Elementary Education-Special Education, BS
Program Description
The Special Education – Learning Disabilities program expands the basic elementary education program to prepare teachers to work with students with learning disabilities from kindergarten through grade 12. Program features include extended field experience in regular and special education settings, and focused development of the knowledge and skills critical for effective teachers.
Graduates are prepared for elementary-level teacher certification in Michigan, which permits individuals to teach in self-contained classrooms at grades K-8, and in all subjects at grade K-5, as well as a Learning Disabilities endorsement for grades K-12. Individuals may also qualify to teach the subject of an optional academic minor in grades 6-8.
Students begin their studies with a focus on general education requirements and elementary planned program coursework. If they opt for an academic minor this coursework also begins in year one. They complete the initial professional education coursework in their sophomore year, and apply for formal admission to the program at the end of that year. By that time, they will have also passed the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification Professional Readiness Examination.
Special education and upper-level professional education coursework, along with the completion of the elementary planned program and optional minor, are the focuses for the junior and senior years. Students in the special education program complete two semesters of student teaching, one in a regular elementary education setting and one in a special education setting. These experiences are normally in the fifth year of the program, depending on the individual student’s progress through the program. Generally, student teaching will be in the Eastern Upper Peninsula or in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The Michigan Test for Teacher Certification Elementary Education and Learning Disabilities tests must be passed prior to beginning student teaching.
Note: Candidates who complete an optional minor and pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification subject test for that minor meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act and are considered “highly qualified” for the subject area of the endorsement shown on their Michigan teaching certificates.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Content Knowledge: Candidates apply appropriate depth of knowledge to engage learners in mastering content.
- Learner-centeredness: Candidates value the uniqueness of each individual through their commitment to learners and learner-centered processes.
- Pedagogical Knowledge: Candidates engage learners using a variety of instructional strategies and perspectives.
- Professional dispositions: Candidates demonstrate professional dispositions, assuming the full role of the teacher.
- Reflection: Candidates self-evaluate and reflect on feedback from others, including students, to continually improve their pedagogical practices.
Degree Requirements
Special Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDSE 301 | Intro to Special Education | 3 |
| EDSE 302 | Communication and Community | 3 |
| EDSE 320 | Intro to Learning Disabilities | 4 |
| EDSE 401 | Issue/Trends Imp Lrn Dis/Sp Ed | 3 |
| EDSE 403 | Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| EDSE 404 | Inst/Tech: Preschool to Adult | 4 |
| EDSE 480 | Student Teaching Sem: Spec Ed | 1 |
| EDSE 492 | Int/Suprv St Teach Learn Dis | 8 |
| PSYC 301 | Exceptional Child/Adolescent | 3 |
| Elementary Planned Program | ||
| MATH 103 | Number Sys/Prob Solv Elem Teac | 4 |
| MATH 104 | Geometry/Measurement Elem Teac | 4 |
| MATH 207 | Prin of Statistical Methods | 3 |
| BIOL 104 | Survey of General Biology | 4 |
| NSCI 101 | Gr Lks Reg: Laws of Nature | 4 |
| NSCI 102 | Gr Lakes Region: Geology & Res | 4 |
| POLI 110 | Intro American Govt/Politics | 4 |
| GEOG 201 | World Regional Geography | 4 |
| HIST 131 | United States History I | 4 |
| HIST 321 | History of Michigan | 2 |
| ENGL 180 | Intro to Literary Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 222 | Eng Grammar & Lang in Context | 3 |
| ENGL 335 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| CHLD 225 | Emergent Literacy | 3 |
| Total Hours | 81 | |
Academic Minor (Optional): Students may complete a teaching minor in either Language Arts or Mathematics (see the requirements in this catalog for these teaching minors).
Professional Education Sequence
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 101 | Self as Learner | 2 |
| EDUC 250 | Student Diversity and Schools | 4 |
| EDUC 301 | Educ Psych & Learning Theory | 3 |
| EDUC 330 | Reading Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 350 | Int Tech 21st Century Lrn Env | 3 |
| EDUC 410 | Corrective Reading Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 411 | Elem Lang Arts/Literacy Skills | 2 |
| EDUC 415 | General Instructional Methods | 2 |
| EDUC 420 | Math Methods Elem Teachers | 2 |
| EDUC 421 | Science Methods Elem Teachers | 2 |
| EDUC 422 | Soc Studies Meth Elem Teachers | 2 |
| EDUC 423 | Art Methods-Classroom Teachers | 2 |
| EDUC 424 | Hlth/Phy Ed Meth Cl Room Teach | 2 |
| EDUC 460 | Classroom Management | 2 |
| EDUC 480 | Directed Teaching Seminar | 2 |
| EDUC 492 | Directed Teaching | 10 |
| Total Hours | 46 | |
Formal admission to the program, qualification for student teaching, and successful completion of the program requires:
- Completion of the Professional Education Sequence courses with a grade of B- (2.70) or higher.
- Completion of all required courses in the education cognates and teaching minor with a GPA of 2.70 or higher and no grade below a C (2.00).
- Completion of the elementary planned program with a GPA of 2.70 or higher and no grade below a C (2.00).
- Completion of the General Education Core Requirements with a gpa of 2.00 or higher.
- Passing scores on all required Michigan Test for Teacher Certification tests.
The Elementary Education program undergoes periodic review, evaluation, and alignment with the Michigan Department of Education standards. Since program approval and renewal cycles vary, individuals should contact the School of Education regularly to confirm the current requirements of each program component. Graduates must meet the standards that are in place at the time of completion of their programs, in order to be recommended to the Department of Education for teacher certification.
General Education: All LSSU bachelor’s degree candidates must complete the LSSU General Education Requirements.
A minimum of 124 credits (at the 100 level or higher) must be earned for graduation with a cumulative gpa of 2.70 or higher. A gpa of 2.70 or higher is also required in your Major, and a gpa of 2.00 or higher is required in your General Education Requirements.