Special Education

The undergraduate programs in Special Education prepare entry level educators for preK through 12th grade to teach children and youth with disabilities. These programs are approved by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Students may choose to major in Special Education through a traditional or para-to-teacher pathway.

Students majoring in other fields of education may add on a special education teachable minor. Students majoring in non-education fields may choose a non-teaching special education minor in order to learn more about working with school-age students with disabilities.

Concentrations in special education and in education of the deaf/hard of hearing are also available to students of any major who want to enhance their chosen field of study with this content knowledge.

Bachelor of Science in Education with a Major in Special Education

The purpose of the Bachelor of Science in Education with a Major in Special Education is to prepare beginning special education teachers.

The BSEd in Special Education is a practice-based program with an emphasis on clinical practice and apprenticeship. The paraprofessional to teacher track (PTP) allows candidates currently employed as special education paraprofessionals to complete their degree while maintaining their position. Candidates not employed as paraprofessionals will complete their degree on campus through a combination of traditional and online coursework with enhanced clinical practicum opportunities.

Bachelor of Science in Education with a Major in Special Education

General Education
General Education Courses		38
Required Special Education Core
SPED 110	Introduction to Exceptional Children	3
SPED 141	Foundations of Early Childhood Special Education	2
SPED 198	Special Education Practicum I: Collaboration & Law	1
SPED 201	Behavior Supports for Inclusive Educational Settings	3
SPED 202	Intro to Sensory Disabilities	3
SPED 233	Experience in SPED	1
SPED 298	Special Education Practicum II: Behavior Instruction	1
SPED 302	Language and Communication Interventions	3
SPED 310	Introduction to Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder	3
SPED 340	Assessment in SPED	3
SPED 379	Leadership in SPED	3
SPED 398	Special Education Practicum III: Data-Driven Planning	1
SPED 410	Introduction to Learning and Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities	3
SPED 420	Inclusive Practices	3
SPED 441	Methods for High Incidence Disabilities ¹	3
SPED 442	Methods for Low Incidence Disabilities ¹	3
SPED 444	Transition to Adult Life ¹	3
SPED 445	Collaboration in Special Education	3
SPED 498	Special Education Practicum IV: Intensive Instruction	1
Professional Education Sequence
HIST 283	Diversity in America	3
ED 260	Educational Psychology	3
ED 260L	Clinical I	0
ED 282	Managing the Learning Environment	2
ED 282L	Clinical II	0.5
ED 284	Teaching Diverse Learners	2
ED 284L	Clinical III	0.5
ED 287	Early-Level Transition Point Conference	0
ED 320	Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment I	2
ED 321L	Clinical IV	0.5
ED 323L	Clinical V	0.5
ED 324L	Fall Experience	0
ED 380	Technology in Teaching	2
ED 407	Mid-Level Transition Point Conference	0
Professional Education Sequence (admission to teacher education required)
ED 322	Data Driven Integrated Instruction ¹	2
ED 484	Student Teaching Seminar: K12 ¹	2
or ED 482	Student Teaching Seminar
or ED 483	Student Teaching Seminar: Secondary
Department Specific Courses (admission to teacher education required)
ED 495	Student Teaching, Special Education ¹	10
ELED 352	Foundations of Reading ¹	3
ELED 362	Applications of Literacy Instruction, Intervention, and Assessment	3
Total Hours		120

¹: Requires Admission to Teacher Education.

Students wishing to enroll in a double major in conjunction with the BSEd in SPED will complete all requirements of both majors as identified in the MSU undergraduate catalog.

Minors can be pursued by any student in progress of a Bachelor's degree at MSU or any other institution of higher education. Students who have completed a Bachelor's degree from MSU or another institution may also choose to pursue a minor and have it transcripted. The non-teaching special education minor is appropriate for students not in teacher education who wish to complement their major with additional content in special education. The special education teaching minor is appropriate for students in a teacher education program who wish to add special education to their teaching license.

American Sign Language Studies Minor

SPED 113	American Sign Language I	3
SPED 115	American Sign Language II	3
SPED 213	American Sign Language III	3
SPED 312	Intermediate Sign Language	3
SPED 330	Survey of Deaf Culture	3
SPED 412	Advanced Sign Language	3
Total Hours		18

The American Sign Language Studies minor offers a solid foundation in American Sign Language (ASL) as well as exposure to the richness of Deaf culture in North America. All coursework is offered via distance formats and accessible to students in any location. SPED 113 and 115 are approved for general education coursework in the ND University System. Students enrolled in baccalaureate degrees at institutions of higher education other than Minot State University may also pursue this minor and have it added to their transcript.

Sign Language Interpreter Training Minor

The Sign Language Interpreter Training minor provides students who possess strong skills in American Sign Language with a foundation in methods of professional sign language interpretation. Completion of the minor is intended to prepare students wishing to pursue a career as a professional sign language interpreter in both educational and community settings.

Required:
SPED 116	Intro to Sign Lang Interpreting	3
SPED 215	Interpreting I	3
SPED 216	Interpreting II	3
SPED 303	American Sign Language Fingerspelling, Numbers, and Specialized Vocabulary	3
SPED 318	Interpreting III	3
SPED 433	Field Experience	2
Recommended Electives:
SPED 117	Manually Coded English
SPED 210	Intro to Ed of Children w/DHH
SPED 320	Interpreter Certification Preparation
Total Hours		17

Special Education Minor

SPED 110	Introduction to Exceptional Children	3
SPED 201	Behavior Supports for Inclusive Educational Settings	3
SPED 298	Special Education Practicum II: Behavior Instruction	1
or SPED 398	Special Education Practicum III: Data-Driven Planning
SPED 410	Introduction to Learning and Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities	3
SPED 420	Inclusive Practices	3
SPED 441	Methods for High Incidence Disabilities	3

SPED 498	Special Education Practicum IV: Intensive Instruction	1
Total Hours		17

Special Education Minor (Non-Teaching)

Required:
SPED 110	Introduction to Exceptional Children	3
SPED 120	Intro to Positive Behavior Supports	3
or SPED 201	Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers
SPED 410	Introduction to Learning and Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities	3
SPED 420	Inclusive Practices	3
Select at least 5 credits from the following:		5
SPED 141	Foundations of Early Childhood Special Education
SPED 202	Intro to Sensory Disabilities
SPED 210	Intro to Ed of Children w/DHH
SPED 310	Introduction to Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder
SPED 311	Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder
SPED 234	Disability and Society
SPED 302	Language and Communication Interventions
SPED 445	Collaboration in Special Education
Total Hours		17

Deaf Studies Concentration

SPED 113	American Sign Language I	3
SPED 115	American Sign Language II	3
SPED 213	American Sign Language III	3
SPED 330	Survey of Deaf Culture	3
Total Hours		12

Special Education Concentration

SPED 110	Introduction to Exceptional Children	3
SPED 420	Inclusive Practices	3
Select two of the following:		6
SPED 120	Intro to Positive Behavior Supports
SPED 202	Intro to Sensory Disabilities
SPED 210	Intro to Ed of Children w/DHH
SPED 310	Introduction to Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder
SPED 410	Introduction to Learning and Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities
Total Hours		12