Bachelor of Science in Education - Special Education
The special education curriculum leads to a bachelor’s degree in education and certification in the area of cognitive impairment.
Admission: Level 1
Entry to the College of Education
All students intending to pursue a teaching curriculum who enter the University directly from high school, or transfer from other colleges are directly admitted by the University Admissions Office into the College of Education in Level 1 status.
Admission: Level 2
Entry to Professional Education Sequence
The standards listed below apply to those students entering the College of Education at Level 2: those working for a secondary or elementary school teaching certificate; those in a combined degree program; and those previously admitted at the freshman or sophomore level to the College of Education.
Eligibility for admission is based on the following criteria:
- Satisfactory completion of fifty-three semester or eighty quarter credits of course work with an overall grade point average of 2.5 or above. In addition, the grade point average for any courses taken at Wayne State University must be 2.5 or above. This coursework should generally conform to the Level 1 courses prescribed by the College for students who expect to prepare for teaching. The quality of work, especially in the major area, must indicate a strong potential for success in a teacher-education program.
- Intermediate Composition Competency Requirement: All Education students must satisfactorily complete the University intermediate composition competency requirement prior to admission.
- Completion of Michigan's Basic Skills Examination for Teacher Candidates: Currently, this requirement is met by scoring a 480 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test (taken March 2016 and thereafter) and a score of 530 on the SAT Math test (taken March 2016 and thereafter). SAT scores must be reported directly to Wayne State University. Make sure to select Wayne State (code 1898) when registering for the test as one of the institutions when you would like official scores sent. When requesting scores be sent to Wayne State after the test please contact SAT customer service at (866) 756-7346. A fee will be assessed for sending scores more than 9 days after the test is completed. Students that completed all or part of the Basic Skills Test, Professional Readiness Examination, ACT and/or Michigan Merit Exam (MME), should see an advisor.
- Physical Health: Definite standards of health must be met by all students entering the College. All students are required to present a negative tuberculosis (T.B.) test prior to admission.
- Group Work Experience: All students must have verifiable successful group work (forty hours) experience with children.
- Criminal History Check: All students must submit a current (within the last six months) statewide criminal history check.
- Elementary Education: Students seeking admission to Elementary Education must complete MAT 1110 and MAT 1120 or have appropriate prerequisite math course in progress.
- Special Education: Students seeking admission to Special Education must have completed the following courses:
Course List Code Title Credits MAT 1110 Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I (or have appropriate prerequisite math course in progress) 3 PSY 1010 Introductory Psychology 4 PSY 2400 Developmental Psychology 4 Select one of the following: 3-4 Biology Today An Introduction to Life Basic Life Diversity Basic Life Mechanisms Biological Sciences for Elementary and Middle School Teachers - Secondary Education: Students seeking admission to Secondary Education must have twelve-semester credits completed in the major
- Specific Prerequisites or other special requirements of the curriculum area for which the student is applying.
Application for Level 2 Standing
Upon completion of a minimum of fifty-three-semester credits of college coursework and all other Level 2 admission requirements, students should apply for College of Education Level 2 standing. Applicants who have completed college work in institutions other than Wayne State must first apply for admission through the University Office of Admissions.
Students who intend to receive degrees from other colleges in the University AND a teaching certificate from the College of Education must apply to the Combined Program through Academic Services, 489 Education Building. All applicants to Level 2 must attend an orientation session.
The entire program in Special Education requires a minimum of 140 credits. All students must complete the College Requirements, the Special Education Comprehensive Major, Level 2 Education Requirements and the major area of study (Special Education Cognitive Impairment) as outlined below.
LEVEL 1 REQUIREMENTS: The following courses are required of all students seeking special education certification. Some of these courses may also satisfy the University General Education Requirements.
No grade below ‘C’ may be used to meet any requirement specific to Special Education, the Special Education major, or the professional sequence.
College Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| American Society and Institutions (AI) | ||
| American Government | ||
or PS 1030 | The American Governmental System | |
| Critical Thinking (CT) | ||
| Foreign Culture (FC) | ||
| Historical Studies (HS) | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| World Civilization to 1500 | ||
or HIS 1300 | Europe and the World: 1500-1945 | |
or HIS 1400 | The World Since 1945 | |
| Life Sciences (LS) | ||
| Introductory Psychology | ||
or PSY 1020 | Elements of Psychology | |
| Mathematics 1 | ||
| Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I | ||
| Oral Communication (OC) | ||
| Philosophy and Letters (PL) | ||
| Physical Sciences (PS) | ||
| Social Sciences (SS) | ||
| World Regional Patterns | ||
| Economics, select one of the following: | ||
| Survey of Economics | ||
or ECO 2010 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
or ECO 2020 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| Visual and Performing Arts (VP) | ||
| Integrating the Arts into the Elementary Classroom (Completed after admission to Level 2) | ||
| Written Communication | ||
Basic Composition (BC) | ||
| 1 | The mathematics requirement is not part of the University's general education program. |
Special Education Comprehensive Major
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Literature | ||
| Children's Literature for Teachers | ||
| U.S. History (Two courses) | ||
| American Foundations to 1877 | ||
| Modern America: Since 1877 | ||
| Michigan History | ||
| History of Michigan | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Biology | ||
| Biology Today | ||
or BIO 1050 | An Introduction to Life | |
or BIO 1500 | Basic Life Diversity | |
or BIO 1510 | Basic Life Mechanisms | |
or SCE 5010 | Biological Sciences for Elementary and Middle School Teachers | |
| Physical Science | ||
| Physical Sciences for Elementary and Middle School Teachers | ||
| Earth/Space Science | ||
| Earth/Space Science for Elementary and Middle School Teachers | ||
| Health and Physical Education | ||
| Health and Physical Education for the Elementary School Teacher | ||
| Teacher Education | ||
| Becoming an Urban Educator | ||
Level 2 Education Requirements (Special Education)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The following courses may be completed in Level 1 or 2 | ||
| Multicultural Education in Urban America | ||
| Educational Psychology | ||
| Family, Community and School Partnerships: Supporting Children's Learning | ||
| The following courses must be taken prior to TED 5150 Pre-Student Teaching | ||
| Reading Instruction: P-8 | ||
One additional method course (see Advisor) | ||
| Pre-Student Teaching Experience | ||
| Analysis of Elementary Teaching | ||
| The following courses may be elected at any time after admission to the College of Education Level 2 and must be completed prior to taking TED 5780 | ||
| Integrating the Arts into the Elementary Classroom 2 | ||
| Language Arts Instruction: P-8 | ||
| Reading Instruction: P-8 | ||
| Mathematics Instruction: P-8 | ||
| Science Curriculum: P-8 | ||
| Social Studies Curriculum: P-8 | ||
| Developmental Reading I: Comprehension Preprimary-8 | ||
| Elementary Field Experience | ||
| Directed Teaching and Conference | ||
| Final Field Experience | ||
| Directed Teaching and Conference for Special Groups | ||
| Seminar in Special Education Teaching | ||
| 2 | Prereq: ELE 6310 and two additional Elementary Methods courses |
| 3 | Prereq: ELE 6310 |
Major Areas of Study (Special Education)
Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in education leading to an endorsement in Cognitive Impairment must complete the following major requirements. The courses cited in the major, with the exception of TED 6020, may be completed only after admission to the Special Education Level 2 Program.
Cognitive Impairment (a minimum of thirty credit hours)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Education of Exceptional Children | ||
| Language Acquisition and Educational Interventions for Students with Moderate to Severe Impairment | ||
| Developing Observation and Assessment Skills: Laboratory/Seminar | ||
| Transitions for Students with Disabilities | ||
| Introduction to Cognitive Impairment and Educational Interventions | ||
| Curriculum and Instructional Strategies: Cognitive Impairments | ||
| Behavior Management: Positive Behavior Support | ||
| Effective Instructional Strategies for Exceptional Learners | ||
| Support and Collaboration for Inclusive Teaching | ||
| Computer Applications in Teaching I |