BSEd Special Education/Elementary Education

The Special Education/Elementary Education program is a dual licensure program. This innovative program is fully aligned with the licensing guidelines from the Illinois State Board of Education, providing students with the necessary coursework and field experiences to qualify for an Illinois Professional Educators License in Special Education (K -22 years), as well as in Elementary Education (grades 1-6). As with the Elementary Education program, coursework for this program includes theory and methodologies in instructional planning for all content areas, children’s literature, classroom management, educational psychology, diverse learners, assessment and technology. Additional Special Education coursework includes assessment, collaboration and consultation, assistive technology, behavior management, language development and instructional methods for diverse learners. Faculty members are up-to-date on the needs of the classroom as well as the latest trends and requirements of the field, and are deeply committed to preparing future educators to excel as teachers. Clinical experiences include placements in Elementary, Middle and High School, in a variety of instructional settings. These diverse clinical experiences, along with mentoring from cooperating teachers and field supervisors, assist teacher candidates in transforming university classroom instruction into practical teaching skills.