Special Education - B.A.

CIP Code

13.1001

The philosophy of the special education program reflects the belief that all students are unique, differing from one another intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically, and can learn in the least restrictive environment in accordance with special education rules, regulations, and guidelines, the program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in special education or licensure in special education. The program is designed with a focus on urban education to prepare teachers, supervisors, and support staff.

The program goals are to:

  • Prepare teachers, supervisors, and supportive staff, to develop and implement an integrated curriculum in the regular classroom;
  • Serve as a consultant to regular classroom teachers of various disciplines and grade levels;
  • Provide additional instruction in resource rooms or other settings.

Program Objective

To provide a competency-based Teacher Educator Preparation Program through courses and experience designed to prepare competent facilitators of learning with a multicultural perspective to serve in both public and private settings. These courses and experiences provide the students with the requirements established by the Tennessee State Department of Education for Exceptional Learning Special Education.

Program Requirements

The Special Education Program at Fisk operates cooperatively with the Department of Education of the State of Tennessee. The Program leads to a degree in special education or licensure in special education.

All students are required to meet the general education CORE requirements (35 semester hours) for a Bachelor of Science degree in special education. A total of 120 to 123 semester credit hours must be completed. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 and be admitted to the Teacher Educator Preparation Program.

The requirements for a major in special education consist of 41 semester hours. A minimum of 32 semester credit hours within the major CORE must be completed. All students must have a total of 30 hours of professional requirements.

Specific Procedures for Admission include:

  • Submission to the Coordinator a copy of college transcript
  • A minimum 2.7 cumulative grade point average
  • Submission of a typed essay
  • Submission of three faculty recommendations
  • Completion of Educational Psychology (EDUC 248),
  • & Theory and Practices of Teaching (EDUC 260).

Secondary Teaching (Grades 6-12)

Fisk offers a sequence of professional education courses to be taken in conjunction with an academic major in biology, business administration, chemistry, English, history, mathematics, physics, political science, or Spanish, depending upon the intended teaching field. Prospective secondary teachers, in addition to meeting all University degree requirements and all requirements for the major field, must also complete EDUC 450, Secondary Student Teaching, and the following 21-credit sequence of professional education courses:

EDUC 248 Educational Psychology

EDUC 250 Fundamental Responsibilities of Teaching

EDUC 260 Theory and Practice of Teaching

EDUC 340 Secondary Curriculum and Methods I

EDUC 350 Secondary Curriculum and Methods II 

EDUC 460 Secondary Education Seminar 

PSY 205 Child and Adolescent Development

 

Art Teaching (All Grades, K-12)

Students pursue the Bachelor of Science degree program for a major in art, selecting departmental elective courses in consultation with the discipline Coordinator, as well as art faculty members. In addition, prospective art teachers complete a student teaching placement and the following 28-credit education sequence:

EDUC 248 Educational Psychology

EDUC 250 Fundamental Responsibilities of Teaching

EDUC 260 Theory and Practice of Teaching

EDUC 320 Elementary Curriculum and Methods I 

EDUC 350 Secondary Curriculum and Methods II 

EDUC 360 Teaching Reading in the Elementary Schools

EDUC 460 Secondary Education Seminar 

PSY 180 General Psychology

PSY 205 Child and Adolescent Development

For all teacher education options, it is important that students’ electives be planned carefully to be sure that the state requirements are properly satisfied, and for that reason it is absolutely essential that students in the Teacher Educator Preparation Program seek regular academic counsel from the discipline Coordinator, as well as, from a Faculty Academic Advisor in the major department. Fisk does not assume responsibility for errors that may arise from a student’s failure to make proper use of the advice the University makes available for program planning.
Eligibility for student teaching is not automatic upon admission to the Teacher Education Program or upon completion of prerequisite coursework. Students must submit pass scores on all Praxis II examinations before they are admitted to Student Teaching. Documentation of Student Teaching assignments are at the discretion of the discipline coordinator. Except for EDUC 410 or EDUC 460, the Elementary or Secondary Education Seminar (taken concurrently with student teaching), all courses listed in the applicable professional studies sequence must be completed with a grade of “C” or better prior to placement in student teaching. Application for student teaching must be submitted by April 1 for fall semester student teaching, and by November 1 for spring student teaching. No other formal courses may be taken during the semester in which student teaching is done. 

Academic expectations in Fisk’s Teacher Educator Preparation Programs are high. Students must meet both Fisk and Tennessee State Board of Education requirements. State licensing requirements in Tennessee are, moreover, subject to frequent change by authorities beyond Fisk University’s control, which means that students must remain in touch with the discipline coordinator for updated information. To avoid carrying excessive academic loads in certain semesters, some students may prefer to seek University approval to do certain coursework in summer school. Courses suggested for summer school include Spanish, general psychology, educational psychology, and child and adolescent psychology, except for students who are majoring in one of those disciplines. Other suggested summer school courses may include selected courses, which can be shown to be equivalent to those that are a part of Fisk’s CORE.

Major Requirements Course Sequence:

SPED 210INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 310CHARACTERISTICS AND NEEDS OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN

3

SPED 311NATURE OF THE LEARNING DISABILED CHILDREN

3

SPED 270PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 410ASSESSMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 350TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES (MODIFIED)

3

SPED 280PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 360MANAGING INAPPROPRIATE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

3

SPED 400PROCEDURES FOR TEACHING THE GIFTED

3

SPED 420INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 480STUDENT TEACHING OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN

9

SPED 350: Modified

Professional Education CORE:

EDUC 100Elementary Health and Physical Activity

3

MATH 100INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA

3

PSY 205CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT

3

EDUC 248EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

3

EDUC 250FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHING

1

EDUC 260THEORY AND PRACTICE OF TEACHING

3

EDUC 320ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS I

3

EDUC 330ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS II

3

EDUC 360SECONDARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS II

3

EDUC 410ELEMENTARY EDUCATION SEMINAR

3

Note: Passing scores for the Praxis II in Principles of Learning and Teaching is required. Also required is passing scores in Special Education Modified: Knowledge Based CORE Principles and Application of CORE Principles.

Special Education –Bachelor’s Degree

Professional Education CORE [30 credits]

EDUC 100Elementary Health and Physical Activity

3

PSY 205CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT

3

EDUC 248EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

3

EDUC 260THEORY AND PRACTICE OF TEACHING

3

EDUC 250FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHING

1

EDUC 320ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS I

3

EDUC 330ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS II

3

EDUC 360SECONDARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS II

3

EDUC 410ELEMENTARY EDUCATION SEMINAR

3

MATH 200MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

3

Exceptional Learning Major [36 credits]

SPED 210INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 310CHARACTERISTICS AND NEEDS OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN

3

SPED 311NATURE OF THE LEARNING DISABILED CHILDREN

3

SPED 270PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 410ASSESSMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 350TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES (MODIFIED)

3

SPED 280PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 360MANAGING INAPPROPRIATE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

3

SPED 400PROCEDURES FOR TEACHING THE GIFTED

3

SPED 420INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 480STUDENT TEACHING OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN

9

SPED 210INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

Suggested Program for Special Education, Interventionist K-8 Majors

First Year, Fall Semester [16 credits]

CORE 100NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION SEMINAR

1

CORE 150COMPOSITION I

3

CORE 131ESSENTIAL MATHEMATICS FOR A CONTEMPORARY WORLD

3

CSCI 100INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING

3

PSY 180GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

3

FOREIGN LANGUAGE 101 - FRENCH OR SPANISH

3

First Year, Spring Semester [15 credits]

CORE 160COMPOSITION II

3

CORE 120CRITICAL THINKING

2

EDUC 100Elementary Health and Physical Activity

3

EDUC 250FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHING

1

SPED 210INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

FREN 102ELEMENTARY FRENCH II

3

Or

SPAN 102ELEMENTARY SPANISH II

3

Second Year, Fall Semester [15 credits]

CORE D: NATURAL SCIENCE

3

PSY 205CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT

3

SPED 270PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

EDUC 260THEORY AND PRACTICE OF TEACHING

3

SPED 360MANAGING INAPPROPRIATE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

3

 

Second Year, Spring Semester [15 credits]

CORE 260HUMANITIES: THOUGHT AND EXPERIENCE

3

EDUC 248EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

3

SPED 280PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

CORE 220THE CREATIVE ARTS

3

EDUC 360SECONDARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS II

3

CORE C: select one course from group

Third Year, Fall Semester [17 credits]

EDUC 320ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS I

3

CORE A: CULTURAL EXPOSURE

3

CORE 201INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

3

General Electives

8

CORE A: select one course from group

Third Year, Spring Semester [15 credits]

CORE 132ESSENTIAL MATHEMATICS FOR A CONTEMPORARY WORLD II

3

EDUC 330ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS II

3

SPED 400PROCEDURES FOR TEACHING THE GIFTED

3

SPED 410ASSESSMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 420INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

CORE B: Select one course from group

Fourth Year, Fall Semester [15 credits]

CORE 360THE WORLD AND ITS PEOPLES

3

SPED 311NATURE OF THE LEARNING DISABILED CHILDREN

3

SPED 350TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES (MODIFIED)

3

EDUC 310TEACHING READING IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

3

MATH 200MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

3

Fourth Year, Spring Semester [12 credits]

EDUC 410ELEMENTARY EDUCATION SEMINAR

3

SPED 480STUDENT TEACHING OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN

9

Suggested Program for Special Education, Interventionist 6-12 Majors

First Year, Fall Semester [16 credits]

CORE 100NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION SEMINAR

1

CORE 150COMPOSITION I

3

CORE 131ESSENTIAL MATHEMATICS FOR A CONTEMPORARY WORLD

3

CSCI 100INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING

3

PSY 180GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

3

FREN 101ELEMENTARY FRENCH I

3

Or

SPAN 101ELEMENTARY SPANISH I

3

CORE E:

PSY 180GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

3

First Year, Spring Semester [15 credits]

CORE 160COMPOSITION II

3

CORE 120CRITICAL THINKING

2

EDUC 250FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHING

1

SPED 210INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

GENERAL ELECTIVE

3

FREN 102ELEMENTARY FRENCH II

3

Or

SPAN 102ELEMENTARY SPANISH II

3

Second Year, Fall Semester [15 credits]

CORE D: NATURAL SCIENCE

3

PSY 205CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT

3

SPED 270PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

EDUC 260THEORY AND PRACTICE OF TEACHING

3

SPED 360MANAGING INAPPROPRIATE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

3

CORE D: select one course from group

Second Year, Spring Semester [15 credits]

CORE 220THE CREATIVE ARTS

3

CORE 260HUMANITIES: THOUGHT AND EXPERIENCE

3

EDUC 248EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

3

SPED 280PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

EDUC 360SECONDARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS II

3

CORE C: select one course from group

Third Year, Fall Semester [16 credits]

CORE 201INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

3

CORE A: Cultural Exposure

3-4

EDUC 340SECONDARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS I

3

General Elective

7

CORE A: select one course from group

Third Year, Spring Semester [16 credits]

CORE 132ESSENTIAL MATHEMATICS FOR A CONTEMPORARY WORLD II

3

EDUC 350SECONDARY CURRICULUM AND METHODS II

3

SPED 400PROCEDURES FOR TEACHING THE GIFTED

3

SPED 410ASSESSMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

SPED 420INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

3

CORE B: Select one course from group

Fourth Year, Fall Semester [13 credits]

CORE 360THE WORLD AND ITS PEOPLES

3

SPED 311NATURE OF THE LEARNING DISABILED CHILDREN

3

SPED 350TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES (MODIFIED)

3

General Elective

7

Fourth Year, Spring Semester [12 credits]

EDUC 410ELEMENTARY EDUCATION SEMINAR

3

SPED 480STUDENT TEACHING OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN

9

CORE Curriculum Requirements

The cafeteria style CORE curriculum will be chosen from one of the courses in each of the following groups, A - E.

GROUP A (Choose one of the following)

ART 291AFRICAN AMERICAN ART

3

ART 292AFRICAN ART

3

ENG 275AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1919

3

HIS 180AFRICAN HISTORY

3

HIS 270AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY

3

MUS 200WORLD MUSIC

3

MUS 206CROSSCURRENTS IN AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC

2

GROUP B (Choose one of the following)

CORE 132ESSENTIAL MATHEMATICS FOR A CONTEMPORARY WORLD II

3

BAD 200APPLIED CALCULUS

3

BAD 260APPLIED STATISTICS

3

MATH 125DISCRETE MATHEMATICS

3

NSCI 360STATISTICS

3

HSS 280SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS

3

GROUP C (Choose one of the following)

CORE 220THE CREATIVE ARTS

3

MUS 207TWENTIETH CENTURY MUSIC

2

MUS 208HISTORY OF JAZZ

2

ART 207ARTS AND IDEAS I

3

ART 208ARTS AND IDEAS II

3

MUS 205MUSIC IN AMERICA

2

GROUP D

Choose CORE 240 or any two science courses from the list below.

BIOL 101GENERAL BIOLOGY I

3

And

BIOL 101LGENERAL BIOLOGY I LABORATORY

1

CHEM 113GENERAL CHEMISTRY I

3

And

CHEM 103EXPERIMENTS IN GENERAL CHEMISRY I

1

PHYS 130UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I

3

And

PHYS 130LEXPERIMENTS IN GENERAL PHYSICS I

1

GROUP E (Choose one of the following)

ECON 230PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS

3

ECON 240PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS

3

HIS 160UNITED STATES HISTORY

3

PSCI 122AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS

3

PSY 180GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

3

SOC 100INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

3

Total hours required for graduation: 120 credits