About the Program
Special Education meets the unique needs of individuals with disabilities by preparing professionals with the knowledge, disposition, and skills necessary to effectively serve individuals with diverse needs. The undergraduate program is grounded in evidence-based practices that emphasizes (a) creating connections between subject matter knowledge and teaching, (b) valuing the diverse characteristics of students and the ability to address the needs of all students, and (c) understanding the contextual aspects of teaching (e.g., the organizational and policy context).
The program links courses with field experiences in partner school and non-school settings. Particular attention is given to specialized skills to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities - serving students in various school and community settings; developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); engaging in data-driven decision making; and developing instructional, material and environmental modifications. All of these competencies are beyond the knowledge required for general educators.
A Special Education K-6 graduate is qualified to teach children with or at risk for disability who require mild to intense supports from kindergarten through grade 6 (K-6). Graduates are prepared to support students across a continuum of placements and to collaborate with a variety of professionals to meet the needs of students. The Special Education K-6 Plan of Study outlines the required courses to complete the degree for licensure. This program meets state and national licensure standards and is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the State of Indiana, State Board of Education. Admission to and successful completion of the Teacher Education Program (TEP) are required.
For more information about the degree program, visit the COE Office of Advising and Recruiting. For teacher licensure information, visit the Office of Teacher Education and Licensure.
Special Education: Mild & Intense Intervention Major Change (CODO) Requirements
College of Education Pass/No Pass Option Policy
Education majors (which includes the total credit hour requirement to fulfill General Education: Educational Studies and General Education: Curriculum & Instruction) are not eligible to receive P/NP for required courses on your plan of study. Only electives and courses at the 500+ level can have a grade mode change.
Spring 2020 was the only exception approved for the entire campus.
World Language Courses
World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japenese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS=Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish)
Critical Course
The ♦ course is considered critical.
In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major. Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful. These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”.
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