BS in Special Education
Middle Tennessee State University
Key Information
Campus location
Murfreesboro, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 1,178 / per credit *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
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* in-state tuition per credit hour: $385 | out-of-state tuition per credit hour: $1,178
Scholarships
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Introduction
Teachers fulfill unique needs in the lives and development of our younger citizens. For children whose needs go beyond what is usually available in the classroom, the teacher is even more crucial. Students can have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Teachers make sure that lessons and teaching strategies are designed to meet individual needs. If you have a desire to experience this rewarding challenge, a career in special education can lead to numerous employment opportunities. At MTSU, you can take the important first steps by choosing to major in Special Education in the Department of Elementary and Special Education. The Interventionist (K-8 or 6-12) and Comprehensive (K-12) programs lead to initial teacher licensure.
Admissions
Curriculum
Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.
Freshman
- BIOL 1030 - Exploring Life 4 credit hours (Nat Sci) and
- BIOL 1031 - Exploring Life Lab 0 credit hours (Nat Sci)
- EESE 2010 - Introduction to Education 3 credit hours
- EESE 2011 - Introduction to Education Practicum 1 credit hour
- COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
- ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
- ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
- MATH 1410 - Concepts and Structure of Elementary School Mathematics 3 credit hours
- Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
- Natural Science 4 credit hours (choose from ASTR 1030/1031, CHEM 1010/1011, CHEM 1030/1031, CHEM 1110/1111, GEOL 1030/1031, or PSCI 1030/1031)
- MATH 1010 - Mathematics for General Studies 3 credit hours (Math) or (recommended)
- MATH 1710 - College Algebra 3 credit hours (Math) (recommended)
Subtotal: 30 Hours
Sophomore
- ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) or
- ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
- HUM 2610 - World Literatures 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
- Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
- Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
- MATH 1420 - Informal Geometry 3 credit hours
- BIOL 3000 - Life Science for Elementary Teachers 4 credit hours
- SPED 3010 - Characteristics and Teaching of Learners with Exceptionalities 3 credit hours
- SPED 3040 - Digital Tools and Methods in Flexible Learning Environments 3 credit hours
- SPED 3440 - Characteristics of Low Incidence Populations (Comprehensive) 3 credit hours
Choose 6 hours from:
- HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours
- HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours
- HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours
- HIST 2040 - Survey African American History I 3 credit hours
- HIST 2050 - Survey African American History II 3 credit hours
Subtotal: 31 Hours
Junior
- ELED 3150 - Mathematics Methodology 3 credit hours
- CDIS 3250 - Speech and Language Development for the Educator 3 credit hours
- HLTH 3300 - First Aid and Safety Education 3 credit hours
- SPED 4000 - Teaching Diverse Learners in K-8 Classrooms, (Comprehensive) 3 credit hours
- SPED 4010 - Explicit Reading Strategies for Learners with Exceptionalities 4 credit hours
- SPED 4080 - Pre-Residency Comprehensive Integrated Clinical Experience 2 credit hours
- SPED 4120 - Functional Skills Instruction 3 credit hours
- SPED 4280 - Assistive Technology in Special Education 3 credit hours
- SPED 4370 - Transition Services and Education of Adolescents with Disabilities 3 credit hours
- SPED 4720 - Promoting Culture and Diversity in Family Professional Partnerships 3 credit hours
- Social and Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
Subtotal: 33 Hours
Senior
- SPED 4140 - Techniques and Strategies for Instruction in Special Education (Comprehensive) 3 credit hours
- SPED 4220 - Residency I, Special Education - Comprehensive License 5 credit hours
- SPED 4240 - Methods and Techniques of Behavior Management 3 credit hours
- SPED 4320 - Residency II, Special Education-Comprehensive License 12 credit hours
- SPED 4910 - Developmental Assessment 3 credit hours
Subtotal: 26 Hours
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Individuals trained to teach bring a desirable range of expertise and creativity to planning and administrative roles. Graduates completing their teacher preparation at MTSU are found in public and private school classrooms throughout Tennessee and in many other states. In addition to classroom teaching, other career options include
- Agency and administrative work
- Community and foundation work
- Consulting, professional development, and teacher training
- Education marketing and research
- Education policy development
- Higher education teaching and administration
- Job coaching
- Mental health agency work
- Private tutoring
Educators who studied at MTSU are employed in a variety of settings that include the Tennessee Department of Education and other state agencies, community colleges and universities, Head Start programs, and tutoring services. Graduates are employed in public and private schools and school districts throughout the country as well as in Tennessee.
English Language Requirements
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