Elementary & Special Education (B.S.Ed.)

Departmental Requirements (33 hours)

• ELED 121 - Physical Science for Elementary School Teachers 2
• ELED 121L - Physical Science Lab 1
• ELED 162 - Geography and World History for Elementary Teachers 3
• ELED 320 - K-8 Science Methods (C) 2
• ELED 331 - K-8 Math Methods Seminar I 2
• ELED 344 - Integrated Literacy I K-8 3
• ELED 345 - Integrated Literacy II K-8 3
• ELED 360 - K-8 Social Science Methods (C) 2
• ELED 394 - Internship (C) 1
• ELED 432 - K-8 Math Seminar II 1
• ELED 433 - Professional and Ethical Issues 1
• ELED 459 - Introduction to Literacy Assessment and Remediation (C) 2
• ELED 462 - Teaching English as a New Language (C) 2
• ELED 488 - K-8 Student Teaching (C) 8

Special Education Departmental Requirements (33 hours)

• SPED 100 - Introduction to Persons with Exceptionalities (C) 3
• SPED 200 - Serving Students with Mild to Severe Disabilities 1
• SPED 260 - Introduction to Behavior Management 2
• SPED 296 - Field Experience (C) 1
• SPED 350 - Informal Assessment 2
• SPED 394 - Internship (C) 1
• SPED 417 - Vocational-Transitional Programming (C) 2
• SPED 420 - K-12 Curriculum & Instructional Strategies (C) 2
• SPED 431 - Identification and Assessment in Special Education (C) 3
• SPED 432 - Methods and Materials for LD K-12 (C) 2
• SPED 441 - Inclusive Methods for Diverse Learners (C) 2
• SPED 460 - Family Systems and Professional Collaboration (C) 2
• SPED 488 - Student Teaching in Special Education (C) 8

Nondepartmental Requirements (45 hours)

• BIOL 104 - Foundations of Biology for Educators [SGR #6, HSDC] 2
• BIOL 104L - Foundations of Biology for Educators Lab [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 104 - Foundations of Chemistry for Educators [SGR #6, HSDC] 2
• CHEM 104L - Foundations of Chemistry for Educators Lab [SGR #6, HSDC]
• ESCI 104 - Foundations of Earth Sciences for Educators [SGR #6, HSDC] 2
• ESCI 104L - Foundations of Earth Sciences for Educators Lab [SGR #6, HSDC]
• PHYS 104 - Foundations of Physics for Educators [SGR #6, HSDC] 2
• PHYS 104L - Foundations of Physics for Educators Lab [SGR #6, HSDC]

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• ARTE 310 - K-8 Art Methods (C) 1
• EDFN 338 - Foundations of American Education (C) 2
• EDFN 440 - Classroom Management (C) 2
• EDFN 475 - Human Relations (C) 3
• EPSY 200 - Child/Adolescent Development and Learning 3
• HIST 151 - United States History I (C) [SGR #3, HSDC] 3
• INED 411 - South Dakota Indian Studies (C) 3
• MATH 114 - College Algebra (C) [SGR #5, HSDC] 3
• MATH 341 - Math Concepts for Teachers I (C) 3
• MATH 342 - Math Concepts for Teachers II (C) 3
• MUS 353 - K-8 Music Methods (C) 2
• PE 330 - PK-8 Health, First Aid, Safety, Physical Education Methods 2
• POLS 100 - American Government (C) [SGR #3, HSDC] 3
• TET 200 - Technology to Improve Learning 2
• TET 400 - Methods in Educational Technology & Media 2

System General Education Requirements Elementary Education (15 credit hours*)

• ENGL 101 - Composition I (C) [SGR #1, HSDC]
• Advanced Composition Course in addition to ENGL 101, SGR Goal #1  (3 cr.)
• Oral Communication SGR Goal #2  (3 cr.)
• Arts and Humanities (excluding English) fulfilling SGR Goal #4  (6 cr.)-3 credit hours must be in Arts and 3 credit hours must be in Humanities.

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan.

• Elementary & Special Education, B.S.Ed. 4-year plan guide  

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will interact with other students and evaluate the effort put into team tasks, interactions with others, and the quantity and quality made to team discussions.
2. Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking.
3. Students will engage in purposeful, ongoing learning activities that improve their knowledge, skills and competence in their personal and professional lives.
4. Students will design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal.
5. Students will be able to systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments, and break down complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
6. Majors in Special Education will demonstrate content knowledge in the field of special education.
7. Majors in Special Education will demonstrate the application of teaching and learning principles in the field of education, specifically in special education.
8. Majors in Special Education will have an impact on student learning in the field of special education.

Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification

The University of South Dakota as of July 1, 2020, cannot confirm whether any particular course or program meets educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, contact the academic department offering your major or CDE at 605.658.6152 or by email at cde@usd.edu. USD is working to comply with these requirements and will provide up-to-date information as it becomes available.

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the State Authorization webpage below.

Information about State Authorization & Professional Licensure