Special Education (7-12) Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

You can make a difference in the lives of children with special needs by completing the bachelor of science degree in Special Education (Grades 7-12). This program prepares you to teach and meet certification requirements by the Nebraska Department of Education to teach children and youth in grades 7-12 who have one or more verified disabilities. We also offer a special education major for teaching students with one or more verified disabilities in grades K-6. Following successful completion of your bachelor's degree, you can pursue special teaching endorsements through our master's degree programs.

Special Education programs are accredited by the Nebraska Department of Education. Employment opportunities for persons with a bachelor's degree and with a teaching certificate in Special Education are outstanding! Special education programs are required in all public schools, and schools are experiencing a shortage of adequately prepared special education teachers. There are also great opportunities to pursue additional training at the graduate level in a variety of specific special education areas.

Careers

Special Education Teacher

Application to this program

Current UNL students must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0, and have 30 completed credit hours. The Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST), and Level 1 Technology Requirement and the PRAXIS II #0011 are also required by the Nebraska Department of Education. It takes 4-6 weeks for us to receive your results, so make sure you take it a few months before applying.

START THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Bachelor of Science 4-Year Plan

Year 1

Semester 1 · Fall
Course	Credit Hours
ACE 1 ENGL 150, ENGL 151 or ENGL 254	3 cr
ACE 2 COMM 209, COMM 210 or ALEC 102	3 cr
ACE 3 MATH 203, STAT 218 or EDPS 459	3 cr
Elective	3 cr
Elective	3 cr
Total Credits	15

Semester 2 · Spring
Course	Credit Hours
ACE 6 EDPS 251	3 cr
EDPS 297	1 cr
SPED 201	3 cr
ACE 4	3 cr
ACE 5	3 cr
Elective	3 cr
Total Credits	16

Year 2

Semester 3 · Fall
Course	Credit Hours
TEAC 331 School and Society	3 cr
SPED 212 Assessment Techniques for Diverse Learners	3 cr
TEAC 259 Instructional Technology	3 cr
Elective	3 cr
Elective	3 cr
Total Credits	15

Semester 4 · Spring
Course	Credit Hours
TEAC 441/841 Content Area Reading, Grades 4-12	3 cr
EDPS 457 Learning and Motivation Principles for Secondary Teaching	3 cr
SPED 414/814 Instructional Methods for Students with Diverse Needs	3 cr
ACE 7	3 cr
ACE 9 TEAC 330	cr
Total Credits	12

Year 3

Semester 5 · Fall
Course	Credit Hours
SPED 407 Teaching Students with Disabilities in the Secondary School	3 cr
SPED 406/806 Reading and Writing Disabilities: Adolescents	2 cr
SPED 406A/806A Reading Center Practicum II	2 cr
Elective	3 cr
Elective	3 cr
Elective	3 cr
Total Credits	16

Semester 6 · Spring
Course	Credit Hours
SPED 408/808 Issues in Secondary Programs for Students with Mild Disabilities	3 cr
SPED 310 Collaborative Practices	3 cr
ACE 8	3 cr
SPED 454 Behavior Management	3 cr
TEAC 451/851	3 cr
SPED 496M	1 cr
Total Credits	16

Summer Sessions
Course	Credit Hours
TEAC 446 The Middle Level Program	3 cr
Total Credits	3

Year 4

Semester 7 · Fall
Course	Credit Hours
SPED 436/836 Career Education for the Special Needs Student	3 cr
SPED 480/880 Educating Students with Intellectual Impairments & Developmental Disabilities	3 cr
SPED 496M	3 cr
Elective	3 cr
Elective	3 cr
Total Credits	15

Semester 8 · Spring
Course	Credit Hours
SPED 497M Practicum: Mild/Moderate	9 cr
ACE 10 SPED 403	3 cr
Total Credits	12

PLEASE NOTE

This document represents a sample 4-year plan for degree completion with this major. Actual course selection and sequence may vary and should be discussed individually with your college or department academic adviser. Advisers also can help you plan other experiences to enrich your undergraduate education such as internships, education abroad, undergraduate research, learning communities, and service learning and community-based learning.