Special Education License and Degree Requirements

Candidates who do not already hold a full five-year license in another field must complete the following Licensing Core Course Sequence in addition to the 600-level courses listed below in order to meet licensing requirements. Candidates must also pass the PRAXIS I [PPST] exam. Portfolio and Praxis II requirements also apply.

3 credits each, 15 credits total:

• ED 601 – Foundations of Instruction (Practicum)
• ED 602 – Curriculum Planning (Practicum)
• ED 604A – Second Language Acquisition in the Content Areas
• ED 614 – Cross-Categorical Children and Youth
• ED 613 – Literacy Across the Curriculum

Candidates who already hold a full five-year license in another field must complete the following 5 Cross Categorical License Sequence courses. Completion of an additional 4 courses for your selected licensing area is also required (ED, LD or CD). Portfolio and PRAXIS II requirements also apply.

3 credits each, 15 credits total:

• ED 615 – Cross Categorical Assessment and Evaluation in Special Needs
• ED 616 – Cross Categorical Transition Team and Family Process
• ED 617 – Cross Categorical Literacy in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics
• ED 634 – Cross Categorical Classroom Organization and Management
• ED 672 – Development and Facilitation of Communication in Children and Adolescents

3 credits each, 12 credits total for Cross Categorical with Learning Disabilities:

• ED 671 – Specific Learning Disabilities
• ED 675 – Diagnosis, Assessment and Evaluation in Learning Disabilities
• ED 676 – Methods and Materials in Learning Disabilities
• ED 695 – Supervised Field Experience: Cross Categorical (LD)

3 credits each, 12 credits total for Cross Categorical with Emotional Disturbance:

• ED 673 – Behavior and Emotional Disorders
• ED 674 – Diagnosis, Assessment and Evaluation in Behavior and Emotional Disorders
• ED 677 – Methods and Materials in Behavior and Emotional Disorders
• ED 695 – Supervised Field Experience: Cross Categorical (ED)

3 credits each, 12 credits total for Cross Categorical with Cognitive Disabilities:

• ED 663 – Cognitive Disabilities
• ED 664 – Diagnosis, Assessment and Evaluation in Cognitive Disabilities
• ED 665 – Methods and Materials in Cognitive Disabilities
• ED 695 – Supervised Field Experience: Cross Categorical (CD)

Candidates must meet PI 34 licensing requirements, including portfolio assessment and DPI-approved content examinations for licensing.

When a candidate also seeks a Master of Arts in Education degree, the required courses are incorporated into the Masters degree plan. The following additional 3 courses (9 credits total) are required to complete the optional Masters: 

• ED 678 – Curriculum for Managing and Teaching Students with Special Needs
• ED 603 – Introduction to Education Research
• ED 692 – Research Capstone Project

Learn more about Special Education degree requirements and coursework.