Special Education (BSEd)

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Special education candidates fulfill requirements in general education and take the PRAXIS Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) exam in their freshman year; they begin professional education coursework in their sophomore year. Special education candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.70 and a 2.70 GPA in the major. For more information regarding admission requirements and certification policies, see Teacher Education in this catalog.

Student Learning Outcomes

Special education professionals understand how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities. (Cross-curricular Skill: Ethical Reasoning)
Special education professionals 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. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity)
Special education professionals use knowledge of general and specialized curricula to individualize learning for individuals with exceptionalities. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
Special education professionals use multiple methods of assessment and data sources in making educational decisions. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving)
Special education professionals select, adapt, and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
Special education professionals use foundational knowledge of the field and their professional ethical principles and practice standards to inform special education practice, to engage in lifelong learning, and to advance the profession. (Cross-curricular Skill: Ethical Reasoning)
Special education professionals 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. (Cross-curricular Skill: Teamwork)

Program Requirements

IDL 190 - Seminar 1-3 credits (2 credits required)
SPED 100 - Introduction to Persons With Exceptionalities 3 credits
EDFN 102 - Introduction to Education 3 credits
HLTH 100 - Wellness for Life 1 credit
EPSY 302 - Educational Psychology 3 credits
SPED 296 - Field Experience 0-1 credit (1 credit)
SPED 210 - Teaching Students With Exceptionalities 3 credits
SPED 460 - Family Systems and Professional Collaboration 2 credits
EPSY 428 - Child and Adolescent Development 3 credits
GEOG 210 - World Regional Geography 3 credits
SPED 396 - Field Experience 1 credit (1 credit)
ELED 440 - K-8 Language Arts Methods 3 credits
SEED 450 - Reading and Content Literacy 2 credits
ELRN 385 - Educational Technology and Distance Teaching 3 credits
SPED 470 - Educational Programming 2 credits
SPED 431 - Identification and Assessment in Special Education 2 credits
SPED 432 - Methods and Materials for LD K-12 2 credits
MLED 480 - Middle Level Methods 2 credits
ELED 395 - Practicum 1-2 credits (1 credit for this program)
SPED 410 - Behavior Management of Exceptional Children 3 credits
SPED 420 - K-12 Curriculum and Instructional Strategies 3 credits
INED 411 - South Dakota Indian Studies 3 credits
SPED 496 - Field Experience 1 credit (1 credit)
ELED 330 - K-8 Math Methods 3 credits
SPED 417 - Vocational-Transitional Programming 2 credits
EDFN 475 - Human Relations 3 credits
SPED 441 - Inclusive Methods for Diverse Learners 2 credits
SPED 485 - Special Education Law 2 credits
EDFN 440 - Classroom Management 2 credits
EDFN 472 - School Law and Ethics for Educators 2 credits
EDER 415 - Educational Assessment 2 credits
SPED 488 - Student Teaching in Special Education 1-16 credits (8 credits for this program)

Total: 78 credits

General Education Requirements

Baccalaureate degrees - 30 credits

Associate degrees - 24 credits

Goal #1: Written Communication (6 credits Baccalaureate/Associate)

Student enrollment in the initial English course is determined by the Board of Regents placement policy (2:7.6).

ENGL 101 - Composition I 3 credits
ENGL 201 - Composition II 3 credits

Goal #2: Oral Communcation (3 credits Baccalaureate/Associate)

SPCM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech 3 credits
SPCM 215 - Public Speaking 3 credits
SPCM 222 - Argumentation and Debate 3 credits

Goal #3: Social Sciences (6 credits Baccalaureate/3 credits Associate)

Elementary Education majors and Special Education majors must take POLS 100 , GEOG 210 , and HIST 151 or HIST 152 .

ANTH 210 - Cultural Anthropology 3 credits
CJUS 201 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 credits
ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 credits
ECON 202 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 credits
GEOG 200 - Introduction to Human Geography 3 credits
GEOG 210 - World Regional Geography 3 credits
GEOG 212 - Geography of North America 3 credits
HIST 151 - United States History I 3 credits
HIST 152 - United States History II 3 credits
HIST 256 - World History 3 credits
POLS 100 - American Government 3 credits
POLS 210 - State and Local Government 3 credits
POLS 250 - Introduction to International Relations 3 credits
PSYC 101 - General Psychology 3 credits
SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology 3 credits
SOC 150 - Social Problems 3 credits
SOC 250 - Courtship and Marriage 3 credits

Goal #4: Arts and Humanities (6 credits Baccalaureate/3 credits Associate)

ART 111 - Drawing I 3 credits
ART 112 - Drawing II 3 credits
ART 121 - Design I 2D 3 credits
ART 123 - Three Dimensional Design 3 credits
ARTH 100 - Art Appreciation 3 credits
ARTH 211 - History of World Art I 3 credits
ARTH 212 - History of World Art II 3 credits
ENGL 210 - Introduction to Literature 3 credits
ENGL 213 - Backgrounds to Literature 3 credits
ENGL 215 - Literature in Global Contexts 3 credits
ENGL 221 - British Literature I 3 credits
ENGL 222 - British Literature II 3 credits
ENGL 230 - Literature for Younger Readers 3 credits
ENGL 241 - American Literature I 3 credits
ENGL 242 - American Literature II 3 credits
FREN 101 - Introductory French I 4 credits
FREN 102 - Introductory French II 4 credits
FREN 201 - Intermediate French I 3 credits
FREN 202 - Intermediate French II 3 credits
GER 101 - Introductory German I 4 credits
GER 102 - Introductory German II 4 credits
GER 201 - Intermediate German I 3 credits
GER 202 - Intermediate German II 3 credits
HIST 111 - World Civilization I 3 credits
HIST 112 - World Civilization II 3 credits
HIST 121 - Western Civilization I 3 credits
HIST 122 - Western Civilization II 3 credits
MFL 101 - Introduction to Foreign Language and Culture I 4 credits
MFL 102 - Introduction to Foreign Language and Culture II 4 credits
MUS 100 - Music Appreciation 3 credits
MUS 205 - The History, Analysis, and Appreciation of Rock and Roll 2 credits
PHIL 100 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 credits
PHIL 200 - Introduction to Logic 3 credits
PHIL 270 - Philosophy of Religion 3 credits
RUSS 101 - Introductory Russian I 4 credits
RUSS 102 - Introductory Russian II 4 credits
SPAN 101 - Introductory Spanish I 4 credits
SPAN 102 - Introductory Spanish II 4 credits
SPAN 201 - Intermediate Spanish I 3 credits
SPAN 202 - Intermediate Spanish II 3 credits
THEA 100 - Introduction to Theatre 3 credits
THEA 131 - Introduction to Acting 3 credits

Goal #5: Mathematics (3 credits Baccalaureate/Associate)

Student enrollment in the initial Mathematics course is determined by the Board of Regents placement policy (AAC Guidelines 7.6).

MATH 103 - Mathematical Reasoning 3 credits
MATH 104 - Finite Mathematics 4 credits
MATH 114 - College Algebra 3 credits
MATH 115 - Precalculus 5 credits
MATH 120 - Trigonometry 3 credits
MATH 121 - Survey of Calculus 4 credits
MATH 123 - Calculus I 4-5 credits
MATH 125 - Calculus II 4-5 credits
MATH 225 - Calculus III 4 credits

Goal #6: Natural Sciences (6 credits Baccalaureate/3 Credits Associate)

BIOL 101 - Biology Survey I 3 credits and
BIOL 101L - Biology Survey I Lab 0 credits
BIOL 106 - Human Health and Biology 3 credits and
BIOL 106L - Human Health and Biology Lab 0 credits
BIOL 151 - General Biology I 4 credits and
BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab 0 credits
BIOL 153 - General Biology II 4 credits and
BIOL 153L - General Biology II Lab 0 credits
BIOL 211 - Environmental Biology 3 credits and
BIOL 211L - Environmental Biology Lab 0 credits
BIOL 235 - Introduction to Biotechnology 3 credits and
BIOL 235L - Introduction to Biotechnology Lab 0 credits
CHEM 106 - Chemistry Survey 3 credits and
CHEM 106L - Chemistry Survey Lab 1 credit
CHEM 108 - Organic and Biochemistry 4 credits and
CHEM 108L - Organic and Biochemistry Lab 1 credit
CHEM 112 - General Chemistry I 3 credits and
CHEM 112L - General Chemistry I Lab 1 credit
CHEM 114 - General Chemistry II 3 credits and
CHEM 114L - General Chemistry II Lab 1 credit
GEOG 131 - Physical Geography: Weather and Climate 4 credits and
GEOG 131L - Physical Geography: Weather and Climate Lab 0 credit
GEOG 132 - Physical Geography: Natural Landscapes 4 credits and
GEOG 132L - Physical Geography: Natural Landscapes Lab 0 credit
GEOL 101 - General Geology 3 credits and
GEOL 101L - General Geology Lab 0 credit
MICR 231 - General Microbiology 4 credits and
MICR 231L - General Microbiology Lab 0 credits
PHYS 101 - Survey of Physics 4 credits and
PHYS 101L - Survey of Physics Lab 0 credit
PHYS 211 - University Physics I 4 credits and
PHYS 211L - University Physics I Lab 0 credit
PHYS 213 - University Physics II 4 credits and
PHYS 213L - University Physics II Lab 0 credit

Associate Degree Flexibility (3 credits)

Students have the flexibility to select an additional three credits from Goal #3, #4, or #6 with courses selected from different disciplinary prefixes.

Degree Requirements (BSEd and BME)

EDFN 475 - Human Relations 3 credits
EPSY 302 - Educational Psychology 3 credits
EPSY 428 - Child and Adolescent Development 3 credits
INED 411 - South Dakota Indian Studies 3 credits
In addition to fulfilling all General Education Requirements, candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Education or Bachelor of Music Education degrees must take the professional education course work required for certification in the state of South Dakota. See Teacher Education and specific requirements for Elementary Education; and K-12 Certification requirements for majors including Art, Health/Physical Education, Music, World Languages, and Special Education. See Secondary Education for BSEd majors in Biology, Chemistry, English, History, and Mathematics. Of these requirements, EDFN 475 , satisfies the Human Values goal for all majors. BSEd Art Education majors are allowed to take EDFN 475 or ARTH 250 .