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 1110GComposition I 14
English Composition - Level 2
ENGL 2221GWriting in the Humanities and Social Science 1, 23
or ENGL 2130G Advanced Composition
Oral Communication
COMM 1115GIntroduction to Communication 2,33
or COMM 1130G Public Speaking
Area II: Mathematics
MATH 2134GFundamentals of Elementary Math II 13
Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences11
Human Growth and Behavior3
Area III: Laboratory Sciences Course (8 credits) 4
Area V: Humanities
HIST 1130GWorld History I3
or HIST 1140G World History II
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts
Choose one from the following courses3
Orientation in Art3
Dance Appreciation3
Music Appreciation: Western Music3
Introduction to Theatre3
General Education Elective
HIST 1110GUnited States History I3
or HIST 1120G United States History II
Viewing the Wider World 56
Departmental/College Requirements
Education Core Requirements
BLED 1110Introduction n Bilingual Education/ESL 1, 63
SPED 3105Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society 13
EDLT 3110Integrating Technology with Teaching 13
SPED 4220Classroom Management for Diverse Learners3
SPED 4210Introduction to Assessment of Diverse Exceptional Learners3
SPED 4120High Incidence Disabilities in a Diverse Society 33
SPED 4110Low Incidence Disabilities in a Diverse Society 33
SPED 4811Practicum in Education, Equity and Cultural Diversity 33
Student Teaching
SPED 4820Student Teaching SPED 29
SPED 4840Special Education/ Secondary Student Teaching Seminar3
Elementary Education Teaching Methods
Block A
BLED 3130Language, Literacy, and Culture in the ESL Classrooms 3,63
EDUC 4310Methods of Teaching Elementary School Science 33
EDUC 4320Methods of Teaching Elementary School Mathematics 33
READ 4310Elementary School Literacy I 2,33
SPED 3120Elementary Curriculum, Methods, and Materials for Special Education in a Diverse Society 33
Block B
BLED 3120Sheltered English Instruction for the ESL Classroom 3,63
EDUC 4330Methods of Teaching Elementary School Social Studies 33
BLED 4110Second Language Acquisition 3,63
READ 4320Elementary School Literacy II 2,33
READ 3110Instruction for Special Reading Needs 2,33
Remaining Bilingual/TESOL Courses
BLED 2110Bilingual Methods 1, 63
BLED 3140Issues in Schooling for Bilingual Learners 63
LING 2110GIntroduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics (recommended for Language Arts Teaching Field/Bilingual TESOL endorsement) 2,63
LING 302VLanguage and Society 2, 63
SPED 3110Bilingual/Multicultural Special Education 3,63
Non-Departmental Requirements (in addition to Gen.Ed/VWW)
ENGL 363Literature for Children and Young Adults 23
MATH 1134Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I 13
Choose one from the following:3
World Regional Geography3
Human Geography
American National Government3
Introduction to Political Science
Second Language: (not required)
Electives, to bring the total credits to 129
Total Credits129
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.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Semester 1Credits
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
United States History I
or United States History II
3
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course 2 3
 Credits16
Semester 2
COMM 1115G Introduction to Communication 3
MATH 1134 Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I 1 3
HIST 1130G
World History I
or World History II
3
BLED 1110 Introduction n Bilingual Education/ESL 3
BLED 2110 Bilingual Methods 3
 Credits15
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
 Credits16
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
 Credits19
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
 Credits18
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
 Credits18
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
 Credits15
Semester 2
SPED 4820 Student Teaching SPED 9
SPED 4840 Special Education/ Secondary Student Teaching Seminar 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits129
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.