The Department has three undergraduate Special Education Certification Options, each leading toward a Bachelor of Science Degree: Collaborative Teaching K-6, and Early Childhood Special Education, as certification options in K-6 Teacher Education and Collaborative Teaching 6-12.

The programs in Special Education are designed to prepare teachers to function in a variety of settings with birth-through-high-school-level students.

Students must obtain a minimum grade of "C" in each professional studies and teaching field course in the area of Special Education.

Non-majors seeking enrollment in courses should obtain permission from the department chair. Successful completion of the program and eligibility for the Bachelor of Science degree and/or teaching certificate necessitates that requirements of the Department, the College of Education and Professional Studies, the University of South Alabama, the Alabama State Department of Education, and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education be met.

The bachelor's degree program

Special Education undergraduate Collaborative Teacher 6-12 program include a minimum of 125 semester hours. Advisors provide the specific course information for each student. Professional courses are organized into blocks which must be taken in a specified sequence.

Admission to candidacy

Students must apply in the College of Education and Professional Studies Advising Center, for admission to teacher candidacy. Students must have satisfactorily completed 12 semester hours (as specified on the advising sheets or in PAWS) in each of the following disciplines: English language arts, mathematics, social sciences, and sciences with a grade of "C" or higher in each course, and professional studies courses. All previously listed requirements of the University and College must have been met also. Students must apply as early as possible preferably by the end of the sophomore year.

Minimum General Studies (60 semester hours)
See College of Education and Professional Studies section or departmental advising sheets for general studies requirements.

Professional Studies (33 semester hours minimum)
Visit the web for specific information at:
http://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/ceps/programs.html.

Areas of Specialization (32 semester hours)
Collaborative Teaching
Visit the web for specific information at:
http://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/ceps/programs.html.

Alabama State Department of Education Certification Requirements:

A Student applying for initial teacher certification will be required to pass the appropriate Praxis II test (s) and have a successful score on his/her edTPA portfolio. ALSDE certification requirements are subject to change and students will be required to meet those which are in place the semester they are applying for certification. Prior to registering for any Praxis II exam, please verify current requirements by going directly to the ALABAMA portion of the Praxis II website at http://www.ets.org/praxis/al.