Degree Requirements
I. Professional Education for Initial Special Education (K-12) Certification in Special Education - Learning Behavior Specialist I and Elementary (K-9) Education Certification. This is a COMBINED major and does not result in two degrees.
| 54-207 | Learning Theories and Individual Development | 3 |
| 05-240 | Instructional Methods, K-9, with Field Experiences I (25/50 field experience hrs.) | 3 |
| 54-242 | Foundations of Teaching and Learning (25 field experience hrs.) | 3 |
| 05-300 | Classroom Management with Field Experience II (50 field experience hrs.) | 1 |
| 54-303 | Development and Characteristics of Learners | 3 |
| 54-304 | Technology for Learning | 3 |
| 55-321 | Curriculum and Instruction in the Middle School | 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 |
| 05-409 | Child and Adolescent Literature and the Fine Arts | 3 |
| 54-471 | Instructional Strategies and Learning Communities for Teaching Reading and the Integrated Language Arts, 4-12 | 3 |
| 54-484 | SPED/ELED Student Teaching (Candidates complete 8 weeks in an elementary site and 8 weeks in a secondary special education site) | 9 |
Also recommended: Workshops in technology and teaching multicultural populations, gifted students and at risk students.
II. Advanced Writing: SPED/ELED Student Teaching (54-484) 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.
III. Combined Special Education/Elementary Education majors are required to complete an 18-hour concentration. The 18 hours may count toward the General Education requirements.
A complete listing of general education requirements is located in the General Education section. Please note the requirement of additional math course(s) for elementary, special education and combined majors.
IV. Candidates complete an extensive set of field experiences as part of the combined major.
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. They will complete 75 field experience hours for the Elementary Education component: Instructional Methods, K-9, with Field Experience I (05-240) (25 hours) and Classroom Management with Elementary Field Experience II (05-300) (50 hours) and 75 field experience hours for the Special Education component: Foundations of Teaching and Learning (54-242) (25 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 and private school assignments, and primary, intermediate, middle and high school experiences. 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 Elementary Education (110), 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 In i tial 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 be allowed to student teach. Student teaching in the combined major requires candidates to complete two 8-week placements; one in a regular education elementary setting (K-6) and one in a secondary (7-12) special education 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.