Special Education has long been the number one teaching shortage area in Virginia and across the United States. The Special Education concentration in the B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies is designed for students interested in teaching children and youth with disabilities in the general education or adapted curriculum. The emphasis is on preparing effective special educators who can work collaboratively in today’s complex and diverse classrooms to maximize learning for all children.
The bachelor’s degree includes pre-professional coursework and three semesters of field experiences for teacher licensure. If students choose to continue for an additional year, they may earn a master’s degree and be eligible for Virginia’s Special Education Adapted Curriculum license.
The Special Education: General and Adapted Curriculum five-year option results in
K-12 teaching licensure in two areas of special education and both a bachelor’s and
master’s degree. Completion of the fifth year M.S. in Special Education is required for Virginia licensure with endorsements in Special Education: General
Curriculum, K-12 and Special Education: Adapted Curriculum, K-12. Students must meet all requirements
for admission before being enrolled in the graduate portion of the program. Progress
sheets for the Special Education Teacher: General and Adapted Curriculum Preparation
Program can be found on the College of Education and Human Development Advising Resources page.
Candidates in special education develop competencies in:
Karen Douglas
Professor
Contact for Graduate Program for Special Education
High School Special Education teacher
Mary Evans
Instructor
Special Education
Annemarie Horn
Assistant Professor
Special Education
Whitney Idol
Assistant Professor
Special education teacher and Crisis Intervention Specialist
Kristy McCowan
Instructor
Special Education
Darren Minarik
Associate Professor
High School Social Studies teacher and technical assistance coordinator
Brenda-Jean Tyler
Associate Professor
K to 12 special education teacher
View the program catalog for the B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies