Minor in Special Education
The department offers a minor in Special Education to students who are majoring in Elementary Education. Adding a minor to your major in elementary education allows you to better serve all the students under your care, and make yourself more attractive on the job market.
The demand for teachers with a Special Education endorsement has never been higher, nor the need for these gifted teachers more important:
- According to the Individuals with Disabilities Act Data Accountability Center, nearly 11% of the K-12 population in the U.S. is receiving special education services.
- Over 6.5 million U.S. children from birth to age 17 currently receive special education services.
When you hold a Special Education endorsement you'll:
- Serve more students. You'll be better equipped to meet the needs of ALL students in your classroom.
- Be higher valued. The median pay for special education teachers is higher than that of regular education teachers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- Be more marketable. The addition of the minor and endorsement will allow graduates to teach students with disabilities in inclusionary classrooms and/or special education resource classrooms, pre-kindergarten through 6th grade.
Program Summary
*The Special Education Minor will lead to K-6 certification and must be taken with the Elementary Education degree. FHSU does not offer a K-12 or 7-12 Special Education option at the undergraduate level. Elementary Education / Special Education students who want to add 7-12 Special Education to their license will need to do so at the graduate level through the Advanced Education Programs Department after they have finished their initial program. Secondary education students at FHSU can only pursue Special Education (K-12) licensure at the graduate level, after having received their initial teaching license.
Minor Courses (Non-restricted) - 6 Credit Hours
Minor Courses (Restricted to program admits) - 12 Credit Hours
Student Teaching (Restricted to program admits) - 3 Credit Hours
TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED FOR MINOR - 21 Credit Hours
"Non-restricted" courses below are open to Teacher Education majors who have not yet been admitted to the Teacher Education program (some prerequisites apply). Admission to Teacher Education is a prerequisite for "Restricted" courses.
MINOR COURSES (Non-restricted)
- TESP 302 Educating Exceptional Students (3 Credit Hours)
- TESP 320 Programs, Procedures, & Issues in Special Education (3 Credit Hours)
MINOR COURSES (Restricted)
- TESP 330 Behavior Strategies & Support (3 Credit Hours)
- TESP 350 Assessment in Special Education (3 Credit Hours)
- TESP 370 Technology Applications in Special Education (2 Credit Hours)
- TESP 360 Principles of Instruction in Special Education & Clinical Immersion Birth-Grade 12 (4 Credit Hours)
STUDENT TEACHING (Restricted)
- TESP 465 Student Teaching Special Education (3 Credit Hours*)
- All program courses must be completed with a C or better
- Here are the application forms in addition to the requirements for admission to Teacher Education and the requirements for admission to Student Teaching