Special Education (B.A.)
Website: https://www.fgcu.edu/coe/programs/undergraduateprograms/specialeducation-ba.aspx
Program Description
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Special Education prepares students to earn certification in Exceptional Student Education, grades K-12, which covers teaching children with emotional and behavioral disorders, developmental/intellectual disabilities, specific learning disabilities, and physical and health disabilities. Field experiences are central to the special education program and begin in the first semester with increasing involvement throughout the program. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsement and Reading endorsements are also embedded in the program. Coursework and extensive field experiences enable students to dynamically integrate theory and teaching practices. Competencies include content-specific knowledge applicable to the unique developmental needs of this population including a thorough understanding of cultural diversity, individual differences, and skills to work with children in individual ways, particularly ESOL students, students experiencing difficulty in learning to read with an emphasis on capabilities of teachers to work with children with atypical abilities and special needs.
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
Degree-seeking students are classified as pre-majors prior to formal transition into a College of Education (COE) major. In order to transition from a COE pre-major to a major, students must complete the following:
- An overall GPA of 2.5 on all credits attempted.
- Attempt all subsections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) General Knowledge Test. Please refer to Rule: 6A-4.0021 - Florida Teacher certification Examinations for alternative assessment options.
- Satisfy all General Education requirements.
- Satisfy the College-Level Skills requirements.
- Satisfy common prerequisite requirements.
- Successfully complete a background check.
Students must have passed the FTCE Subject Area Exam prior to beginning Block Four Integrated Field Experience.
Students must complete all coursework and have passed the FTCE Professional Education Exam prior to beginning Block Five Internship.
In addition to the program requirements and to qualify for Florida Teacher Certification, students must:
- Pass the FTCE, General Knowledge Test (or alternative assessment option), the subject area examination and the Professional Education Test.
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits.
- Complete a minimum of 48 of the 120 credits at the upper division (3000-4999 level).
- Satisfy the residency requirement: 30 of the last 60 credits must be completed at FGCU.
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework attempted at FGCU.
- Satisfy the College-Level skills and foreign language admission requirements.
- Satisfy the Service-Learning requirement.
- Satisfy the Civic Literacy requirement.
- Complete the summer course enrollment requirement.
- Submit an Application for Graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.