BSEd Special Education
Mason’s bachelor's degree in special education is designed to prepare both educators for the classroom and individuals working in special education contexts outside of the classroom with the specialized skills and content knowledge to support the needs of individuals with disabilities.
Students who plan to teach may focus their program on a specific area in the field by adding a licensure concentration. See more information about:
- K-12 Adapted Curriculum Licensure
- K-12 General Curriculum Licensure
- PK-12 Blindness and Visual Impairments Licensure
- Early Childhood Special Education

Mason Core (37 credits)
Foundation Requirements:
- Written Communication (3) - ENGH 101: Composition (3 credits) is recommended course
- Oral Communication (3)
- Quantitative Reasoning (3)
- Information Technology and Computing (3)
Exploration Requirements:
- Arts (3)
- Global Understanding (3)
- Literature (3)
- Natural Science (7)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (3)
- Global History (3)
Integration Requirement:
- Written Communication (3) - ENGH 302: Advanced Composition (3 credits)
- Writing Intensive (fulfilled by major requirements)
- Synthesis/Capstone (fulfilled by major requirements)
Special Education Core Requirements (45 credits)
- EDUC 200: Introduction to Education: Teaching, Learning and Schools (3 credits)
- EDUC 302: Human Growth and Development (3 credits) OR PSYC 211: Lifespan Development (3 credits)
- EDSE 201: Introduction to Special Education (3 credits)
- EDSE 251: Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Supports (3 credits)
- EDSE 351: Technology Integration for Specialized Instruction (3 credits)
- EDSE 352: Assessment (3 credits)
- EDSE 353: Individualized Behavior Supports (3 credits)
- EDSE 354: Consultation and Collaboration (3 credits)
- EDSE 381: Exploratory Field Experience in Special Education (3 credits)
- EDSE 451: Transition and Self-Determination (3 credits)
- EDSE 452: Intersectionality and Disability (3 credits)
- EDSE 481: Internship: Professional Services (12 credits)
Concentration Choice
Students may select an optional licensure concentration in - K-12 Adapted Curriculum Licensure, - K-12 General Curriculum Licensure, PK-12 Blindness and Visual Impairments Licensure, Early Childhood Special Education, OR for a non-licensure sequence, select at least 15 credits from the special education offerings below, plus an additional 23 credits from any courses. (NOTE: A minimum of 45 upper-level credits in the major is required.)
BSEd in Special Education without Concentration (38 credits)
Select 15 credits from the following:
- EDSE 203: Disability in American Culture (3 credits)
- EDSE 204: Disability in a Global Society (3 credits)
- EDSE 230: Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders (3 credits)
- EDSE 241: Characteristics of Students with Disabilities who Access the General Curriculum (3 credits)
- EDSE 311: Characteristics of Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments (3 credits)
- EDSE 341: Language Acquisition and Reading and Writing Development (3 credits)
- EDSE 361: Characteristics of Students with Severe Disabilities (3 credits)
- EDSE 362: Communication with Severe Disabilities (3 credits)
- EDSE 410: Deaf History (3 credits)
- EDSE 412: Braille Code (3 credits)
- EDSE 413: Medical and Educational Implications of Blindness and Visual Impairments (3 credits)
- EDSE 414: Orientation and Mobility for Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments (2 credits)
- EDSE 417: Teaching Methods for Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments (3 credits)
- EDSE 418: Curriculum and Assessment of Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments (3 credits)
- EDSE 419: Braille Reading and Writing (3 credits)
- EDSE 420: Deaf Culture (3 credits)
- EDSE 441: Instructional Strategies for Reading and Writing (3 credits)
- EDSE 443: Instructional Strategies for Math (3 credits)
- EDSE 463: Curriculum and Methods in Severe Disabilities (3 credits)
- EDSE 467: Foundations of Language and Literacy for Individuals with Severe Disabilities (3 credits)
- EDSE 469: Individualized Supports and Specialized Care of Students with Severe Disabilities (3 credits)
- EDAT 422: Assistive Technology for Individuals with Sensory Impairments (3 credits)
Electives (23 credits)
Select an additional 23 credits from any courses.