Special Education (B.S.)
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.
- 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
- 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 Cornerstone Welcome.
Program Requirements
All students must complete University General Education Requirements, the Cognitive Impairment concentration (some of these courses may also satisfy the University General Education Requirements), and the required courses for at least one grade band concentration (e.g., PK-3 or 3-6 grade band concentration). The total number of credit hours for the degree varies from 141 to 144 depending on how General Education Requirements are met.
Students may elect to complete the Adapted Physical Education K-12 concentration in addition to the requirements listed above. Electing to add the Adapted Physical Education K-12 concentration will result in 15 additional credit hours.
No grade below ‘C’ may be used to meet any requirement specific to the Special Education major or the PK-3 and 3-6 grade band concentrations.
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 SED 5000 and TED 2200, may be completed only after admission to the Special Education Program. All students must complete the Cognitive Impairment courses, as well as courses in at least one grade band (e.g., PK-3 or 3-6 grade bands).
Cognitive Impairment K-12
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SED 5000 | History, Philosophy, and Ethics of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 2 |
| TED 2220 | Foundations III: Foundations of Inclusive Schooling | 2 |
| SED 5075 | Consultation and Collaboration for Inclusive Teaching | 2 |
| SED 5080 | Supportive Environments, Engaged Learning | 2 |
| SED 5090 | Transitions for Students with Disabilities | 2 |
| SED 5110 | Introduction to Teaching Students with Moderate/Significant Support Needs | 3 |
| SED 5115 | Observation and Assessment of Students with Moderate/Significant Support Needs | 3 |
| SED 5121 | Language Development and Instruction for Students with Moderate/Significant Support Needs | 2 |
| SED 5125 | Teaching Students with Significant/Multiple Support Needs | 3 |
| SED 5130 | Teaching Students with Moderate Support Needs | 3 |
| TED 5790 | Directed Teaching and Conference for Special Groups | 6 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
PreK-3 Grade Band
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| TED 2020 | Technology Integration in Teaching | 3 |
| TED 2200 | Foundations I: Foundations of Education in Urban Spaces | 2 |
| TED 2205 | Foundations Field Experience | 1 |
| TED 2210 | Foundations II: Intersections of Culture, Language, Identity & Schooling | 2 |
| TED 2220 | Foundations III: Foundations of Inclusive Schooling | 2 |
| TED 5100 | Professional Engagement, Advocacy, and Instructional Planning | 2 |
| EDP 3310 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| MAT 1110 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I | 3 |
| MAT 1120 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II | 3 |
| SCE 2100 | Integrated Science Content PK-6 | 3 |
| SCE 2105 | Integrated Science Lab PK-6 | 1 |
| ELE 6020 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ELE 6205 | Literacy Foundations | 3 |
| ELE 6200 | Diverse Children’s Literature for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| ELE 6211 | Literacy Clinical Experience (PK-3) | 1 |
| ELE 6210 | Literacy Methods I (PK-3) | 3 |
| ELE 6225 | Literacy Methods II (PK-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6350 | Mathematics Foundations (PK-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6370 | Mathematics Methods (PK-3) | 3 |
| ELE 6375 | Mathematics Clinical Experience (PK-3) | 1 |
| ELE 6550 | Science Curriculum and Methods (PK-6) | 2 |
| SSE 5720 | Social Studies Disciplines for Elementary Teachers I | 3 |
| SSE 6720 | Social Studies Disciplines for Elementary Teachers II | 3 |
| ELE 6600 | Social Studies Methods (PK-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6100 | Planning and Implementing Preschool Curriculum | 3 |
| ELE 6800 | Methods for Integrated Curriculum and Pedagogy (PK-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6805 | Clinical Experience for Integrated Curriculum and Pedagogy (PK-6) | 2 |
| TED 5780 | Student Teaching & Seminar | 1-12 |
| Total Credits | 68-79 | |
3-6 Grade Band
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| TED 2020 | Technology Integration in Teaching | 3 |
| TED 2200 | Foundations I: Foundations of Education in Urban Spaces | 2 |
| TED 2205 | Foundations Field Experience | 1 |
| TED 2210 | Foundations II: Intersections of Culture, Language, Identity & Schooling | 2 |
| TED 2220 | Foundations III: Foundations of Inclusive Schooling | 2 |
| TED 5100 | Professional Engagement, Advocacy, and Instructional Planning | 2 |
| EDP 3310 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| MAT 1110 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I | 3 |
| MAT 1120 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II | 3 |
| SCE 2100 | Integrated Science Content PK-6 | 3 |
| SCE 2105 | Integrated Science Lab PK-6 | 1 |
| ELE 6205 | Literacy Foundations | 3 |
| ELE 6200 | Diverse Children’s Literature for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| ELE 6215 | Literacy Methods I (3-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6216 | Literacy Clinical Experience (3-6) | 1 |
| ELE 6225 | Literacy Methods II (PK-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6350 | Mathematics Foundations (PK-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6380 | Mathematics Methods (3-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6385 | Mathematics Clinical Experience (3-6) | 1 |
| SSE 5720 | Social Studies Disciplines for Elementary Teachers I | 3 |
| SSE 6720 | Social Studies Disciplines for Elementary Teachers II | 3 |
| ELE 6600 | Social Studies Methods (PK-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6500 | Science Curriculum and Methods (3-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6550 | Science Curriculum and Methods (PK-6) | 2 |
| ELE 6800 | Methods for Integrated Curriculum and Pedagogy (PK-6) | 3 |
| ELE 6805 | Clinical Experience for Integrated Curriculum and Pedagogy (PK-6) | 2 |
| TED 5780 | Student Teaching & Seminar | 1-12 |
| Total Credits | 65-76 | |
Adapted Physical Education K-12 Concentration (Optional)
Students may elect to complete the Adapted Physical Education K-12 concentration in addition to the requirements listed above.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses that are included in Cognitive Impairment or in either of the grade bands listed above: | ||
| SED 5000 | History, Philosophy, and Ethics of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 2 |
| SED 5080 | Supportive Environments, Engaged Learning | 2 |
| TED 2220 | Foundations III: Foundations of Inclusive Schooling | 2 |
| Additional courses required for the Adapted PE Concentration: | ||
| HPE 6400 | Physical Activity in Pediatric Disabilities (Additional courses required for the Adapted PE Concentration:) | 3 |
| HPE 6410 | Teaching Adapted Physical Activity and Sport | 3 |
| HPE 6420 | Teaching Aquatics to Special Populations | 3 |
| HPE 6430 | Physical Activity Assessment in Special Populations | 3 |
| HPE 6440 | Leadership Training and Practicum in Adapted Physical Education | 3 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |