Special Education, B.A.
The Special Education program is for future teachers who wish to teach special education students from the ages of birth to 21. Successful completion of the program enables students to apply for licensure by entitlement in Illinois for the Professional Educator License endorsed for LBS I (preK to age 21).
Special Admissions Requirements:
Admission to the Special Education program is a two step process. Students must first be admitted to National Louis University.
Applicants to the Special Education program must:
- Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or ISBE approved alternative
- Have completed all General Education and Foundational courses (except GEN 103, which may be completed after admission). Students who receive a “D” or “F” in a Foundational course must petition the Academic Policies Committee if they to receive permission to retake the course. Foundational courses may not be repeated without the permission of the committee.
- Have a GPA of 2.5 or better at National Louis University, with a grade of “C” or better in each course required for the degree
Program Details:
- Requires 180 QH, including 60 QH of General Education, for completion
- 63 QH of coursework must be completed at NLU
- Credit by examination is accepted for general education and elective credit
- The Professional Education Sequence and Concentrations must be taken at NLU
- A grade of “C” or better in all courses in the program is required
- Completion of a minimum of 100 clock hours of preclinical experience (practica) is required prior to student teaching
- Requires student teaching. Student teachers spend a minimum of 10- 11 weeks in the classroom at an assigned school.
- Requires the following courses to be completed within the 6 years of degree completion: SPE 305, SPE 310, SPE 315, SPE 320, SPE 325, SPE 330, SPE 335, SPE 400, SPE 405, SPE 410, SPE 411, SPE 415, SPE 416, and SPE 470
- Requires a concentration in ESL, Mathematics or Science
Required Courses
Student Success Seminar- 5 QH
Communications- 15 QH
Humanities- 5 QH
| RLL 220 | Children’s Literature and the Literacy Learning Environment | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may only use a course in Children’s Literature substantially equivalent to the National Louis University’s course.
Fine Arts- 5 QH
Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in Introductory Art, Music, or Theater including any Fine Arts History or Appreciation. Studio Arts and Performance courses cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
Quantitative Reasoning- 10 QH
| LAM 112 | Math Content for Teachers I | 5 |
| LAM 213 | Math Content for Teachers II | 5 |
Physical and Life Sciences- 5 QH
One course must have a lab.
LAN 110 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in Life Science in lieu of LAN 110.
LAN 150 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in General Chemistry, Chemistry and Society, General Physics, Physics and Society, or Earth Science (which covers at least four areas of physical science) in lieu of LAN 150.
Social Sciences- 10 QH
| LAS 118 | Introduction to Politics and U.S. Government | 5 |
| and | |
| LAS 203 | Survey of U.S. History | 5 |
Notes: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in Politics or Government and coursework in U.S. History.
Behavioral Science- 5 QH
Additional General Education Requirements - 18 QH
| LAN 110 | General Biology | 5 |
| or | |
| LAN 150 | Survey of Physical Science | 5 |
| and | |
| LAS 254 | Global Economics | 5 |
| MHE 205 | Mathematical Thinking for Elementary Teachers | 4 |
| SCE 205 | Scientific Inquiry for Teachers | 4 |
LAN 110 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in Life Science in lieu of LAN 110.
LAN 150 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in General Chemistry, Chemistry and Society, General Physics, Physics and Society, or Earth Science (which covers at least four areas of physical science) in lieu of LAN 150.
LAS 254 Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may only transfer in coursework in World Geography and Economic (both courses must have been taken) or Introductory Economic Geography.
Undergraduate Core - 16 QH
| SPE 210 | History and Philosophy of Education | 3 |
| EPS 300 | Educational Psychology: Theory in Classroom Practice | 5 |
| SPE 300 | Introduction to Special Education and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 5 |
| TIE 300 | Introduction to Technology in the Classroom | 3 |
Professional Sequence - 63 QH
| SPE 305 | Practicum I: Inclusive Education and the Role of the Special Education Teacher | 4 |
| SPE 310 | Foundations of Special and Inclusive Education | 4 |
| SPE 315 | Assessment in Special Education | 4 |
| SPE 320 | Methods for Social Emotional Support | 4 |
| SPE 325 | Language Development: The Role of Language in Learning | 4 |
| SPE 330 | Assistive and Instructional Technology | 4 |
| SPE 335 | Mathematics and Inclusive Education | 4 |
| SPE 400 | Collaboration and School-Family Partnerships | 4 |
| SPE 405 | Practicum II: Advanced Practicum in Inclusive Education | 5 |
| SPE 410 | Literacy in Inclusive Education I | 4 |
| SPE 411 | Literacy in Inclusive Education II | 4 |
| SPE 415 | Instructional Planning and Instruction for Inclusive Education I | 4 |
| SPE 416 | Instructional Planning and Instruction for Inclusive Education II | 4 |
| SPE 470 | Practicum III: Student Teaching | 10 |
Electives - 8 QH
Choose elective courses to total 180 QH with advisor approval
ESL Concentration - 15 QH
Choose 15 QH from the courses below:
| CIL 300 | Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education | 5 |
| CIL 305 | Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | 5 |
| CIL 306 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Bilingual Education | 5 |
| CIL 310 | Assessment of ESL and Bilingual Education Students | 5 |
| CIL 312 | Reading in a New Language: Linguistic Considerations | 5 |
| CIL 331 | Cross Cultural Education | 5 |
Mathematics Concentration - 15 QH
| LAM 307 | Investigatory Geometry and Measurement | 5 |
| LAM 308 | Exploratory Probability and Statistics | 5 |
| LAM 309 | Theory of Numbers | 5 |
Science Concentration - 15 QH
Note: LAN 300 must be taken for 5 quarter hours. Science concentration courses must be completed with laboratory.
Special Education Student Teaching Enrollment Requirements
Admission to and continuance in student teaching are contingent on the following actions.
Candidates must:
- Be accepted into the National College of Education
- File, by the designated deadline, the application form for student teaching
- Submit to their advisor a report of a TB test taken within 90 days of the student teaching placement, results of criminal background check and acknowledgement of Mandated Reporter status form
- Pass the LBSI (155) and Special Education General Curriculum (163) Content Tests prior to student teaching
- Complete all of their licensure courses except for SPE 470 (Student Teaching)
- Pass all methods courses at National Louis University with an average of C or better prior to SPE 470. In progress grades are not accepted.
- Participate in faculty assessment and receive approval of his or her portfolio (Livetext)
- Provide evidence of emotional stability, adequate personality adjustment and competency as indicated by licensure coursework and departmental assessments
For more information about this program, visit http://www.nl.edu/academics/educationbachelors/baspecialeducation/