Childhood and Special Education, B.S.
[Childhood Education and Special Education B.S. - 0808]
This undergraduate major will lead to initial certification in both Childhood Education (grades 1-6) and Students with Disabilities (All Grades). Students enrolled in this major will be taught inclusive strategies that will qualify them to teach in a traditional elementary classroom, a self-contained special education classroom (all grades), and an inclusion classroom (all grades). The dual certification offered by this program will greatly enhance a graduate’s ability to be employed in either an elementary school or a special education facility.
Available Concentrations:
- Historical and Social Sciences
- Language Arts
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
- Social Studies
Admission Criteria:
- Completed application
- Demonstrated academic competence at RWU
- Successful completion of two courses in the Department of Teacher Education
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.7
- A “C+” or better in TEDU 1850 and TEDU 1950
- A “B-“ or better in all required 2000 and above education courses
- Demonstrated proficiency in writing
- “C” or better in COMP 1010 (Principles of Writing)
- “C” or better in COMM 1105 (Fundamentals of Oral Communication)
- Successful completion of a “writing sample” as part of the application process.
- Resume
- Acknowledgment and commitment to professional standards
Once admitted, students must maintain the overall minimum GPA (2.7) and earn the minimum grade required for each course (B- in TEDU courses, usually a C in all major courses) in order to progress through the program. They must also meet the behavioral expectations described in the Professional Dispositions and meet the Technical Standards in order to progress through the program and be allowed to student teach.
SPECIFICS OF THE CHILDHOOD & SPECIAL EDUCATION, B.S. DEGREE
Minimum Total Hours: 132
Total Liberal Arts Hours Required: 66
General Education Requirements: Per Core Requirements List (see General Education Council). Exceptions: only one fine arts course is required; PSYC 2030 must be taken to meet the behavioral science requirement; NSCI 1010 and BIOL 1040 must both be taken to meet the lab science requirement (met through the major in STEM concentrations); MATH 1661 and 1662 must be taken to meet the mathematics proficiency requirement for students in any concentration other than STEM; MATH 2611 and 2612 must be taken to meet the mathematics proficiency requirement for students in the STEM concentration.
Minimum Requirements: Overall and major GPA of 2.7; no grade less than C in the concentration; no grade less than C+ in all 1000 level education courses; no grade less than B- in 2000, 3000, and 4000 level education courses; minimum grade of C in COMM 1105 and COMP 1010, and the required mathematics and science courses.
Major Requirements: 80 hours as follows:
- TEDU 1850 Education in a Changing World (3);
- TEDU 1950 Foundations of Special Education (3);
- TEDU 2350 Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment I (3);
- TEDU 2550 Foundations of Language & Literacy (3);
- TEDU 3360 Inclusive Methods of Mathematics (3);
- TEDU 3550 Literacy in Childhood Classrooms (3);
- TEDU 3600 Creating Inclusive Learning Communities (3);
- TEDU 3650 Assessment for Special Education (3);
- TEDU 3690 Inclusive Methods of Social Studies (3);
- TEDU 3740 Elementary Curriculum & Methods (3);
- TEDU 3760 Inclusive Methods of Science (3);
- TEDU 3940 Culturally Responsive Teaching (3);
- TEDU 4010* & 4011* Student Teaching (6 + 6);
- TEDU 4410* Childhood Education Student Teaching Seminar (2);
- Completion of one concentration (30-hour minimum), selected from the following:
- Historical and Social Sciences
- Language Arts/English
- Liberal Arts & Science
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
- Social Studies
Field Experience Requirement | Students must complete 150 hours of fieldwork. Upon their advisor's advice, students will engage in field blocks 1, 2, and 3 (50 hours each) throughout the program to accompany coursework.
Student Teaching Practicum | 14 Weeks
*Additional requirements must be met for these courses. Please see the Fieldwork Handbook for more information.
Contact the Department of Teacher Education for a comprehensive list of requirements for the degree and concentration of your choice.
In order to obtain New York State certification, the following requirements must be met:
- EAS | Educating All Students Exam
- CST | Content Specialty Test in Appropriate Content Area
- CST | Students with Disabilities
- TPA | Teacher Performance Assessment
- SAVE | Mandatory Workshop
- Child Abuse | Mandatory Workshop
- DASA - Dignity for All Students | Mandatory Workshop
- Autism Training | Mandatory Workshop
- Fingerprinting clearance
Upon successful completion of all academic requirements and completion of all required workshops, the student will be recommended to New York State by RWU. A student who has not completed the required workshops will not be recommended to New York State until they are completed. Six months after the student's conferral date, if the student has not completed all workshops, the student must apply for certification through an individual evaluation. RWU will not recommend the student for certification.
Transfer Requirements: See institutional transfer policies.