence Instruction for Students with Disabilities (3) EDFS 425--Teaching Reading and Language Arts to Students with Disabilities (3) EDFS 426--Language Development and Communication Skills for Students with Disabilities (3) *EDFS 413--Field Experience in the Instruction of Students with Disabilities, Part II (3) and  +EDFS 427 -- Mathematics for Students with Disabilities (3) or #EDFS 422 -- Educational Procedures for Students with Mental Disabilities (3)	Clinical Practice - 13 hours (Must complete 13 hours of Clinical Practice work by graduation.) *EDFS 440 -- Clinical Practice In Special Education (12 hours)  EDFS 500: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (1)

*Field Experience Required.
# for Mental Disabilities/Emotional Disabilities Strand Only
+ for Emotional Disabilities/Learning Disabilities Strand Only

Clinical Practice Requirements

Special education students are required to successfully complete a 14-week full-time clinical practice experience in their primary area of specialization. The form "Application for Clinical Practice" should be completed one full semester prior to the semester of clinical practice (before the last day of drop/add). This form is available in the School of Education reception area. Students must post a 3.0 GPA in education and 2.5 GPA overall prior to Clinical Practice. During the clinical practice experience, students are closely supervised by a trained cooperating teacher and a college professor. Students also attend weekly seminars with their college professor. Students in South Carolina teacher training programs must complete the requirements of the ADEPT evaluation system.

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Certification in South Carolina

In addition to completing the requirements of the BS degree program and Clinical Practice, students desiring certification in South Carolina must pass specific areas of the PRAXIS National Teacher Examination and submit a packet of materials (application for Clinical Practice, check, finger prints) to the Director of the Office of Certification and Clinical Practice in The School of Education. 

Students in special education must pass the PRAXIS exams in special education core content knowledge (#0353) and each area of certification--learning disabilities (#0382), emotional disabilities (#0371) and/or mental disabilities (#0321). The specialty area tests should be taken after the characteristics courses, classroom management, and most of the 411, 412, 413, 437 courses are complete. Review sessions for the specialty area tests are conducted by special education faculty each semester (in October and February). Registration books for the PRAXIS are available in the School of Education office. Test scores must be sent directly to the School of Education (code R5113) and the South Carolina Department of Education (code R8108).

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