Admission & Retention

Admission

Teacher candidates who are interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree in special education must meet the following requirements in order to declare a major:

• Must have a GPA of 2.7 or better
• Must have successfully completed at least 30 credits
• Must have completed the English and Mathematics requirements (ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 ; MATH 110 )
• Must have passed Praxis I (Math 177, Reading 177, and Writing 173 components)
• Must submit a Declaration of Major form
• Must complete Phase 1: Readiness to Enter the Program Portfolio
• Must complete an interview with the Chairperson and another faculty member

Retention

Satisfactory progress in the Special Education Program promotes and enhances retention and expansion of knowledge and skills. Therefore, once enrolled in special education courses, students are expected to successfully progress each semester in accordance with the program of study. The student must satisfy the stated prerequisite of each course prior to enrolling in the course. A grade of "C" or above permits progression in the program. The student who fails a special education course must pass the failed course in the next semester it is offered before enrolling in higher-level courses in the sequence. If the student does not successfully complete the course the second time it is taken, the student will be dismissed from the program. Courses required in the Special Education Program may not be taken more than twice.

Advisement

Each student will be assigned an advisor who will assist the student in the planning and implementation of his/her program of study. The advisor will use his/her professional judgment to assist the student in making certain that all educational requirements of the University, the School of Education and the Department of Special Education are met. However, because of frequent changes in course offerings and state certification requirements, the advisor cannot provide a guarantee of graduation and/or certification within a specified period of time. Students are ultimately responsible for monitoring their own progress throughout the program.

Students must confer with their advisors at the following times:

1. During the early registration period (of each semester)
2. Upon receipt of a deficiency notice for any courses
3. When attendance problems occur
4. Prior to withdrawal from a course
5. When achievement test results are received (i.e., Praxis I and II, etc.)

Requirements for Graduation

The applicant must have:

• Completed all coursework requirements with an overall GPA of 2.7;
• Completed a teaching major in an approved program;
• Provided evidence of having met the State mandated cutoff scores on the Praxis I and Praxis II examinations;
• Completed all methods courses and student teaching with a grade of "C" or higher. Math, Science, and English are also included;
• Obtained approval for graduation from the appropriate department chairperson(s) and the Director of the School of Education;
• Participated in an exit interview, which includes a portfolio and a reflective assessment. The exit interview team will include department chairs and representatives from the local education agencies;
• Receive satisfactory rating from both student teaching experiences.