Special Education-Secondary: Learning Disabilities, (B.A.)

Major Courses

• SED 200 - Foundations in Special Education Credit Hours: 3 ^*
• SED 209 - Human Development for Exceptional Learners Credit Hours: 3 ^*
• SED 300 - Curriculum Design and Strategic Interventions Credit Hours: 3 ^*
• SED 305 - Classroom Management and Behavior Strategies Credit Hours: 3 ^*
• SED 340 - Laws and Policies for Special Education Credit Hours: 3 ^*
• SED 360 - Technology for Special Education Credit Hours: 3 ^*
• SED 420 - Elementary Special Education Methods Credit Hours: 3 §*
• SED 421 - Secondary Special Education Methods Credit Hours: 3 §*
• SED 423 - Special Education Assessment Credit Hours: 3 ^
• SED 426 - Professional Practice and Collaboration Credit Hours: 3 ^*
• SED 430S - Seminar in Teaching Special Education: Learning Disabilities Credit Hours: 1 ^*
• SED 450S - Mentored Experience in Teaching Special Education: LD Credit Hours: 6 ^*

Secondary Education Professional Program

• EDU 140 - Exploring Critical Skills for the Professional Educator Credit Hours: 3 §
• EDU 140L - Professional Skills Lab Credit Hours: 0 §
• EDU 202 - Issues and Trends in Education Credit Hours: 2 §*
• EDU 230 - Educational Psychology Credit Hours: 3 ^*
• EDU 273 - Diversity Issues for Educators Credit Hours: 2 ^*
• EDU 360 - Integrating Technology in Teaching Credit Hours: 2 ^*
• EDU 336 - Teaching at the Secondary Level Credit Hours: 2 §* (or Minor methods course)
• EDU 425 - Reading Development in Middle and Secondary Content Areas Credit Hours: 3 ^*
• EDU 429 - Effective Classroom Management, Assessment, and Instruction Credit Hours: 3 ‡*
• EDU 430S - Seminar in Teaching-Secondary Credit Hours: 3 §*
• EDU 450S - Directed Teaching - Secondary Credit Hours: 3-9 ^* (3 Credit Hours required)

General Education

B.A. in Special Education-Secondary: LD Total Credit Hours: 131

Symbol Key

‡ Grade of “B” or better required.
§ Grade of “B-” or better required.
^ Grade of “C” or better required.
* This course has a prerequisite.
# Possible alternative course or exam option to fulfill this requirement.
π A major course that meets General Education requirements.
+ Possible waiver with a specified number of transfer credits upon first-time admission.

Special Education: LD Learning Outcomes

Candidates who major in special education with an endorsement in learning disabilities demonstrate a clear understanding of diagnostic and teaching methods to provide sound instruction and manage the instructional environment to best meet the needs of children with learning disabilities. Best practices are presented from a liberal arts perspective and include an emphasis on integrating Christian faith into teaching practice. Courses address all domains of the Model for Effective Teaching, designed to prepare teachers with both a broad understanding, in-depth skills, and practical application for teaching.

K-12 Certification Eligibility

These majors prepare students to apply for K-12 teacher certification with an endorsement in K-12 special education for students with learning disabilities (SM). When completed concurrently with an elementary or secondary education program, candidates may teach in both the regular education classroom at their level of study and in K-12 special education programs in schools. Candidates must pass the Learning Disabilities MTTC to be recommended for certification. Students certifying in secondary education with the K-12 learning disabilities endorsement must pass the Learning Disabilities MTTC and the MTTC in their content area minor in order to be certified in both areas. Refer to the School of Education handbook for further certification information.

Speech General Education Requirement Option

Students who successfully complete the interpersonal and presentation portions of EDU 140L  upon the recommendation of the School of Education faculty will fulfill the speech requirement for General Education. No credit hours will be earned for fulfillment of this requirement through EDU 140L .

Additional Internship Experience

SED 452 - Internship Site-based Experience II  (credit varies) may be recommended by the University supervisor and mentor teacher. This internship provides additional opportunities in the special education classroom for candidates who need more experience in the development of classroom techniques. The number of credits will be determined individually based on the specific number of weeks required for placement, as articulated in the student teacher policy.

Internship Placement

Due to the number of internship weeks required for initial certification in special education: LD, spring internships must begin in early January for successful completion. Students should not plan an interim class prior to spring internships A fall placement with the aforementioned configuration will continue past the fall semester and into the spring semester.

Teacher Education Information

More information about the Teacher Education Program can be found in the Teacher Preparation Program  section of this catalog.

Program Oversight

The special education majors are overseen by the School of Education. Courses with numbers ECE, EDU, RDG, SED, and TSL are administered by the School of Education. Questions about these majors should be directed to the program director.