Degree Requirements
I. Professional Education for (K-12) Certification in Special Education - Learning Behavior Specialist I
| 54-207 | Learning Theories and Individual Development | 3 |
| 54-242 | Foundations of Teaching and Learning (25 field experience hrs.) | 3 |
| 54-300 | Special Education Field Experience II (50 field experience hours) | 1 |
| 54-303 | Development and Characteristics of Learners | 3 |
| 54-304 | Technology for Learning | 3 |
| 54-329 | Approaches and Applications for the Multicultural Classroom | 1 |
| 54-331 | Classroom and Behavior Management Strategies for All Learners | 2 |
| 54-340 | Instructional Strategies and Learning Communities for Teaching Science and Wellness, P-12 | 3 |
| 54-352 | Instructional Strategies and Learning Communities for Teaching Mathematics, P-12 | 3 |
| 54-353 | Instructional Strategies and Learning Communities for Teaching Reading and the Integrated Language Arts, P-3 | 3 |
| 54-354 | Instructional Strategies and Learning Communities for Teaching Social Studies, P-12 | 3 |
| 54-359 | Assessment for Learning | 3 |
| 53-360 | History and Philosophy of Education | 3 |
| 54-366 | Special Education Law | 1 |
| 54-391 | Instructional Planning and Performance Based Assessment | 3 |
| 54-400 | Special Education Field Experience III (50 field experience hrs.) | 1 |
| 54-471 | Instructional Strategies and Learning Communities for Teaching Reading and the Integrated Language Arts, 4-12 | 3 |
| 54-483 | Special Education Student Teaching (two 8-week placements in Special Education settings) | 9 |
II. Recommended Electives for Special Education
| 54-202 | Sign Language I | 3 |
| 54-203 | Sign Language II | 3 |
| 51-310 | Teaching English Language Learners in P-12 Schools | 3 |
Also recommended: Workshops teaching multicultural populations, autism, differentiated instruction and sign language.
A complete listing of general education requirements is located in the General Education Information Section.
Please note the requirement of an additional math course for special education majors.
III. Advanced Writing: Special Education Student Teaching (54-483) fulfills the advanced writing requirement for majors.
“Candidate” refers to individuals admitted to Lewis University’s College of Education. “Student” refers to children and adolescents in P-12 schools.
IV. Candidates complete 125 hours of field experience as part of the coursework in the Special Education Program.
All candidates must successfully pass the Illinois Basic Skills Test or Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) before they will be allowed to take education courses. Field experience courses include: Foundations of Teaching and Learning (54-242) (25 hours), Special Education Field Experience II (54-300) (50 hours) and Special Education Field Experience III (54-400) (50 hours). A 2.75 GPA is required for all education courses. Assignment to the field experience sites is arranged by the College of Education. Experiences are designed to include public school sites, with a variety of experiences in integrated and segregated special education programs in both elementary and secondary settings. Candidates are responsible for providing their own transportation to field experience sites. Field experience hours completed at other institutions will be evaluated by the Department Chair to determine whether or not the hours can be transferred.
V. Student Teaching - Students must pass the LBSI (155) and the General Education Curriculum (163) Tests prior to student teaching. During Student Teaching students must pass the APT K-12 (104) prior to entitlement.
Application for admission to student teaching must be filed by September 30 of the year prior to the planned student teacher experience. Procedures and requirements for admission to student teaching are published in the Guide for Initial Teacher Certification Program Candidates . This publication is available on Blackboard. All candidates are responsible for the information contained in this Guide. Evidence of successful completion of the appropriate State of Illinois content area tests must be received in the College of Education at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the student teaching semester in order to student teach. Student teaching in the special education major requires candidates to complete two 8-week placements; one in an elementary setting (K-6) and one in a secondary (7-12) setting. Candidates are responsible for providing their own transportation while student teaching. Only one additional course may be taken concurrently with student teaching. Official documentation of a negative TB test must be filed prior to student teaching. The Assessment of Professional Teaching Test must be successfully completed before entitlement for certification will be sent to the state.