Special Education Major (BS)
The kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) cross-categorical special education license at UW-Parkside is offered through a bachelor’s degree program with a major in special education or as a post-baccalaureate license for candidates already holding a bachelor’s degree. This license can also be added on as an additional license for teachers holding a regular education license at the elementary and middle school (K-9) level, or the equivalent.
Candidates seeking a bachelor’s degree with a major in Special Education will complete requirements for the K-12 cross-categorical special education license simultaneously as they work towards their degree. Candidates seeking a K-12 cross-categorical special education license as a post-baccalaureate candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
Once all requirements for licensure are met, candidates will be endorsed for a K-12 cross-categorical special education license in alignment with PI 34.049 and will be authorized to teach cross-categorical special education in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Candidates who declare the Special Education major for this catalog year but do not pursue licensure must complete all Special Education major course requirements, with the exception of EDU 420: Residency Seminar and EDU 425: Residency. Candidates must also complete additional content coursework from an approved list to total 120 degree credits. Candidates will graduate with Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Special Education, but will not be eligible for licensure. Candidates choosing this pathway must meet with the teacher education advisor to ensure that all degree requirements are met.
Special Education - Cross Categorical Learning Outcomes
The following learning outcomes are based on the Council for Exceptional Children’s 2020 Initial Standards for Teacher Preparation (https://exceptionalchildren.org/special-education-preparation-standards). The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has approved UW-Parkside’s special education cross-categorical license based on these standards.
- Engaging in Professional Learning and Practice with Ethical Guidelines.
- Understanding and Addressing Each Individual’s Developmental and Learning Needs.
- Demonstrating Subject Matter Content and Specialized Curricular Knowledge.
- Using Assessment to Understand the Learner and the Learning Environment for Data-Based Decision Making.
- Supporting Learning Using Effective Instruction.
- Supporting Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Growth.
- Collaboration with Team Members.
Degree Requirements
See the Degree Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science policy in the Academic Catalog. Completing the degree requirements does not automatically lead to an endorsement for a teaching license. Student must meet the teaching license requirements listed below.
Licensure Requirements
All majors or pathways leading to licensure must meet the requirements of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). DPI may make changes to the requirements for licensure at any time that may affect the teacher education program. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that they are meeting with the teacher education advisor regularly to ensure that they have the most current licensure information.
A Tier II Wisconsin teaching license may be issued to a student who has received endorsement from the teacher education program’s Certification Officer. In order for a student to be endorsed for licensure, they must meet all requirements of the Exit Level Proficiency Policy.
- Successful completion of a licensable major or pathway, academic minor (if required for licensure), baccalaureate degree (if applicable) and UW-Parkside teacher education program (including student teaching).
- Successful completion of all clinical program requirements.
- Successful completion of the required content knowledge assessment.
- Successful completion of the Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) (for majors/pathways in early childhood, elementary education, and special education) or the Foundations of Reading Test Alternative.
- Successful completion of the pedagogical knowledge assessment determined by the program.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale and a department (EDU) GPA of 3.0 or higher in the teacher education program (all EDU courses) with no single EDU course grade lower than a C+ (with the exception of student teaching coursework, which requires a grade of CR.)
Requirements for the Special Education Major
Content Knowledge Policy Requirement
The requirement can be completed with two options. For Option 1, the teacher education program recommends the following courses that meet Content Knowledge Policy requirements. Students should consult with the teacher education advisor to ensure that they understand and are meeting requirements of the program’s content knowledge policy. If students are considering Option 2 (passing score on appropriate Praxis II), consult with the teacher education advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Reading | 3 |
| ENGL 167 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| COMM 105 | Public Speaking for the 21st Century | 3 |
| English Subtotal | 9 | |
| Mathematics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-5 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| College Mathematics with Applications | ||
| College Algebra I | ||
A course beyond MATH 111 with approval of department | ||
| Science | ||
| Life Science: Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Nature of Life | ||
| Bioscience | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| Earth and Space Science: Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Earth in Perspective | ||
| Astronomy of Native America | ||
| Physical Science: Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| The World of Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Principles of Physics | ||
| Science Subtotal | 13-16 | |
| Social Studies | ||
| Geography: Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Geography of American Ethnicity and Race | ||
| Contemporary Human Geography | ||
| Introduction to Geography: World Regions | ||
| U.S. History: Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The United States: Origins to Reconstruction | ||
| The United States: Reconstruction to Recent Times | ||
| Social Sciences: Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Immigration and Education | ||
| The American Economy | ||
| American Politics | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| World History: Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Western Civilization II: The Middle Ages to 1815 | ||
| World History III: From 1800 to the Present | ||
| Social Studies Subtotal | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 34-37 | |
Required Major Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Admission Courses | ||
| EDU 101 | Disability History and Culture | 3 |
| EDU 110 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDU 211 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| EDU 212 | Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers I 1 | 3 |
| EDU 215 | Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers II | 5 |
| Pre-Admission Subtotal | 17 | |
| Admitted Courses | ||
| EDU 300 | Creating Effective Learning Environments | 1 |
| EDU 304 | Context and Culture In Learning Environments | 3 |
| EDU 310 | Family, School, and Community Partnerships | 1 |
| EDU 312 | Designing Learner-Centered Lesson Plans | 3 |
| EDU 322 | Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| EDU 324 | Individual Learning Design and Technology | 3 |
| EDU 326 | Behavioral and Psychosocial Models | 3 |
| EDU 332 | Foundations of Literacy | 3 |
| EDU 335 | ESL Methods | 3 |
| EDU 343 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| EDU 412 | Literacy Development | 3 |
| EDU 430 | Using Action Research to Improve Instruction | 2 |
| EDU 431 | Teaching Developmental Mathematics, Grades K-3 | 3 |
| EDU 432 | Teaching Developmental Literacy, Grades K-3 | 3 |
| EDU 437 | Academic and Behavioral Assessment | 3 |
| EDU 439 | Transition and Self-Determination | 2 |
| EDU 440 | Teacher Preparation Portfolio Design | 2 |
| EDU 442 | Teaching Developmental Mathematics, Grades 3-9 | 3 |
| EDU 443 | Teaching Developmental Literacy, Grades 3-9 | 3 |
| EDU 447 | Case Management and Developing Individualized Plans | 3 |
| Admitted Courses Subtotal | 53 | |
| Residency (Student Teaching) Courses | ||
| EDU 420 | Residency Seminar | 2 |
| EDU 425 | Residency (Student Teaching) | 10 |
| Residency (Student Teaching) Subtotal | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 82 | |
- 1
If you have taken MATH 111 or higher with a grade of C+ or above, contact the Teacher Education department to determine if this course is required. If this course is waived due to meeting higher MATH requirements, then these 3 credits are waived.
Requirements for a Double Major in Elementary Education and Special Education
Students may satisfy graduation requirements for both elementary education and special education by completing all required courses for elementary education, together with the following special education courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Elementary Education Courses | 75 | |
| Required Special Education Courses | ||
| EDU 101 | Disability History and Culture | 3 |
| EDU 324 | Individual Learning Design and Technology | 3 |
| EDU 326 | Behavioral and Psychosocial Models | 3 |
| EDU 412 | Literacy Development | 3 |
| EDU 437 | Academic and Behavioral Assessment | 3 |
| EDU 439 | Transition and Self-Determination | 2 |
| EDU 447 | Case Management and Developing Individualized Plans | 3 |
| Total Credits | 95 | |
Documented Completion of University Skills Requirements (English 101 and MATH 102, MATH 104, or MATH 111 required; C- or better in these classes required)
GPA Requirement 2.75 cumulative GPA, including all higher education coursework; requires official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions. Teacher candidates must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all required EDU courses after admittance.
Communication Skills Requirement
Select one
- Praxis CORE | Passing scores in reading (156), writing (162), and math (150). When registering for the test, indicate UW-Parkside as a score recipient (1860).
- ACT | Composite score of 23 with minimum score of 20 on English, Math, and Reading, and the score is within the previous 10 years.
- SAT | Minimum score of 510 on Critical Reading, 480 on Writing, and 520 on Math AND the score is within the previous 10 years (2400-point scale); OR minimum score of 550 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and 550 on Math AND the score is within the previous 10 years (1600-point scale, post-2016).
- GRE Revised General Test | Minimum score of 450 on Verbal Reasoning, 3 on Analytical Writing, and 540 on Quantitative Reasoning (prior to August 1, 2011) or a minimum score of 150 on Verbal Reasoning, 3 on Analytical Writing, and 145 on Quantitative Reasoning (after August 1, 2011) AND the score is within the previous 10 years.
- Alternative Option | Grade of C+ or better in both ENGL 101 and MATH 102, MATH 104, or MATH 111 AND the grades are within the previous 10 years
Successful completion (grade of C+ or better) of pre-admission courses.
Degree Requirements (Bachelor's Degree)
In addition to individual program requirements, students must also fulfill the following requirements.
- Complete 120 credits of college work. This must include 36 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Certain elementary courses are identified in the catalog and/or course schedule as not counting toward the 120 credits required for graduation. In addition, only the first 8 credits of physical education activity courses (100-level) may be counted toward graduation or grade point averages (GPA).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credits toward their undergraduate degree at UW-Parkside. Individual departments and programs may require that certain courses must be taken at UW-Parkside. Students must complete all course work to be counted toward graduation by the end of the semester/subscription period in which they graduate.
- Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale. Some programs have higher GPA requirements. Transfer students must also have a cumulative 2.00 GPA on the combination of transfer credits accepted and credits attempted at UW-Parkside.
- Complete an approved major program of study with the minimum major GPA as specified by the program or department. Usually, the minimum GPA is 2.00 on a 4.00 scale, but some majors require a higher GPA. Students who apply transfer credits to their majors must also meet the minimum major GPA requirement on the combination of transfer credits and UW-Parkside credits. At least 15 credits of upper level course work (courses numbered 300 or higher) must be completed at UW-Parkside. A student may not graduate with an incomplete grade in major course work if failure in that course would reduce the GPA in the major below the minimum GPA.
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Minimum Total Credits | 120 |
| Core General Education | 35 |
| Upper Level Credits (300 level or above) | 36 |
| Residency | 30 |
See the undergraduate policy section for more specific information about Core General Education Requirements. A list of approved courses is available in the General Education program section of the catalog.