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Full Description

A Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Special Education prepares students to become special education teachers (also referred to as intervention specialists) or to work with individuals with disabilities in non-school settings.

Special educators teach individuals with many kinds of disabilities including learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, ADHD/other health impairments, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, hearing impairments and multiple disabilities.

Special educators may co-teach with general education teachers in academic classrooms, teach small groups of students in a resource room, or teach students individually in highly specialized classrooms or programs designed specifically to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Special education majors who do not want to become teachers often will work with adolescents and adults with disabilities in community, residential and/or vocational settings.

The Special Education major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Deaf Education concentration prepares candidates to work with deaf and hard-of-hearing students across inclusion, itinerant, resource room and self-contained public and residential classroom settings. Extensive field and teaching lab experiences optimize this preparation in combination with coursework in literacy, mathematics, science and social studies that help prepare students to take specific assessments to become designated as "highly qualified" teachers in deaf education, reading and mathematics. Instructional methods are comprehensive in nature and provide the unique strategies necessary to address issues concomitant with hearing loss, including language development in both English and American Sign Language, use of bilingual-bicultural methodologies and various assistive and instructional technologies. The hierarchical coursework sequence concludes with thematic unit instruction that prepares graduates to work with the core curriculum to address all academic content areas, as well as transition and students with additional needs. Graduates are eligible to apply for Ohio licensure to teach deaf and hard-of-hearing students in prekindergarten to 12th grade.
• The Disability Services concentration prepares students to work with individuals with disabilities who have a wide variety of support needs in a broad array of settings (e.g., vocational, residential, community). Students in this concentration progress through highly-structured coursework and field experiences to learn evidence-based practices to teach leisure, social, adaptive and life skills to individuals with disabling conditions. Students who complete this program are not eligible for licensure as special educators/intervention specialists in the state of Ohio.
• The Mild to Intensive Dual License concentration prepares candidates to work with individuals (kindergarten through age 21) who have a wide variety of support needs in a broad array of settings (e.g., general education classrooms, self-contained classrooms, alternative schools and community-based programs). Candidates in this concentration progress through highly-structured coursework and extensive field experiences to learn evidence-based practices to teach academic, social adaptive and life skills. Successful completion of this program enables candidates to be eligible for licensure in both Mild/Moderate Educational Needs (e.g., learning disabilities emotional and behavioral disorders, ADHD) as well as Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs (e.g., intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, physical disabilities) through the State of Ohio.

Students in the Disability Services concentration may apply early to the  and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the in the University Catalog for more information.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admission Requirements

Admission to this major is selective. To be admitted directly into the Special Education major, freshmen must have a minimum 2.750 high school GPA, and transfer students must have a minimum 2.750 overall GPA in all previous undergraduate coursework. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement at the time of admission for this major will be admitted to the EHHS General non-degree program until which time they have established a Kent State GPA of 2.750. They may then submit a change of program to declare this major.

Current Kent State and Transfer Students: Active Kent State students who wish to change their major must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and meet all admission criteria listed above to be admitted. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Engage in professional learning and practice within ethical guidelines.
2. Understand and address individual developmental and learning needs.
3. Demonstrate subject matter content and specialized knowledge.
4. Use assessment to understand the learning and the learning environment for data-based decision making.
5. Support learning using effective instruction.
6. Support social, emotional and behavioral growth.
7. Collaborate with team members.
8. Demonstrate the dispositions necessary to be successful special educational teachers or professionals.
9. Demonstrate their preparation for the profession by successfully completing the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Special Education Assessments required for their Special Education License type or being admitted to a graduate degree program or obtaining employment in a disability services field.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

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Teacher candidates are only permitted to repeat a field experience course once. Please see  policy for details.

Deaf Education Concentration Requirements

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Teacher candidates are only permitted to repeat a field experience course once. Please see  policy for details.

Disability Services Concentration Requirements

Mild to Intensive Dual License Concentration Requirements

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Teacher candidates are only permitted to repeat a field experience course once. Please see  policy for details.

Licensure Information

Candidates seeking Ohio licensure are required to pass specific assessments in order to apply for licensure. See Ohio Department of Education-Educator Preparation website for more information on assessments specific to licensure type. Taking and passing the licensure tests prior to graduation is encouraged but not required.

Students must apply for State of Ohio Licensure (defined by completion of all licensure program requirements) within 12 months of program completion. After 12 months, applicants must meet State-approved program/licensure requirements that are in effect at the time of application. This means that students who apply after the 12-month deadline may have to take additional coursework if the content, methods courses, program requirements, or licensure requirements have changed from the catalog in force.

Students completing the Disability Services concentration will not be eligible for licensure.

Progression Requirements

For students seeking teacher education licensure, admission to advanced study is required prior to enrolling in select upper-division education courses. Students must meet all professional requirements for admission to advanced study and have a minimum 2.750 overall GPA¹.

For students in the non-licensure concentration, admission into the professional phase is required prior to enrolling in select upper-division courses. Successful completion of 60 credit hours with a minimum 2.750 overall GPA¹ is required for admittance into the professional phase of the major.

To manage enrollment and deliver high-quality programs, the faculty will select the most qualified applicants for admission based upon evaluation of academic success (overall GPA¹) at ºÚÁÏÍø, non-academic criteria and other specific program criteria.

Please be aware that reapplication may be necessary if postponing advanced study coursework or if withdrawing for one year or more.

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Undergraduate students who have not completed a minimum of 12 ºÚÁÏÍø credit hours will be evaluated for advanced study and professional phase based on their high school GPA for new freshmen or transfer GPA for transfer students.

Graduation Requirements

• To graduate, students in the Deaf Education concentration must pass the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) at the intermediate level or receive a minimum Level 2 on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI).

Roadmaps

Deaf Education Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Disability Services Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Mild to Intensive Dual License Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (Deaf Education and Mild to Intensive Dual License concentrations only)