Special Education Major, B.S.

Clemmer College of Education

Department of Teaching and Learning

Special Education Program Information

Box 70548
Phone: (423) 439-7586
Program Coordinator: Dr. Lori Marks
Phone: (423) 439-7685
email: marks@etsu.edu

The Bachelor of Science degree in special education (SPED) leads to initial teaching license in special education. Concentrations are offered in modified (high-incidence disabilities) and comprehensive (low-incidence disabilities) special education. The modified and comprehensive special education concentrations prepare teacher candidates to serve public school students in grades K-12 with varying disabilities across the continuum of educational environments.

In addition to initial licensure at the baccalaureate level, post-baccalaureate programs are provided for adding a special education endorsement to existing education licenses. Licensure areas in modified, comprehensive, and Early Childhood special education are available at this level.

Special education licensure programs in Tennessee are non-categorical covering intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, orthopedic impairments and emotional disturbance. Students planning to teach in those states requiring categorical certification should meet with their advisor(s) to plan their programs according to the certification/licensure requirements of those states.

General Program Information

To earn a degree from ETSU, there are specific course requirements established by ETSU, by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), by each college, and by each department. All students must meet the degree requirements at each of these levels outlined in the following list:

University-level Degree and Graduation Requirements

• Degree and Graduation Requirements 
• Completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours is required.
• CSCI 1100 or the proficiency exam
• Proficiency Intensive Course Requirements
• California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST)  (Senior Exit Exam)
• Additional Requirements for Transfer Students
• Second Bachelor Degrees
• Double Majors/Double Degrees

Total Credit Hours for Degree: 120

TBR General Education Requirements: 41 Credit Hours

Listed below are the categories and courses specified under TBR General Education Requirements. Note that certain courses are required for this degree, specific to this major. Thus, these courses will satisfy both a TBR General Education requirement AND a requirement of this major. (Other majors may require different General Education courses.) Where specific courses are required for this major,  only those courses are listed under the category. If there are no specific major requirements for a category, all course options appear.

Communication

9 credits, consisting of 6 credits of written composition and 3 credits of oral communication.

Written Composition

Complete both of the following: 

• ENGL 1010 - Critical Reading and Expository Writing (3 credits)
• ENGL 1020 - Critical Thinking and Argumentation (3 credits)

• Students required to complete learning support in writing must enroll in a learning support-designated section (L01-L99) of ENGL 1010  during their first 15 hours at ETSU (not including summer) unless they are also required to complete learning support in reading. Students needing learning support in both reading and writing should enroll in ENGL 1010-Lxx immediately upon completing learning support in reading. Additional information may be found on the University Advisement Center website www.etsu.edu/uac/learningsupport.

   

  Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in ENGL 1010  and ENGL 1020 .

   

Oral Communication

Complete one of the following:

• SPCH 1300 - Introduction to Communication Studies (3 credits)
• SPCH 2300 - Public Speaking (3 credits)
• SPCH 2320 - Argumentation and Debate (3 credits)

Humanities and Fine Arts

9 credits, consisting of 3 credits of literature, 3 credits of fine arts, and 3 credits of humanities electives.

Literature

Complete one of the following: 

• ENGL 2030 - Literary Heritage (3 credits)
• ENGL 2110 - American Literature I (3 credits)
• ENGL 2120 - American Literature II (3 credits)
• ENGL 2210 - British Literature I (3 credits)
• ENGL 2220 - British Literature II (3 credits)
• ENGL 2330 - World Literature (3 credits)
• ENGL 2430 - European Literature (3 credits)

Fine Arts

Complete one of the following:

• ARTH 2010 - Art History Survey I (3 credits)
• ARTH 2020 - Art History Survey II (3 credits)
• BLUE 2150 - American Roots Music (3 credits)
• DANC 1500 - Dance as a Human Experience (3 credits)
• HUMT 2310 - Arts and Ideas I (3 credits)
• HUMT 2320 - Arts and Ideas II (3 credits)
• MUSC 1030 - Introduction to Music (3 credits)
• MUSC 1035 - History of Jazz (3 credits)
• THEA 1030 - Introduction to the Theatre (3 credits)

Humanities Electives

Complete one of the following:

• ENGL 3150 - Literature, Ethics, and Values (3 credits)
• ENGL 3280 - Mythology (3 credits)
• ENTC 3020 - Technology and Society (3 credits)
• HIST 1110 - World History to 1500 (3 credits)
• HIST 1120 - World History Since 1500 (3 credits)
• PHIL 1030 - Introduction to Philosophy (3 credits)
• PHIL 2020 - Introduction to Ethics (3 credits)
• PHIL 2040 - Philosophy as Conversation (3 credits)
• PHIL 2640 - Science and the Modern World (3 credits)
• RELI 2210 - Introduction to the Study of World Religions (3 credits)

Social and Behavioral Sciences

6 credits, consisting of:

• HDAL 2310 - Developmental Psychology (3 credits)

• and one of the following:

• ANTH 1240 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)
• ECON 1050 - Economics and Society (3 credits)
• ECON 2210 - Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
• ECON 2220 - Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)
• HDAL 2340 - Understanding Cultural Diversity (3 credits)
• PSCI 1110 - Political Life (3 credits)
• PSCI 1120 - Introduction to American Government (3 credits)
• PSYC 1310 - Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
• SOCI 1020 - Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
• SOCI 2020 - Social Problems (3 credits)
• SRVL 1020 - Introduction to Service-Learning in the Community (3 credits)
• WMST 2010 - Introduction to Women’s Studies (3 credits)

History

6 credits, consisting of both of the following:

• HIST 2010 - The United States to 1877 (3 credits)
• HIST 2020 - The United States since 1877 (3 credits)

• Note:  HIST 2030 History of Tennessee  (3 credits) may be substituted for 3 credits of United States History.

Natural Sciences

8 credits, consisting of two of the following (some require labs which are listed directly after the lecture):

(Note: Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in the College of Arts and Sciences must select 8 credit hours in a SINGLE laboratory science. Please see listing in College of Arts and Sciences B.S. Degree Requirements for options.)

• ASTR 1010 - Astronomy I (4 credits)
• ASTR 1020 - Astronomy II (4 credits)
• ASTR 1035 - Life in the Universe (4 credits)
• BIOL 1110 - Biology for Science Majors Lecture I (4 credits)
• BIOL 1111 - Biology for Science Majors Laboratory I (0 credit)
• BIOL 1120 - Biology for Science Majors Lecture II (4 credits)
• BIOL 1121 - Biology for Science Majors Laboratory II (0 credit)
• BIOL 1130 - Biology for Science Majors Lecture III (4 credits)
• CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry Lecture I (4 credits)
• CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry Laboratory I (0 credit)
• CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry Lecture II (4 credits)
• CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry Laboratory II (0 credit)
• GEOL 1040 - Geosciences: Earth and Society Lecture (3 credits)
• GEOL 1041 - Geosciences: Earth and Society Laboratory (1 credit)
• GEOL 1050 - Geosciences: Earth through Time Lecture (3 credits)
• GEOL 1051 - Geosciences: Earth through Time Laboratory (1 credit)
• HSCI 2010 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
• HSCI 2011 - Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I (0 credit)
• HSCI 2020 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
• HSCI 2021 - Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II (0 credit)
• PHYS 2010 - General Physics I-Noncalculus (3 credits)
• PHYS 2011 - General Physics Laboratory I-Noncalculus (1 credit)
• PHYS 2020 - General Physics II-Noncalculus (3 credits)
• PHYS 2021 - General Physics Laboratory II-Noncalculus (1 credit)
• PHYS 2110 - Technical Physics I-Calculus Based (5 credits)
• PHYS 2120 - Technical Physics II-Calculus Based (5 credits)

• Open to non-science majors only:

• BIOL 1010 - Biology for Non-majors I (4 credits)
• BIOL 1011 - Biology for Non-majors Laboratory (0 credit)
• BIOL 1020 - Biology for Non-majors II (4 credits)
• BIOL 1021 - Biology for Non-majors Laboratory II (0 credit)
• BIOL 1310 - Concepts in Biology (4 credits)
• BIOL 1311 - Concepts in Biology Laboratory (0 credit)
• CHEM 1000 - Chemistry and Well-Being (4 credits)
• CHEM 1030 - Introduction to Chemistry Survey (4 credits)
• PHYS 1030 - Introduction to Physics Survey (4 credits)

Mathematics

Students will enroll in the appropriate general education math course during their first calendar year of enrollment at ETSU. Students required to complete learning support in mathematics must enroll in a learning support-designated section (L01-L99) of MATH 1530  during their first 15 hours at ETSU (not including summer) unless they are also required to complete learning support in reading or writing. Students needing learning support in reading or writing in addition to learning support in math should enroll in MATH 1530-Lxx immediately upon completing their other learning support requirements. Additional information may be found on the University Advisement Center website www.etsu.edu/uac/learningsupport/

• MATH 1530 - Probability and Statistics – Noncalculus (3 credits)

Professional Education Requirements: 27 Credit Hours

• EDFN 2100 - Orientation to the Profession of Education (1 credit)
• EDFN 2300 - Foundations for Teaching (2 credits)
• EDFN 3301 - Issues in Education (3 credits)
• EDFN 3310 - Educational Psychology (3 credits)
• READ 3100 - Teaching Reading in the Elementary (K-6) School (3 credits)
• SPED 2300 - Exceptional Learners in Schools and Communities (3 credits)
• SPED 4850 - Residency II and Seminar in Special Education (6 credits) (must take two sections for a total of 12 credit hours)

Additional Program Requirement: 9 Credit Hours

• ENGL 3150 - Literature, Ethics, and Values (3 credits) or
• ENGL 3280 - Mythology (3 credits)
• English or Math Elective (3 credits)
• Math or Reading Elective (3 credits)

Special Education Core: 28 Credit Hours

• SPED 3300 - Instructional Planning for Students with Exceptional Learning Needs (3 credits)
• SPED 3400 - Classroom Environment and Behavior Management (3 credits)
• SPED 3445 - Medical Aspects and Applications of Assistive Technology (3 credits)
• SPED 4302 - Family and Professional Partnerships (3 credits)
• SPED 4425 - Pre-Residency: The First 6-weeks of School (1 credit hour)
• SPED 4470 - Assessment of Exceptional Learning Needs (3 credit hours)
• SPED 4710 - Residency I in Special Education (5 credit hours)
• SPED 4753 - Programming for Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs (3 credit hours)
• SPED 4825 - Preclinical Experience in Special Education (1 credit hour) (Take two times for a total of 2 credits.)
• MEDA 3570 - Educational Technology (2 credits)

Modified Special Education Concentration: 15 Credit Hours

 (leading to Modified Special Education licensure)

• CUAI 4517 - Math Methods for Early Childhood (3 credits)
• READ 4437 - Reading Instruction in Middle and Secondary Schools (3 credits)
• SPED 4467 - Teaching Math to Students with Mild/Moderate Exceptional Learning Needs (3 credit hours)
• SPED 4497 - Teaching and Learning Strategies for Exceptional Learning Needs (3 credits)
• SPED 4757 - Evidence-Based Instruction in Reading and Language Arts (3 credits)

Comprehensive Special Education Concentration: 15 credit hours

(leading to Comprehensive Special Education licensure)

• CUAI 4517 - Math Methods for Early Childhood (3 credits)
• SPED 4367 - Systematic Instruction for Functional and Academic Programming (3 credit hours)
• SPED 4587 - Access to the General Curriculum for Students with Significant Disabilities (3 credit hours)
• SPED 4750 - Instructional and Transitional Services for Students with Disabilities (3 credits)
• SPED 4767 - Advanced Strategies for Behavioral Interventions (3 credit hours)

Minor: no minor required

Additional Information

 Click here to view the All B.S. Majors in Special Education Suggested Course Sequence , Special Education Major, Comprehensive SPED Concentration Suggested Course Sequence  or