Mar 28, 2024  
2020-21 NSU Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-21 NSU Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Special Education - Mild/Moderate Disorders B.S.Ed. *


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OSRHE Program Code: 084
CIP Code: 131011

Major Code: 6873

Option Codes:

  • 6874 Certification
  • 6878 - Non-Certification

 

Purpose

The program prepares highly competent teachers dedicated to the field of special education and qualified to teach students with exceptional learning needs in grades PK-12.

The special education degree at NSU is aligned with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) content areas for mild/moderate disabilities for PK-12th grade classrooms.  This certificate/degree is inclusive of all areas of Special Education for the mild/moderate level of severity, including Autism, and for elementary education certification so our graduates are prepared as highly qualified special education teachers.

Specialty Accreditation

NSU’s educator preparation programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), www.caepnet.org, (1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036-1023, 202-223-0077), and the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (840 Research Parkway, Suite 455, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, 405-522-5399), www.ok.gov/oeqa

Credential Requirements

In addition to completing all program requirements, teacher candidates must pass the following certification tests to earn Oklahoma certification: Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET); the appropriate Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT); and the Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination (OPTE). There are fees associated with certification testing which is administered by an outside agency under contract with the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. NSU’s Education Certification office can assist with information regarding university recommendation for certification. Students must also successfully complete the Oklahoma Reading Test prior to graduation.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate understanding of how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalitities.
  2. Select, adapt, and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities.
  3. Apply knowledge of general and specialized curricula to individualize learning for individuals with exceptionalities.
  4. Create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments so that individuals with exceptionalities become active and effective learners and develop emotional well-being, positive social interations, and self-determination.
  5. Select and use multiple methods of assessment and data-sources in making educational decisions.
  6. Collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways to address the needs of individuals with exceptionalities across a range of learning experiences.
  7. Demonstrate familiarity with augmentative and alternative communication systems and utilize a variety of assistive technologies to support the communication and learning of individuals with exceptionalities.

4x12 Requirements for SPED majors


Students must successfully complete 12 hours in each of the areas below with a grade of C or higher.  Courses which are also counted in General Education are noted.

English - 12 hrs


Math - 12 hrs


Science - 12 hrs


Social Sciences - 12 hrs


Second Language Requirement for Teacher Education Majors


Teacher candidates must demonstrate listening and speaking skills at the novice-high level, as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, for a language other than English, including American Sign Language. (OSHRE policy 3.20.4E.)  Students may use foreign language courses to also meet the Global Perspectives category (3 hrs) in General Education requirements. See General Education Requirements for more information. General Education Requirements  .

Select one of the following options:


Totals: Certification & Non-Certification - 67 hours


Accelerated B.S.Ed. Special Education-Mild/Moderate Disorders to M.Ed. Special Education-Autism Spectrum Disorders


Note:  Please refer to Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Program  for complete information concerning the Accelerated Degree Program.  Refer to the current Graduate Catalog for master’s degree requirements.

IMPORTANT:

  • Students admitted to the Accelerated B.S.Ed. Special Education-Mild/Moderate Disorders to M.Ed. Special Education-Autism Spectrum Disorders degree program will complete up to 8 hours of graduate level credit to apply toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.
  • Students may not receive credit toward the bachelor’s degree for both the undergraduate and the paired graduate-level course. A student completing an undergraduate course and the paired graduate-level course will only receive credit for one course toward the bachelor’s degree.
  • Students will complete SPED 4263 as part of the B.S.Ed. program with an additional assignment for graduate students.
  • Students must meet all minimum grade and GPA requirements for the undergraduate program.
  • A minimum grade of C is required for all 5000 level graduate courses.
  • Students who do not follow the approved degree plan may become ineligible to continue in the accelerated degree program. 
  • Prior to completing the undergraduate degree, if the undergraduate GPA, graduate GPA and/or overall GPA fall below a 3.00, the student becomes ineligible to continue in the ADP.
  • Students may withdraw from an approved accelerated degree pathway.  Graduate credit hours completed prior to the student withdrawing or becoming ineligible to continue in the ADP apply toward the undergraduate degree only.
ADP Paired Courses
SPED 4223-Instructional Design & Curriculum for Students with Disabilities SPED 5203-Evidence-Based Strategies & Curr Design for Students with ASD
SPED 4242-Collaboration & Transition Planning of Students with Disabilities SPED 5812-Seminar: Administration of SPED Programs
SPED 4253-Instructional Evals & Implementation for Students with Disabilities SPED 5323-Response to Intervention & Assessment of Students with ASD

 

Teacher Education Admission and Certification Policies


In addition to courses in the discipline, all students completing a BA or BS in Education degree must meet the following requirements for certification.

  • Be accepted for admission to teacher education, pre-II internship, and full internship according to published course sequence and guidelines.
  • Demonstrate proficiency at the high novice level in a language other than English.
  • Develop a portfolio which documents their accomplishments, learning, and strengths related to the competencies, standards, and outcomes established by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and the Oklahoma State Department of Education.  
  • Complete all courses in the major and Professional Education Core with a grade of “C” or higher.
  • Students entering NSU beginning Fall 2013 must have an overall GPA of 2.75 for admission to teacher education.
  • Once admitted to the teacher education program, all majors must continue to maintain a GPA of 2.5 (overall, in their major field of study, and professional education core) through completion.
  • 4 X 12 requirement - Early Childhood, Elementary Education, and Special Education programs require completion of 12 semester hours with a grade of “C” or better in the following disciplines: Communication Arts (English, Communication, Literature), Math, Science, and Social Science (Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology) prior to graduation.
  • All Professional Education majors must complete PSYC 1003 or PSYC 1113.  Advisors recommend those courses be completed as part of the General Education course sequence.

ECED/ELEM/SPED Non-Certification Option


Students admitted to the Teacher Education Program may apply to receive a degree in Education with the Non-Certification Option:

1. When a student realizes that teaching is no longer his/her chosen profession, but he/she wishes to complete an education degree without certification rather than changing major, OR
2. When career goals require a degree in education without teacher certification, OR
3. When circumstances prohibit loss of employment while student teaching.

Students receiving a degree in Education without Certification must:

1. Notify the Director of Clinical Education, in writing, of the desire to pursue an education degree without certification, naming one of the three reasons listed above as the basis for the request;
2. Complete the appropriate agreement form and submit it to the Director. The Director will forward the form, with his or her signature, through the appropriate Chair to the Dean and the Certification Office, where it will be placed in the student’s Clinical Education file.
3. With the exception of student teaching, successfully complete all the courses except for student teaching required for a degree;
4. Follow all policies and procedures and regulations outlined in the Teacher Education Handbook and NSU catalog related to teacher education;
5. Satisfy the full admission requirements for teacher candidacy and the criteria for progression;
6. Successfully complete all courses and field experiences, including Practicum, required for an education degree, with the exception of Student Teaching. With the approval of his/her academic advisor, select and complete twelve (12) additional semester hours of electives. These 12 semester hours of electives replace the student teaching with the approval of his/her advisor and department chair.

Final Semester: Electives- 12 hours

Non Certification Option: With approval of academic advisor, 12 hours may be substituted for the final semester of intern teaching and seminar for a candidate seeking a degree in education without certification. These 12 semester hours of electives replace the final intern teaching requirement.


A student who chooses to receive the Bachelor’s Degree in Education with the Non-Certification Option is not eligible for recommendation for certification by the College of Education until such time the student successfully completes all certification requirements through the College of Education, including the final internship. The student is not considered a program completer for the certification path for which he or she was initially pursuing.

 

Additional Degree Information - College of Education


In addition to general education and program requirements stated above, additional hours may be needed to satisfy all minimum degree requirements listed below.

  • English Proficiency: Components I and II of English proficiency should be met with grades of “C” or better prior to the completion of 60 credit hours.
  • ​A minimum of 124 hours is required. PE activity is limited to four hours. Prior learning credit (CLEP, Advanced Standing, Military Credit, etc) is limited to 30 hours.
  • ​A minimum of 30 hours in residence (from NSU) is required for graduation. PE activity is limited to four hours. Hours in residence exclude zero-level courses and prior learning credit such as CLEP, Advanced Placement, Advanced Standing, Military Credit, etc.​
  • A minimum of 40 hours of 3000/4000 level courses is required for graduation.  ​
  • A minimum of 60 hours from a 4-year school is required for graduation excluding zero level and PE activity courses.
  • At least fifty percent of the major requirements must be upper division courses (3000 and 4000 level).
  • At least 18 hours or fifty percent of the major, whichever is greater, must be satisfactorily completed at NSU.
  • The minimum number of credit hours required in the Liberal Arts and Sciences varies based on the type of degree.  B.A and B.A.Ed. degrees require at least 80 hours.  B.S. and B.S.Ed. degrees requires at least 55 hours.  Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) courses are identified in catalog course descriptions.

For more information, see Bachelor’s Degree Requirements .

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