Department of Special Education

Curriculum & Objectives

Curriculum for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Special Education with emphasis in Mild/Moderate Disabilities consists of three parts.  Part I includes a general education program that is prescribed for all students attending this university.  Part II consists of a field of specialization in which the student expects to teach, e.g. learning disabilities, mental retardation and behavioral disorders on a mild/moderate level. Part III consists of courses in professional education providing both theory and practice in materials, methods, and teaching techniques.

Special Admission Criteria

    Applicants for admission to Teacher Education at NSU must meet the following criteria:

• Establish a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5
• Enroll in and complete EDUC 3313, Clinical Teaching & Pre-Internship I
• Be recommended by a teacher education admissions interview committee
• Submit an official degree plan (or certification checksheet if the the candidate has completed a bachelor's degree and is seeking certification only) to the Director of Admission to Teacher Education
• Complete and submit an application along with a satisfactory autobiography
• Provide evidence of adequate academic skills by meeting the cut scores on the Pre-Professional Skills Test or by meeting criteria alternative to the PPST cut scores

Upon successful completion of the Special Education degree program, the Oklahoma Teacher Certification exams, and residency teaching, graduates will be eligible to teach students with mild/moderate disabilities in grades K-12 in Oklahoma public schools.  Students applying for positions out of state may be required to pass the teacher certification exam of that state.  Graduates willing and able to seek employment within a broad geographic region are generally successful in obtaining employment upon graduation.  Opportunities for employment vary by school district.  Obtaining additional areas of certification and /or teaching endorsements enhance employment opportunities.

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science in Special Education:

• Mild/Moderate Disabilities

• Administration
• Early Childhood
• Visually Impaired

 Bachelor of Science in Special Education

• A minimum of 50 semester hours of academic work in general education is required
• Students must complete general education requirements by the time they complete 90 semester hours or college work
• The special education major consists of 22/23 credit hours of study
• The curriculum content area includes 23/24 semester hours of study
• Students will study a variety of areas including the latest techniques in the instruction of Reading, Math, Social Studies, and Science
• The professional education core consists of 29 semester hours of study
• Within this framework of classes and field experiences, students become familiar with educational history, educational psychology, the needs of the exceptional child and classroom management practices
• In addition, all students will participate in field experiences in public school settings
• The final semester involves a full time, 16 week internship

• An earned bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Scores no more than five years old on either the Miller's Analogies Test or the general test of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
• A completed Application to Graduate admission
• One official transcript of all previous college course work.  Transcripts must be sent directly from the schools attended to the Graduate College Office
• A 2.75 grade average for all undergraduate course work attempted; or a 2.75 grade average in the last 60 semester hours attempted; or a score in the upper two-thirds of college graduates locally on the GRE general aptitude test (verbal plus quantitative) or the Miller's Analogies Test
• Completion of a minimum of 12 semester hours of education and/or psychology in order to take courses in professional education for graduate credit
• Qualify for an Oklahoma teacher's certificate/license
• Completion of certificate requirements or be able to complete certificate requirements within 19 hours for one of the approved areas in special education
• All admission requirements must be met by the end of the first semester of enrollment.  Otherwise, course work completed may not apply in the program.

• Been formally admitted to the Master of Education in Special Education degree
• Satisfactorily completed the course, EDUC 5103, Educational Research
• Filed a plan of study (degree plan) approved by the advisor and the Graduate Dean
• Filed a Statement of Understanding signed by the student and advisor with the Graduate College
• Completed a minimum of eight semester hours as prescribed by the plan of study
• Maintained a 3.0 grade point average in all graduate course work attempted

Department News

 Students are encourage to participate in the professional student organizations in their respective fields (Kappa Delta Pi, Student Council for Exceptional Children, Student Oklahoma Education Association, etc.)