Special Education: Learning and Behavior Disorders and Elementary Education, Bachelor of Science (5003)
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/ste
Program Coordinator
Janet L. Tassell, janet.tassell@wku.edu, (270) 745-5306
The Special Education: Learning and Behavior and Elementary Education dual certification program leads to the Bachelor of Science degree and the Kentucky Teaching Certificates for Learning and Behavior Disorders (P-12) and Elementary Education (P-5). The program requires completion of a general education component, related studies component, and professional education component.
Program Requirements (88 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| PSY 310 | Educational Psychology: Development and Learning | 3 |
| EDU 250 | Discover Teaching: Introduction to Teacher Education | 3 |
| EDU 260 | Classroom Assessment | 3 |
| EDU 350 | Student Diversity and Differentiation | 3 |
| EDU 360 | Behavior and Classroom Management in Education | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Related Studies Courses | ||
| MATH 205 | Number Systems and Number Theory for Teachers | 3 |
| MATH 206 | Fundamentals of Geometry for Teachers | 3 |
| MATH 308 | Rational Numbers and Data Analysis for Teachers | 3 |
| MUS 314 | Comprehensive Arts Education for the Elementary Teacher | 3 |
| PE 354 | Physical Education for Elementary Schools | 3 |
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Geography of Kentucky | ||
or HIST 240 | The United States to 1865 | |
or HIST 241 | The United States Since 1865 | |
| LTCY 320 | Foundations of Teaching Literacy in the Elementary Grades | 3 |
| LTCY 420 | Literacy Methods in the Elementary Grades | 3 |
| ELED 345 | Foundations of Elementary Teaching | 3 |
| ELED 405 | Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School | 3 |
| ELED 406 | Teaching Science in the Elementary School | 3 |
| ELED 407 | Materials and Methods in Social Studies | 3 |
| SPED 335 | Foundations of Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 340 | LBD Elementary Instructional Methods | 3 |
| SPED 345 | LBD Secondary Methods: Language Arts | 3 |
| SPED 346 | Learning and Behavioral Disorders Secondary Methods- Math | 3 |
| SPED 350 | Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 400 | Behavior Management Strategies in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 425 | LBD Language Interventions: Strategies and Materials | 3 |
| SPED 480 | Data-driven Decisions in Special Education | 3 |
| EDU 489 | Student Teaching Seminar | 3 |
| SPED 490 | Student Teaching: Exceptional Education | 5 |
| ELED 490 | Student Teaching | 5 |
| Total Hours | 73 | |
A passing score on the PRAXIS CASE and a 2.75 GPA are required prior to enrollment in ELED 345 and SPED 400. Student teaching occurs during the final semester of the program. Within the professional education sequence, students are required to meet state requirements for fieldwork experience in addition to course work. This laboratory work will be in field experiences away from the main university campus.
Special Education: Learning and Behavior Disorders and Elementary Education candidates may receive academic advising in the School of Teacher Education, GRH 1005 (270) 745-5414. Refer to the School of Teacher Education website (http://www.wku.edu/ste) for additional information.
Finish in Four Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDU 250 | 3 | EDU 260 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | PSY 310 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | MATH 205 | 3 |
| MATH 112 or MATH 116 | 3 | BIOL 113 & BIOL 114 | 4 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | ||
| 18 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDU 350 | 3 | SPED 335 | 3 |
| EDU 360 | 3 | ELED 345 | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | LTCY 320 | 3 |
| MATH 206 | 3 | MATH 308 | 3 |
| GEOG 352, HIST 240, or HIST 241 | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 |
| Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| 18 | 18 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPED 340 | 3 | SPED 480 | 3 |
| ELED 407 | 3 | ELED 405 | 3 |
| LTCY 420 | 3 | ELED 406 | 3 |
| SPED 350 | 3 | MUS 314 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | PE 354 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 | Possible MAE Course* | |
| Possible MAE Course* | |||
| 18 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPED 400 | 3 | EDU 489 | 3 |
| SPED 425 | 3 | SPED 490 (middle or high school LBD setting) | 5 |
| SPED 345 | 3 | ELED 490 (ELED classroom with at least one active IEP) | 5 |
| SPED 346 | 3 | Possible MAE Course* | |
| Possible MAE Course* | |||
| 12 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 128 | |||
- *
Candidates can take up to 12 graduate hours towards their master's degree with permission. See your advisor.