Special Education B.S.Ed. Certification

Admission Information

The Georgia Southern University Office of Undergraduate Admissions oversees the application process for undergraduate students. During the admission process, ALL students interested in the special education program must declare the Special Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non Certification Track) as their intended major.  When accepted to the university, ALL undergraduate education majors are admitted into the Special Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non Certification Track) program. For university admission information, please visit the Georgia Southern University Admissions website.

At the completion of all courses, through area F in the program of study, students seeking initial teacher certification would then apply to the Teacher Education Program. (See admission requirements for admission into the Teacher Education Program). If accepted into the Teacher Education Program, the student would move into the Special Education B.S.Ed. Certification Track program.  Those students who are NOT seeking initial teacher certification, would complete the remainder of the program requirements for the Special Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non-Certification Track) program.

Program Outcomes

• Student Learning Outcome 1 (Content Knowledge):
  • By the end of their program, graduates of the BSED in Special Education will demonstrate in-depth content knowledge (planning the learning environment and social interactions; instruction; development and characteristics of learners; assessment; and foundations and professional responsibilities) in Special Education with a professional level score (± 250) on the GACE® Special Education Content Assessments (81/82).
• Student Learning Outcome 2 (Learner and Learning):
  • Prior to entering final internship, candidates will earn at least a Level II – developing rating in the areas of learner development, learning differences, learning environments, and academic language on the Learner and Learning rubric.
• Student Learning Outcome 3 (Instruction):
  • At the conclusion of student teaching, graduates of the BSED in Special Education will have demonstrated the effective use of evidence-based practices and classroom management strategies to plan and deliver instruction as evidenced by achieving a mean score of Level II (developing) on Intern Keys across all rubric criteria (professional knowledge, instructional planning, instructional planning, instructional strategies, differentiated instruction, assessment strategies, assessment uses, positive learning environment, academically challenging environment, professionalism, and communication).
• Student Learning Outcome 4 (Assessment):
  • At the conclusion of student teaching, candidates will have assessed and analyzed student learning, used data to design and make adjustments to instruction, monitored student learning, provided feedback to students, and guided students in using feedback to continue learning at the proficient level or higher as evidenced by a score of Level II on Intern Keys Standards 5 & 6 (assessment strategies and assessment uses).
• Student Learning Outcome 5 (Professional Dispositions):
  • By the conclusion of student teaching, the candidate will have demonstrated the professional dispositions expected of educators as evidenced by an average score of “meets or exceeds expectations” (at least Level II) on the COE Professional Dispositions Rubric as rated by the University and the clinical supervisor.

Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s (ABM) program

Qualified students of the Special Education B.S.Ed. Certification Track may also be eligible for an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s (ABM) program. ABM programs allow you to begin graduate studies in your senior year so you can accelerate completion of a graduate degree. You’ll earn both a bachelor’s and a graduate degree faster. And since any graduate courses taken as an undergraduate are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate, you’ll save money too.

Learn more about accelerated bachelor’s to master’s programs.

Advisement

All B.S.Ed. Special Education majors are assigned to a professional advisor in the College of Education (COE) Advisement Center for program planning and course scheduling.  Undergraduate students are advised each term by appointment. Please visit the COE Advisement Center web page for a list of program advisors. Telephone: 912-478-0698.

Professional License/Certification Disclosure

The Department of Elementary and Special Education anticipates that graduates of the BSED Special Education (P-12) will be eligible to seek professional certification by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission as a certified teacher in their respective field.

The Department of Elementary and Special Education has determined the required classes and educational activities of these academic programs will qualify a graduate of this program to take the GACE exam for teacher certification in Georgia. The department has not determined whether these programs satisfy the requirements of all states and territories for teacher certification in Special Education.

Special Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non-Certification Track)

The BSED degree with a major in Special Education-Professional Studies (Non-Certification Track) provides students who are interested in education the opportunity to take coursework with planned minors and concentrations. The degree allows for choice in several areas leading to a broad background. This track does NOT lead to teacher certification and is offered on the Statesboro Campus.

During the admission process,  ALL students interested in either the non-certification or certification program must declare the Special Education Professional Studies (Non Certification) track as their intended major.

 Upon meeting teacher education program admission requirements, those seeking teacher certification in Special Education will move into the Special Education B.S.Ed. Certification Track.

Related Programs

Last updated: 3/29/2024