Special Education (Elementary Education) - Bachelor of Science in Education
The undergraduate special education program is an CAEP accredited program designed to prepare teacher candidates for dual licensure in special education and elementary education. The B.S. Special Education (Elementary Education) degree embeds the Language Arts Teaching Field/Concentration and the Bilingual/TESL endorsements. Note: For certification in the State of New Mexico the Bilingual/TESL endorsements require 6 credits of a language other than English. Students graduate with the preparation to teach in environments across the continuum of special education services. In addition to special education coursework, students complete an academic teaching field within their major.
All students wishing to complete a degree in Special Education must apply to the Teacher Education Program. Additional information on the application process can be obtained from the College of Education Educational Support and Resource Center or on the departmental website. A 2.75 minimum GPA is required for admission to the Teacher Education Program, and a 2.75 minimum GPA must be maintained for graduation. Students must earn a “C-“ or better in all education, TEP prerequisite, endorsement, and teaching field courses.
Students should meet with the College of Education Undergraduate Resource Center to plan appropriate general education courses for a special education major. See “General Requirements” in the “College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation” section. Students must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program as a condition for enrolling in courses that lead to licensure. Students must pass ENGL, MATH, all education, and teaching field/concentration courses with a C- or better.
Teaching Field: Language Arts
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 129 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 3000 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Area I: Communications | ||
| English Composition - Level 1 | ||
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I 1 | 4 |
| English Composition - Level 2 | ||
| ENGL 2221G | Writing in the Humanities and Social Science 1, 2 | 3 |
| or ENGL 2130G | Advanced Composition | |
| Oral Communication | ||
| COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication 2,3 | 3 |
| or COMM 1130G | Public Speaking | |
| Area II: Mathematics | ||
| MATH 2134G | Fundamentals of Elementary Math II 1 | 3 |
| Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences | 11 | |
| Human Growth and Behavior | 3 | |
Area III: Laboratory Sciences Course (8 credits) 4 | ||
| Area V: Humanities | ||
| HIST 1130G | World History I | 3 |
| or HIST 1140G | World History II | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts | ||
| Choose one from the following courses | 3 | |
| Orientation in Art | 3 | |
| Dance Appreciation | 3 | |
| Music Appreciation: Western Music | 3 | |
| Introduction to Theatre | 3 | |
| General Education Elective | ||
| HIST 1110G | United States History I | 3 |
| or HIST 1120G | United States History II | |
| Viewing the Wider World 5 | 6 | |
| Departmental/College Requirements | ||
| Education Core Requirements | ||
| BLED 1110 | Introduction n Bilingual Education/ESL 1, 6 | 3 |
| SPED 3105 | Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society 1 | 3 |
| EDLT 3110 | Integrating Technology with Teaching 1 | 3 |
| SPED 4220 | Classroom Management for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| SPED 4210 | Introduction to Assessment of Diverse Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| SPED 4120 | High Incidence Disabilities in a Diverse Society 3 | 3 |
| SPED 4110 | Low Incidence Disabilities in a Diverse Society 3 | 3 |
| SPED 4811 | Practicum in Education, Equity and Cultural Diversity 3 | 3 |
| Student Teaching | ||
| SPED 4820 | Student Teaching SPED 2 | 9 |
| SPED 4840 | Special Education/ Secondary Student Teaching Seminar | 3 |
| Elementary Education Teaching Methods | ||
| Block A | ||
| BLED 3130 | Language, Literacy, and Culture in the ESL Classrooms 3,6 | 3 |
| EDUC 4310 | Methods of Teaching Elementary School Science 3 | 3 |
| EDUC 4320 | Methods of Teaching Elementary School Mathematics 3 | 3 |
| READ 4310 | Elementary School Literacy I 2,3 | 3 |
| SPED 3120 | Elementary Curriculum, Methods, and Materials for Special Education in a Diverse Society 3 | 3 |
| Block B | ||
| BLED 3120 | Sheltered English Instruction for the ESL Classroom 3,6 | 3 |
| EDUC 4330 | Methods of Teaching Elementary School Social Studies 3 | 3 |
| BLED 4110 | Second Language Acquisition 3,6 | 3 |
| READ 4320 | Elementary School Literacy II 2,3 | 3 |
| READ 3110 | Instruction for Special Reading Needs 2,3 | 3 |
| Remaining Bilingual/TESOL Courses | ||
| BLED 2110 | Bilingual Methods 1, 6 | 3 |
| BLED 3140 | Issues in Schooling for Bilingual Learners 6 | 3 |
| LING 2110G | Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics (recommended for Language Arts Teaching Field/Bilingual TESOL endorsement) 2,6 | 3 |
| LING 302V | Language and Society 2, 6 | 3 |
| SPED 3110 | Bilingual/Multicultural Special Education 3,6 | 3 |
| Non-Departmental Requirements (in addition to Gen.Ed/VWW) | ||
| ENGL 363 | Literature for Children and Young Adults 2 | 3 |
| MATH 1134 | Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I 1 | 3 |
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| World Regional Geography | 3 | |
or GEOG 1130G | Human Geography | |
| American National Government | 3 | |
or POLS 1110G | Introduction to Political Science | |
| Second Language: (not required) | ||
| Electives, to bring the total credits to 129 | ||
| Total Credits | 129 | |
- 1
Courses are pre/co-requisites for Teacher Education Program (TEP)
- 2
Course counts toward the Language Arts Teaching Field
- 3
Course requires admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP)
- 4
See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses
- 5
See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 6
Course counts toward the Bilingual/TESL endorsement
A Suggested Plan of Study for Students
This roadmap assumes student placement in MATH 1215 Intermediate Algebra and ENGL 1110G Composition I. The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I 1 | 4 |
| CEPY 1120G | Human Growth and Behavior | 3 |
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Human Geography | ||
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| American National Government | ||
| HIST 1110G or HIST 1120G | United States History I or United States History II | 3 |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| MATH 1134 | Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I 1 | 3 |
| HIST 1130G or HIST 1140G | World History I or World History II | 3 |
| BLED 1110 | Introduction n Bilingual Education/ESL | 3 |
| BLED 2110 | Bilingual Methods | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| ENGL 2221G | Writing in the Humanities and Social Science 1 | 3 |
| MATH 2134G | Fundamentals of Elementary Math II 1 | 3 |
| LING 2110G | Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics | 3 |
| SPED 3105 | Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| Area III: Laboratory Science Course 2 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| APPLY TO TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM (TEP) | ||
| EDLT 3110 | Integrating Technology with Teaching | 3 |
| SPED 4220 | Classroom Management for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| SPED 4210 | Introduction to Assessment of Diverse Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| LING 302V | Language and Society | 3 |
| SPED 4110 | Low Incidence Disabilities in a Diverse Society (Student must be admitted to TEP to take; usually enroll in during Summer) | 3 |
| Area III: Laboratory Sciences Course 2 | 4 | |
| Credits | 19 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| BLED 3120 | Sheltered English Instruction for the ESL Classroom (Fall Only) | 3 |
| EDUC 4330 | Methods of Teaching Elementary School Social Studies (Fall Only) | 3 |
| BLED 4110 | Second Language Acquisition (Fall Only) | 3 |
| READ 4320 | Elementary School Literacy II (Fall Only) | 3 |
| READ 3110 | Instruction for Special Reading Needs (Fall Only) | 3 |
| SPED 4120 | High Incidence Disabilities in a Diverse Society (Fall Only) | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| APPLY TO STUDENT TEACHING | ||
| BLED 3130 | Language, Literacy, and Culture in the ESL Classrooms (Spring Only) | 3 |
| EDUC 4310 | Methods of Teaching Elementary School Science | 3 |
| EDUC 4320 | Methods of Teaching Elementary School Mathematics (Spring Only) | 3 |
| READ 4310 | Elementary School Literacy I (Spring Only) | 3 |
| SPED 3120 | Elementary Curriculum, Methods, and Materials for Special Education in a Diverse Society (Spring Only) | 3 |
| SPED 3110 | Bilingual/Multicultural Special Education (Spring Only) | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| SUBMIT STEP PACKET | ||
| ENGL 363 | Literature for Children and Young Adults | 3 |
| BLED 3140 | Issues in Schooling for Bilingual Learners (Fall Only) | 3 |
| SPED 4811 | Practicum in Education, Equity and Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 3 | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPED 4820 | Student Teaching SPED | 9 |
| SPED 4840 | Special Education/ Secondary Student Teaching Seminar | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 129 | |
- 1
These courses may have prerequisites and/or co-requisites, and it is the students responsibility for checking and fulfilling all those requirements.
- 2
See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 3
See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.