Special Education, BSEd

This bachelor's degree is designed to prepare both educators for the classroom and individuals working in a special education context outside of the classroom with the specialized skills and content knowledge needed to support the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Students may focus their program on a specific area in the field by completing a teacher licensure concentration (i.e., Teaching Students with Disabilities who Access the General Curriculum K-12, Teaching Students with Disabilities who Access the Adapted Curriculum K-12, Teaching Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments PK-12) or a non-licensure sequence to fulfill the requirements for the BSEd in Special Education degree program.

Mason Core (37 credits)

Foundation Requirements:

• Written Communication - ENGH 101 Composition is recommended course (3)
• 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)
• Western Civilization/World History (3)

Integration Requirement:

• Written Communication - ENGH 302 Advanced Composition (3)
• 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 credit hours)

• EDUC 302: Human Growth and Development (3 credit hours) OR PSYC 211: Developmental Psychology (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 201: Introduction to Special Education (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 251: Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Supports (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 351: Technology Integration for Specialized Instruction (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 352: Assessment (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 353: Individualized Behavior Supports (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 354: Consultation and Collaboration (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 381: Exploratory Field Experience in Special Education (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 451: Transition and Self-Determination (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 452: Intersectionality and Disability (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 481: Internship: Professional Services (12 credit hours) OR EDSE 482: Internship: General (12 credit hours) OR EDSE 483: Internship: Adapted (Severe Disabilities) (12 credit hours) OR EDSE 484: Internship: Blindness and Visual Impairments (12 credit hours) *

BSEd in Special Education without Concentration (38 credits)

Students who do not select an optional concentration must complete the special education core and select at least 15 credits from the special education offerings below (NOTE: A minimum of 45 upper-level credits in the major is required):

Select 15 credits from the following:

• EDSE 203: Disability in American Culture (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 204: Disability in a Global Society (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 241: Characteristics of Students with Disabilities: High-incidence (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 311: Characteristics of Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 341: Language Acquisition and Reading Development (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 361: Characteristics of Students with Severe Disabilities (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 362: Communication with Severe Disabilities (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 410: Deaf History (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 412: Braille Code (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 413: Medical and Educational Implications of Blindness and Visual Impairments (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 414: Orientation and Mobility for Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments (2 credit hours)

• EDSE 417: Teaching Methods for Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 418: Curriculum and Assessment of Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 419: Braille Reading and Writing (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 420: Deaf Culture (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 441: Instructional Strategies for Reading and Writing (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 443: Instructional Strategies for Math (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 463: Curriculum and Methods in Severe Disabilities (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 467: Foundations of Language and Literacy for Individuals with Severe Disabilities (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 469: Interdisciplinary Approach for Children with Sensory and Motor Disabilities (3 credit hours)

• EDAT 422: Assistive Technology for Individuals with Sensory Impairments (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 481: Internship: Professional Services (12 credit hours) (credits included in Major Requirements)

Electives (23 credits)

Select an additional 23 credits from any courses.

Advising Guide (no concentration)