About our Undergraduate Program
Undergraduate All-Level (EC-12) Generic Special Education Certification Program

Welcome!

The faculty and staff in the Department of Special Education welcome you. We are pleased that you are interested in the undergraduate program in special education at the University of Texas at Austin.

Preparing Exceptional Professionals to Teach Exceptional Students

In today’s increasingly diverse society, students with disabilities need highly qualified special education teachers who can design and implement effective programs and services that facilitate positive academic and social outcomes. The responsibilities of special educators are diverse and include promoting inclusive education and social justice for all students, understanding the unique needs of students with disabilities, complying with federal and state mandates that protect students with disabilities, using research-based practices to enhance student achievement, utilizing the most current instructional and assistive technology, and developing Individual Education Plans that reflect high expectations for student success and equity.

The all-level (EC-12) generic special education certification program is designed to prepare future special educators for teaching students with disabilities in public school environments.  Program graduates will meet requirements for designation as Highly Qualified Teachers (HQT) as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and be prepared to:

• Effectively serve students with disabilities
• Address the unique needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) learners
• Collaborate with general education peers and others with whom they share responsibility for providing effective programs and services for students with disabilities
• Maximize student outcomes

Certification seekers must complete a 127-hour Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Learning and Development with an academic specialization in Special Education. The teacher certification program standards aligns with the Council for Exceptional Children and TexES standards for certification and licensure in Texas.

During our five-semester program, teacher certification candidates spend over 1300 hours in field-based placements having the opportunity to work with students of varying ages and with a variety of disabling conditions in a range settings.  Field-based placements are carefully aligned with coursework and assignments.

Program Overview

•        Prerequisite

–       39 semester hour University Core Curriculum

–       10 semester hours of languages other than English

–       3 semester hours of cultural diversity

–       6 additional semester hours of mathematics

–       15 semester hours of coursework in Applied Learning and Development, Kinesiology, Human Development, Family Sciences or Psychology

•        Foundations Block

–       ALD 322, Individual Differences

–       ALD 327, Sociocultural Influences on Learning

–       SED 376, Trends and Issues in Special Education

–       SED 332, Field Experiences in Special Education

–       88 hours of observation in 6 special education placements

•        Professional Development Sequence, Semester One

–       EDC 670EA, Reading Methods (Grades 1-8)

–       EDC 670EB, Language Arts Methods (Grades 1-8)

–       EDC 331E, School Organization and Classroom Management

–       ALD 328, Applied Human Learning

–       224 hours of internship in a general education classroom

•        Professional Development Sequence, Semester Two

–       ALD 326, Language of Children With and Without Disabilities

–       SED 378E, Advanced Early Childhood Intervention

–       SED 378D, Assessment Practices in Autism and Developmental Disabilities

–       SED 378S, Teaching Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities

–       112 hours of internship in an early childhood special education classroom

–       112 hours of internship in a classroom for students with autism or other developmental disabilities

•        Professional Development Sequence, Semester Three

–       SED 375C, Teaching Individuals with Mild/Moderate Disabilities

–       SED 378R, Reading Difficulties with Diverse Populations

–       EDC 370E, Mathematics Methods (Grades 1-8)

–       SED 372, Assessment of Individuals with Mild/Moderate Disabilities

–       224 hours of internship in a classroom serving students with mild/moderate disabilities

•        Professional Development Sequence, Semester Four

–       SED 337, Intercultural Communication and Collaboration

–       SED 960, Student Teaching:  600 hours in a special education setting, 15 days of total teaching

 

Brief descriptions of our faculty and their interests can be found in the SPED Faculty directory. For more information regarding our program and admission requirements, you may wish to visit the College of Education Undergraduate Programs section and the Undergraduate Advising page.