two teachers outside classroom

What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

Minimum of 120 semester hours

Where will I take classes?
Atlanta Campus

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

  • Fall: May 15 (All concentrations)

Special Education, B.S.Ed.

The Georgia State University Bachelor of Science in Education in Special Education degree prepares students to teach children and youth with disabilities who receive special education services in schools. Students in the program work closely with faculty who have extensive experience working with children and youth with disabilities and participate in both rigorous, practical coursework and applied classroom experiences.

Teacher candidates who complete the program and receive a passing score on the appropriate GACE test(s) will be certified to teach in one of three special education areas. Our graduates go on to teach in charter, public, private, and specialized schools.

Our two special education certification areas are:

Adapted Curriculum

Students on an adapted curriculum often have a diagnosed intellectual disability, and learn academic skills and functional life skills tailored to their individual needs. In Georgia schools, students on an adapted curriculum receive most of their academic instruction in small-group settings.

General Curriculum

Students with disabilities in the general curriculum follow the same curriculum as their peers without disabilities, but with specialized support and accommodations to meet their needs. In Georgia schools, students on a general curriculum receive most of their academic instruction in general education classroom settings.

Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education, social work, counseling, accounting, allied health professions, etc.) may require additional approval from separate licensing boards, depending on the state. Students who live or plan to live outside Georgia and are considering a professional program should contact the appropriate board in their state of residency prior to beginning a course of study. To help students find the best-known contact information for the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.

Program Details

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted into teacher education:

  • Students must have a 2.50 overall grade point average on all undergraduate coursework previously completed.
  • Students must have successfully completed all Core IMPACTS and Field of Study courses with the exception of AL courses which may be completed during the first semester in teacher education.
  • Students must complete the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (360).
  • You may be asked to participate in an interview and/or submit a writing sample as part of the application process.

As part of the application process, you must also complete or do the following:

The Special Education, B.S.E. degree program consists of the following requirements (credit hours in parenthesis):

  • Core IMPACTS (42)
  • Field of Study Courses (18)
  • Major Courses (48)
    • Content Concentration (12)
    • SPED Concentrations (36) – Select one of the following concentration area: Adapted Curriculum, Deaf Education or General Curriculum
  • Student Teaching (12)

Program total: minimum of 120 semester hours

For more details, visit the course catalog.

Program Financial Information

B.S.E majors must pay all tuition and fees charged by the university and the college. A lab fee of $125 will be charged at the time students register for the student teaching experience. Educator preparation students must be aware that extra cost such as tort liability and transportation will be incurred at various times during the completion of various teacher education field experiences, particularly during the students’ senior year. The cost of the edTPA portfolio submission is $300, which will be associated with student teaching.

Description

Careers

Graduates across concentrations will be prepared to work with children and youth with special needs. Graduates are provided coursework and practicum experiences, resulting in knowledge of characteristics, curriculum, instructional strategies and classroom management procedures.

  • Concentration in Adapted Curriculum
  • Concentration in General Curriculum

Students will learn to work with students in a variety of settings such as:

  • separate specialized schools
  • typical school settings
  • alternative school settings (for example, residential and juvenile justice)
  • cognitive and behavioral specialty agencies

Contacts

Program Coordinators

Adapted and General Curriculum
Lauren Boden, Ph.D. 
[email protected]
404-413-8099

Learning Sciences
[email protected]
404-413-8040

Mailing Address & Office Location
Learning Sciences
College of Education & Human Development
Suite 750
30 Pryor St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

College of Education Logo30 Pryor Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.