Special Education Pre-K - 8 Teacher Certification

Students pursuing a Special Education PreK-8 certification-only track are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits beyond the prerequisite course work. Most students complete the certification program in three semesters. Students begin with two courses in the summer session and then complete two semester of full-time study in the fall and spring semesters. Each year a new cohort of students begins the program together starting in the summer. With the exception of the first summer term, special education courses are offered in the evening.

During the fall term students are required to spend one day per week in each school to which they are assigned for student teaching in preparation for student teaching in the spring. Students complete two different full-time student teaching experiences in the spring, each of eight weeks duration. During the student teaching experiences, teacher candidates are closely supervised by both a university supervisor and an experienced mentor teacher. The School of Education Office of Placement Services and Clinical Practices will arrange field placements for students.