Special Education Concentration
ETE majors who pursue this concentration can become certified in special education (Delaware K-12). All courses must be successfully completed with a grade of C- or better. The concentration is composed of 25 credits, bringing the total number of credits for the major to 122.
Students interested in the special education concentration apply to it during EDUC 100. They can also apply to it later in the program by completing the application form and sending it to Vickie Lucas. The admissions committee will review the essays for evidence that the reasons for selecting the concentration are grounded in an understanding of the role of a special educator and a commitment to working with children who have disabilities. There are a limited number of seats in this concentration, and the application determines who is accepted into it. There have been a sufficient number of seats to accommodate all applicants to date.
Course Requirements
In addition to the courses in the ETE major, students take the following courses in the second semester of their junior year or first semester of their senior year immediately before their student teaching semester.
- EDUC 410: Assistive Technology
- EDUC 431: Applied Behavior Analysis
- EDUC 432: Curriculum for School-Aged Exceptional Children
- EDUC 435: Educational Evaluation for Exceptional Children
- EDUC 437: Diagnosis and Instruction: Literacy Problems
Students in this concentration spend their second 8-week student teaching placement working with a special education teacher and take the following course.
- EDUC 400: Student Teaching: Special Education
In addition to the above courses, students are required to complete one of the two options below.
Option 1: Content Area
Students who choose the Content Area option will complete at least 15 credits in the areas of English, math, science, or social studies. The courses that you can take to satisfy this option are the ones that the middle school concentration students take with the exception of EDUC 320, 336, 348, and 443. For example, if you choose the math content area, then the 15 credits must come from courses listed on the Middle School Mathematics concentration web page.
Taking 15 or more credits in a content area can prepare you for taking the Praxis II test in this area. If you pass a Praxis II test in a content area, then in some states you may be considered "Highly Qualified" according to the No Child Left Behind Act and can be hired as a special education teacher in this content area. Check out the Praxis II page for a list of tests for which you can prepare and learn how to obtain the "Tests at a Glance" booklets that describe the content that is covered on the tests. You may want to select your coursework so that it addresses the content covered on the tests.
Option 2: Disabilities Studies Minor
The minor in Disabilities Studies provides a unique interdisciplinary opportunity for undergraduate students to learn about the policies, services, and systems that support the full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life. The approach of the minor is that disability is a natural part of the human condition. The minor includes the following courses:
- EDUC 230: Introduction to Exceptional Children
- HEPP 465: Senior Seminar in Disabilities Studies
- IFST/PSYC/SOCI 270: Families and Developmental Disabilities
- Human development elective
- Social systems elective
- Service delivery elective
Note: EDUC 230 is the only course that can be "double counted" toward the ETE major and the Disabilities Studies minor.
For more information about this minor, including the list of possible human development, social systems, and service delivery elective courses, check out the Minor in Disabilities Studies page.
Option 3: Urban Education
Students who choose the Urban Education option will complete 15 credits from the list of courses in the Urban Education concentration, not including the free elective. No more than 6 of the credits can be restricted electives that reflect students’ particular interest in urban education. For example, courses could be from the areas of Anthropology, Black American Studies, Education, Geography, History, Human Development and Family Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Spanish, and Urban Affairs and Public Policy. See the list of courses in the Urban Education Minor for a sample of courses that could count as electives. Restricted electives must be approved by your advisor.
