Special Education Teacher Degree Online
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-05-13 | - |
Program Overview
The University of West Florida's online Exceptional Student and Elementary Education program prepares teachers to work with diverse learners, including those with disabilities and gifted students. Graduates are eligible for certification in both Exceptional Student Education (K-12) and Elementary Education (K-6), with endorsements in Reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages. The program emphasizes inclusive teaching practices and research-based strategies for meeting the needs of all students.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The University of West Florida’s fully online exceptional student and elementary education bachelor’s degree program is a fully accredited program that prepares teachers to set high learning expectations for their students and address diverse, individual learning needs. Upon completion of this program, graduates are eligible for a Professional Florida Educator’s Certificate in Exceptional Student Education (K–12) as well as Elementary Education (K–6) with endorsements in both Reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
Objectives:
- Teach and support gifted children and children with disabilities.
Program Description:
The Exceptional Student and Elementary Education program is a Florida Department of Education approved specialization that leads directly to state certification in Exceptional Student Education (K–12) and Elementary Education (K–6) with ESOL and Reading Endorsements (Students must pass FDOE exams prior to student teaching).
Outline:
General Education (60 credit hours)
Students must satisfy 60 credit hours of general education requirements. The general education requirements are the basic studies that provide students with a broad educational foundation and are essential requirements for all baccalaureate degree programs. Included in the general education requirements are subjects in communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, multicultural studies and lower-level electives.
Common Prerequisites (3 credit hours)
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to admission to this program.
Lower Division Recommended Electives (15 credit hours)
Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000-level advisor-approved electives to satisfy at least 60 credit hours in the lower division.
Major Courses (60 credit hours)
- EDF 3234 - Applied Foundations of Education (3.0 Credit Hours) The course focuses on principles of growth and development from birth through adolescence. Students examine personal, social and moral development as well as cognitive learning and motivation. The course contains an emphasis on learners from diverse backgrounds and with special needs.
- EDG 3945 - Field Experience 1 (3.0 Credit Hours) This field experience includes carefully planned and designed course assignments and activities, with students working in a classroom setting for a minimum of 75 hours in a field placement. This experience includes: focused and specific introductions, observations and identification, demonstration, and reflection.
- EDG 4351 - Educational Assessment (3.0 Credit Hours) This general assessment course is designed for all students in Teacher Education and focuses on assessment concepts that are critical for good teaching.
- EDG 4373 - Integrated Arts and Contemporary Educational Tools (3.0 Credit Hours) Prepares students to effectively integrate the arts and contemporary tools into instruction delivered in K-12 classrooms and community settings.
- EDG 4442 - Effective Learning Environments (3.0 Credit Hours) This course focuses on strategies for creating and maintaining effective learning environments with activities related to building relationships, organizing groups, developing and implementing rules and procedures, teaching effectively, utilizing positive behavior support strategies, and implementing individual behavioral interventions.
- EDG 4949 - Field Experience 2 (3.0 Credit Hours) Students in this course will complete a minimum of 100 hours of supervised work in an assigned educational setting, with 25 hours devoted to an ESOL placement.
- EEX 3070 - Methods in Inclusion and Collaboration (3.0 Credit Hours) This course is required for all education majors. The course provides students with background knowledge related to Special Education issues including laws and regulations, terminology, disability categories, and common educational practices.
- EEX 4141 - Teaching Students with Language and Communication Disorders (3 Credit Hours) This course is designed to help teachers (ESE and general education) better understand the nature of speech and language development and common problems that students may experience during their developing years.
- EEX 4254 - Instructional Strategies for Teaching Students with Exceptionalities (3.0 Credit Hours) Through lecture, discussion, and projects, this course provides an introduction to a comprehensive knowledge base pertinent to the nature and needs of students with exceptional needs.
- EEX 4255 - Curriculum for Teaching Students with Exceptionalities (3.0 Credit Hours) This course prepares pre-service teachers to effectively utilize specialized curriculum and research-supported practices for teaching students with high incidence disabilities (learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, and intellectual disabilities) in inclusive, general education environments; to analyze and evaluate curriculum standards and resources; and to interpret assessment results to generate data-based decisions for individualized, instructional programs.
- EEX 4474 - Curricula for Teaching Students with Severe Disabilities (3.0 Credit Hours) This course provides an introduction to curricula pertaining to students with severe disabilities including intellectual disabilities, physical impairments, and autism.
- EEX 4772 - Personal, Social and Employment Skills for Exceptional Students (3.0 Credit Hours) A primary goal of this course is building capacity with regard to identifying holistic needs, as well as strategies to promote and maximize independence, to identify career goals that are consistent with the career aptitudes and interests of children and youth.
- LAE 3314 - Literacy for the Emergent Learner (3.0 Credit Hours) This course introduces pre-service teachers to the development of early literacy from birth through the primary grades.
- MAE 4310 - Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School (3.0 Credit Hours) This course is a requirement for the elementary education teacher preparation program.
- RED 3310 - Literacy Instruction for the Intermediate Learner (3.0 Credit Hours) This course prepares educators for effective literacy instruction in the intermediate grades.
- RED 4542 - Assessment and Differentiated Instruction in Reading (3.0 Credit Hours) This course prepares the pre-service teacher in the areas of differentiated reading and language arts instruction based on appropriate assessment practices.
- SCE 4310 - Teaching Science in the Elementary School (3.0 Credit Hours) This course incorporates current research and best practices in science education to prepare prospective teachers to foster meaningful science learning in the elementary (K-6) classroom.
- SSE 4113 - Social Studies for Elementary Teachers (3.0 Credit Hours) This course will provide students with instructional strategies and materials for teaching a contemporary program in social studies in the elementary school.
- TSL 4080 - ESOL Principles and Practices (3.0 Credit Hours) The course provides an overview of information and skills concerning the education of students who are English Language Learners (ELL).
- TSL 4081 - Teaching English to ESOL Students (3.0 Credit Hours) This is the second in a sequence of two courses designed to provide students with knowledge and skills related to the education of English Language Learners (ELLs).
Student Teaching (choose one of the options) (12 credit hours)
Option 1
- EDG 4936 - Senior Seminar and Reading Practicum (2.0 Credit Hours) Integrates theory, and general professional preparation with actual school practice.
- EDG 4940 - Student Teaching (3.0-12.0 Credit Hours) The course involves a minimum of ten weeks of supervised teaching in a public or private school assigned to the student by the School of Education (SOE) Field Placement Office and approved by the SOE Director.
Option 2
- EDG 4936 - Senior Seminar and Reading Practicum (2.0 Credit Hours) Integrates theory, and general professional preparation with actual school practice.
- EDG 4941 - Teaching Internship I (1.0-12.0 Credit Hours) Teaching Internship I is designed to be the culminating experience for those preparing to become a professional educator.
- EDG 4942 - Teaching Internship II (1.0-12.0 Credit Hours)
Careers:
Potential Career Paths:
- Special Education Teachers
- Kindergarten and Elementary Teachers
- High School Teachers
Opportunities and Outcomes:
- Special Education Teachers:
- Jobs are expected to grow 4 percent through 2031.
- Kindergarten and Elementary Teachers:
- Jobs are expected to grow 4 percent through 2031.
- High School Teachers:
- Jobs are expected to grow 5 percent through 2031.
