Education - Special Education
The Special Education major prepares candidates to teach students to teach students with exceptional learning needs, from early childhood through 12th grade. Field experiences focus on students with varying levels of disability, ranging from mild to severe. The Special Education major offers two different undergraduate certificate options.
The first is an All-Level Special Education degree plan which prepares participants to only teach students with exceptional learning needs. These students range from early childhood through 12th grade.
The Special Education Supplemental plan prepares participants to teach general education to students ranging from early childhood through sixth grade. The second plan also prepares participants to teach students with exceptional learning needs. These students spend the majority of the school day in a general classroom.
Program Highlights:
- Low professor-to-student ratio
- Highly supervised field experiences
- Experience at elementary, middle, and high school levels
- Experience with students with mild, moderate, severe, and profound disabilities
- Experience in a variety of settings - inclusion, pull-out instructions and self-contained special education classrooms
- Special Education is a high-needs area for teachers and often offers stipends
The Special Education program requires extensive field experiences to prepare students for their careers. Beginning in the spring of their sophomore year, teaching candidates will complete a variety of classroom practice. This ranges from small groups to individual tutoring. Students range from mild to severe learning disorders. In the final year of the degree program, Special Education majors will be placed full time in a school in Waco. Candidates are assigned to a special education mentor teacher and co-teach together. Students have increasing responsibility in lesson planning and classroom teaching. In the final five weeks of both semesters, candidates will plan and teach in an independent manner. During this time, they will be under evaluation.
Education majors can participate in four study abroad opportunities. All trips involve working in host-country schools alongside a Baylor School of Education faculty member.
For more information: Special Education