Gather Here. Go Far

NSU is where success begins. Here professors know their subjects and how to get you ready for a career after you graduate. We empower individuals to become socially responsible global citizens by creating and sustaining a culture of learning and discovery.

Gather Here. Go Far

NSU is where success begins. Here professors know their subjects and how to get you ready for a career after you graduate. We empower individuals to become socially responsible global citizens by creating and sustaining a culture of learning and discovery.

Gather Here. Go Far

NSU is where success begins. Here professors know their subjects and how to get you ready for a career after you graduate. We empower individuals to become socially responsible global citizens by creating and sustaining a culture of learning and discovery.

Gather Here. Go Far

NSU is where success begins. Here professors know their subjects and how to get you ready for a career after you graduate. We empower individuals to become socially responsible global citizens by creating and sustaining a culture of learning and discovery.

Gather Here. Go Far

NSU is where success begins. Here professors know their subjects and how to get you ready for a career after you graduate. We empower individuals to become socially responsible global citizens by creating and sustaining a culture of learning and discovery.

Bachelor of Special Education

Overview

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Are you interested in working in a diverse environment? Special Education might be the path for you!

Teacher candidates earning a Special Education degree learn effective strategies to teach students with varying disabilities on all different levels, PK-12th grades.

Teachers will be skilled in all core content areas.

Purpose
The program prepares highly competent teachers dedicated to the field of special education and qualified to teach students with exceptional learning needs in grades PK-12.

The special education degree at NSU is aligned with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) content areas for mild/moderate disabilities for PK-12th grade classrooms. 

This certificate/degree is inclusive of all areas of Special Education for the mild/moderate, severe/profound, and comprehensive levels of severity.

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Degree availability

  • Tahlequah
  • Broken Arrow
  • Blended
  • Online

PROGRAM CHAIR

Program Chair

Dr. Jarilyn Haney
haneyjw@nsuok.edu
918-444-3786


Student Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate understanding of how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Select, adapt, and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Apply knowledge of general and specialized curricula to individualize learning for individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments so that individuals with exceptionalities become active and effective learners and develop emotional well-being, positive social interactions, and self-determination.
  • Select and use multiple methods of assessment and data-sources in making educational decisions.
  • Collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways to address the needs of individuals with exceptionalities across a range of learning experiences.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with augmentative and alternative communication systems and utilize a variety of technologies to support the communication and learning of individuals with exceptionalities.

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Degree Overview

Core classes

  • ELED 4323 - Language Arts and Writing Strategies for the Elementary & Middle Grades
  • ELED 4343 - Social Studies Strategies for the Elementary & Middle Grades
  • P ED 4513 - Elementary School Programs in Physical Education
  • READ 4013 - Content Literacy K-8
  • READ 4023 - Reading and Language Development of the Young Child
  • READ 4063 - Introduction to Reading and Writing Assessment
  • READ 4213 - Remediation for Dyslexia & Struggling Readers
  • SPED 4213 - Foundations, Future Trends, and Current Issues in Special Education
  • SPED 4223 - Instructional Design and Curriculum for Students with Disabilities
  • SPED 4233 - Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities
  • SPED 4242 - Collaboration and Transition Planning of Students with Disabilities
  • SPED 4253 - Instructional Evaluations and Implementation for Students with Disabilities
  • SPED 4263 - Assistive Technology Strategies and Universal Design for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • SPED 4433 - Introduction to Education of Children with Exceptionalities
  • EDUC 4823 - Technology & the 21st Century

Clinical Experience/Internships

Pre-Internship I - requires 2.75 GPA/45 completed credit hours, 8 full days of observation/field experience

  • EDUC 3313 - Clinical Teaching/Pre-Internship I
  • EDUC 3113 - Educational Psychology

Pre-Internship II - requires 2.5 GPA and 10 full days of observation

  • ELED 4563 - Management of the Elementary Classroom and Curriculum
  • EDUC 4032 - Pre-Internship II

Full Internship - requires 2.5 GPA and full-time semester of student teaching

  • EDUC 4054 - Elementary Intern Teaching
  • EDUC 4074 - Secondary Intern Teaching
  • EDUC 4172 - Assessment and Evaluation
  • EDUC 4252 - Seminar

See course catalog for full degree plan

Click here for sample semester plan

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Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's

The Accelerated Bachelor's to Master’s degree pathway (ADP) allows high performing  undergraduate students an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor's and master’s degrees in Special Education at an accelerated pace.

Undergraduate students accepted for the ADP may apply up to 8 graduate (5000 level) credit hours towards the completion of both the bachelor's and master’s degree requirements. 

ADP Eligibility

  • Completed Accelerated Degree Program application.
  • Minimum of 72 overall credit hours completed and a minimum of 12 hours completed in the Special Education major area.
  • Transfer students must have completed a 12 semester hours at NSU.
  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA, and a minimum 3.25 major GPA.
  • Complete a Graduate College Admission application. Students will be admitted provisionally.  Upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree, students will be eligible for full admission to the graduate college.

IMPORTANT:

  • Students will complete SPED 4263 as part of the B.S.Ed. program with an additional assignment for graduate students.
  • Students who do not follow the approved degree plan may become ineligible to continue in the accelerated degree program. 
  • Prior to completing the undergraduate degree, if the undergraduate GPA, graduate GPA and/or overall GPA fall below a 3.00, the student becomes ineligible to continue in the ADP.
  • Students may withdraw from an approved accelerated degree pathway.  Graduate credit hours completed prior to the student withdrawing or becoming ineligible to continue in the ADP apply toward the undergraduate degree only.
SPED 4223-Instructional Design & Curriculum for Students with Disabilities SPED 5203-Evidence-Based Strategies & Curr Design for Students with ASD
SPED 4242-Collaboration & Transition Planning of Students with Disabilities SPED 5812-Seminar: Administration of SPED Programs
SPED 4253-Instructional Evals. & Implementation for Students with Disabilities SPED 5323-Response to Intervention & Assessment of Students with ASD

Contact Dr. Jarilyn Haney for more information haneyjw@nsuok.edu // 918-444-3786

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Licensure Programs

Northeastern State University offers initial teacher licensure programs at the traditional undergraduate level for graduates wishing to teach in Oklahoma. We also offer advanced licensure programs and programs for other school professionals at the graduate level. We do not guarantee to meet the licensure requirements of other states. You will be responsible for verifying that your program of study meets your desired state's licensure requirements.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Programs at Northeastern State University that prepare students for initial licensure as educators are designed to meet the licensure standards set by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Students seeking licensure in another state are advised to contact the appropriate licensing board in that state to determine specific requirements of guidelines for reciprocity. Northeastern State University cannot confirm whether a particular licensure program meets requirements for licensure outside of the State of Oklahoma. For a list of the state departments of education that oversee professional teaching licensure, see the U.S. Department of Education website - State Contacts page. Click here for NSU's state-specific matrix.

For questions related to licensure, please contact Lois Buttress (buttress@nsuok.edu).

Priority Enrollment

47%

Minority Students

26%

Increase in Adult Learners

$48,195,863

Total Aid Disbursed in 2020-2021

nsu recognized by study dot com as one of the bestnsu ranked as the best bachelor in finance program

Student Resources

Internships

Teacher Certification

TRANSFERRING TO NSU?

Make your transition to NSU as smooth and seamless as possible.
Visit Transfer Student Services for more information.