Special Education (B.S.Ed.)

86 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours

Special Education Departmental Requirements (32 hours)

• SPED 100 - Introduction to Persons with Exceptionalities (C) 3
• SPED 200 - Serving Students with Mild to Severe Disabilities 3
• 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) 7

Departmental Requirements (7 hours)

• ELED 433 - Professional and Ethical Issues 1
• ELED 459 - Introduction to Literacy Assessment and Remediation (C) 2
• SEED 400 - Methods and Media in Middle/High School (C) 2
• SEED 450 - Reading and Content Literacy (C) 2

Teaching Methods Core (25 hours)

• ELED 320 - K-8 Science Methods (C) 2
• ELED 331 - K-8 Math Methods Seminar I 3
• 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
• SEED 413 - 7-12 Science Methods (C) 3
• SEED 415 - 7-12 Social Science Methods (C) 3
• SEED 418 - 7-12 Math Methods (C) 3
• SEED 424 - 7-12 Language Arts Methods (C) 3

Nondepartmental Requirements (22 hours)

• EDFN 338 - Foundations of American Education (C) 2
• EDFN 438 - Bridging Theory and Practice 3
• EDFN 440 - Classroom Management (C) 3
• EDFN 475 - Human Relations (C) 3
• EPSY 200 - Child/Adolescent Development and Learning 3
• INED 211 - South Dakota American Indian Culture and Education (C) [SGR #3, HSDC] 3
• TET 200 - Technology to Improve Learning 2
• TET 400 - Methods in Educational Technology & Media 3

Special Education Double Major Plus Secondary Education (B.S.Ed.) with specialization

Special Education is a stand-alone degree however if a student wishes to complete the requirements for special education and add a secondary education B.S.Ed. with a specialization, this will allow the student to double major in a secondary education specialization and special education. Click here to review requirements for this track:

• Special Education Double Major Plus Secondary Education (B.S.Ed.) with specialization  

Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification

The educational curriculum for your academic program may or may not meet 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, please review that state and your program on USD’s Licensure-Track Programs webpage.  Licensure-Track Programs

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 USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization

Four-Year Program Guides & Cost

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the academic 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. 

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