Special Education Requirements | 2024-2025 Academic Catalog | SIU

The School of Education offers an undergraduate major in special education, which entitles the student to qualify for the State of Illinois Professional Educator License with the Learning Behavior Specialist I endorsement. The special education major prepares teachers to teach students with disabilities, elementary and secondary levels of education receiving services along the full continuum of service delivery options. This program is fully approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

To be considered a Special Education major, students must meet the criteria for admission into the Teacher Education Program (TEP). Enrollment and completion of Special Education courses does not guarantee admission into the TEP. Students must meet all qualifications to remain a Special Education major and qualify for and complete all of the clinical experiences directed by TEP.

Transfer students must meet University admission requirements to be a Special Education major. Students who are currently enrolled or previously attended SIU in a major other than Special Education may request admission to the Special Education program.

Retention Criteria: There are specific and sequential criteria for a student to be retained as a special education major. All program courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. Other retention criteria include: (a) attainment of an overall grade point average of 2.75, and (b) a favorable endorsement of the special education faculty.

To be eligible for the professional semester (EDUC 401A: Student Teaching) the student must have attained a minimum 2.75 GPA in the major.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Special Education Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements			Credit Hours
University Core Curriculum Requirements 1				39
To include PSYC 102, EDUC 211, EDUC 214, and MATH 220 or CI 220
Requirements for Major in Special Education				42
SPED 300, SPED 410, SPED 411, SPED 417, SPED 418, SPED 419, SPED 421, SPED 422, SPED 423, SPED 425, SPED 430; additional requirements: MATH 388 or CI 388, CDS 328
Professional Education Requirements				26
EDUC 301, EDUC 302, EDUC 313, EDUC 319, EDUC 400, EDUC 401A
Electives				13
Total				120

¹ Check with your advisor to complete non-western civilization/third world culture requirement.