Special Education: General Curriculum

Degree Type:
Bachelor’s Degree, Teacher Licensure
Mode of Study:
On Campus

Make a difference, be a Special Educator. The Special Education: General Curriculum Program is both demanding and rewarding. It is designed to provide the future special education educators with the knowledge and pedagogical skills that will allow them to provide intensive and explicit individual and small group instruction to students with disabilities. Through small, hands-on interactive classes and many practicums in local classrooms, the program enables Teacher Candidates to plan and maintain positive behavior supports for students with disabilities. Graduates from our program are recognized for their academic performance and leadership skills, and reflect the attributes of the Facilitative Teacher.

Make a Difference

As a special educator, you can make a difference in the lives of children diagnosed with mild to moderate learning disabilities grades K-12. The best way to hone the knowledge and pedagogical skills that are covered in the Special Education: General Curriculum Program is hands-on learning; therefore, Teacher Candidates are placed with certified public school teachers to implement strategies and techniques presented in class. In addition, the Special Education Teacher Candidates take three levels of Field Experience with increasingly scaffolded teaching responsibilities prior to the Student Teaching semester. Graduates from the program are recognized for their academic performance and leadership skills as well as their abilities to provide intensive and explicit instruction and to plan and maintain positive behavior supports for students with disabilities. Have a hand in improving the lives of those with special needs. Let the Special Education: General Curriculum Program transform you into that special educator who will make a difference.

The Special Education: General Curriculum licensure program is designed to enable special education teachers to:

  1. Provide intensive and explicit individual and small group instruction to students with disabilities who are demonstrating below grade level achievement in basic skills;
  2. Plan and maintain positive behavior supports for students with disabilities;
  3. Collaborate with general education teachers to maintain students with disabilities at grade level in the standard curriculum;
  4. Demonstrate leadership in implementing special education procedures and policies; and
  5. Consult with general education teachers, parents and other professionals.

Common Career Paths

Some of the top jobs for those with a Special Education bachelor degrees include special education teacher, education consultant, speech language pathologist, human resources coordinator, special education coordinator, and so much more.

Common Salary Ranges for Graduates

As mentioned above, there’s a long list of career opportunities for those with Special Education degrees. But, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average annual salary for the following positions (which may require additional education) in North Carolina in 2021:

  • Special education teacher: $68,880
  • Speech language pathologist: $85,820
  • Human resource specialist: $70,720

Average Tuition Cost

The average cost for an incoming residential freshman to attend MU is less than $18,000 – similar to the cost of attending one of the big-box public schools, but with the enhanced value of a highly-regarded private school with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

While tuition varies, depending on a student’s financial aid package, it’s important to know that the average financial award for an incoming residential freshman at MU is more than $34,000.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

More than 97% of MU students receive some form of financial aid, with the University offering more than $24 million annually to students for scholarships. If a student is active military, family of active military, or a veteran, they may also qualify for MU’s military education benefits.

Interested in Methodist University’s Special Education (K-12) program?

If you have questions, see the FAQ below or reach out to Dr. Patricia Fecher using the contact info at the bottom of the page. If you’re ready to apply today, click the button below!

Frequently Asked Questions

As mentioned above, there’s a long list of career opportunities for those with Special Education degrees. But, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average annual salary for the following positions (which may require additional education) in North Carolina in 2021:

  • Special education teacher: $68,880
  • Speech language pathologist: $85,820
  • Human resource specialist: $70,720

Yes. Some students who receive their bachelor’s degree in Special Education go onto earn a Master’s degree. For more information, we highly recommend you contact Dr. Redcay.

As a special educator, you can make a difference in the lives of children diagnosed with mild to moderate learning disabilities grades K-12. The best way to hone the knowledge and pedagogical skills that are covered in the Special Education: General Curriculum Program is hands-on learning; therefore, Teacher Candidates are placed with certified public school teachers to implement strategies and techniques presented in class. In addition, the Special Education Teacher Candidates take three levels of Field Experience with increasingly scaffolded teaching responsibilities prior to the Student Teaching semester. Graduates from the program are recognized for their academic performance and leadership skills as well as their abilities to provide intensive and explicit instruction and to plan and maintain positive behavior supports for students with disabilities. Have a hand in improving the lives of those with special needs. Let the Special Education: General Curriculum Program transform you into that special educator who will make a difference.

Prior to entering college, I knew that I wanted to be a special education teacher; it is something I have always been certain about. Here at Methodist, I was able to foster and grow that passion.

Emily Ewin Emily Ewin ’17 Frederick, Md.

Major Requirements

The Special Education major consists of 79 credits and is distributed as follows:

Special Education Content Required Courses

40 credits

EDU 2600 Writing Methods for Elementary Teachers (3) SPE 2600 Education of Exceptional Children & Youth (3)
EDU 3560 Investigating Methods and Strategies in Teaching Reading (3) SPE 3350 Testing and Assessing Special Education Students (3)
EDU 3570 Teaching Reading through Literature (3) SPE 3850 Collaboration with Parents and Educators (3)
KIN 3060 Adapted Physical Education (3)

 

SPE 4010 Scientifically Based Research Methods in Special Education (4)
MAT 1060 Topics in Elementary Mathematics I (3) SPE 4190 Seminar in Positive Behavior Development (3)
MAT 2060 Topics in Elementary Mathematics II (3) PSC 1510 American Government (3) or PSY 1010 Introduction to Psychology (3) or SOC 1510 Principles of Sociology (3)
SPE 2550 Educating Diverse Populations (3)  

Teacher Professional Licensure Required Courses

39 credits

Students must earn a final grade of C or better in all courses with an EDU or SPE prefix.

EDU 1420 Field Experience I (1) EDU 3300 Educational Psychology (3)
EDU 2000 Human Growth & Development (3) EDU 3410 STREAM for Educators (4)
EDU 2210 Introduction to Teaching in the Field (1) EDU 3420 Field Experience III (1)
EDU 2400 Instructional Technology (2) EDU 4070 Professional Orientation (2)
EDU 2420 Field Experience II (1) EDU 4200 Reading & Writing in the Content Areas (6-8, 9-12) (3)
EDU 2510 Foundations of Education (3) *EDU 4210 Student Teaching (10)
EDU 3180 Methods for Instructional Technology (3) EDU 4500 Seminar in Education (2)

Licensure Testing Requirements

Zero credits

ETS Praxis I Core Academic Skills Test for Educators or requisite ACT/SAT passing scores (test codes: 5713, 5723, 5733, or combined test code: 5752) Pearson for NC Foundation of Reading (test code: 190)
ETS Praxis CKT Math Subtest (test code: 7813) ETS Praxis Special Education (test code: 5543)

*A final grade of B or better is required in this course to apply for a North Carolina Teacher License

NC State Board of Education Complaint Process

The North Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of noncompliance regarding specific laws and rules. Complaints may address Educator Preparation Program requirements set forth in Article 15(D) of Chapter 115C. The SBE does not have jurisdiction over complaints related to contractual arrangements with an EPP, commercial issues, obtaining a higher grade or credit for training, or seeking reinstatement to an EPP. All complaints filed with the SBE must be in writing. A person or entity may file a written complaint with SBE by filling out a complaint form and submitting online and/or mailing or faxing a hard copy to the address on the form.

Contact

Patricia Fecher, Ed.D.

Associate Provost, Academic Operations; Interim Chair & Associate Professor of Education; SACSCOC Liaison
Dr. Patricia Fecher