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.
Note: Students who pursue this concentration and want to teach in New York need to review the steps to teacher certification in New York.
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 for 15 credits.
Option 1: Focus Areas
Students complete 15 credits in the focus areas of English, math, science, social studies or urban education. The list of courses that will satisfy this option is available online.
Taking 15 or more credits in English, math, science, or social studies 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, see the Minor in Disabilities Studies web page.
Option 3: Human Development and Family Studies Minor
This option is available for students entering the ETE program in Fall 2011 or later. The minor in Human Development and Family Studies provides students with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of human development, families, relationships and diverse communities. The minor includes the following courses:
- HDFS 201: Life Span Development
- HDFS 202: Foundations of Family Studies
- Human Development elective
- Family Studies elective
- Relationships elective
- Development Within Diverse Communities elective – EDUC 258 and 259 satisfy this elective requirement and will "double count" towards the ETE major and this minor. Students do not need to take an additional Development Within Diverse Communities elective to complete this minor.
For more information about this minor, including the list of possible human development, family studies, relationships and development within diverse communities elective courses, see the Minor in Human Development and Family Studies web page.
