At-a-Glance
Degree Granted: Bachelor of Science in Education
Specialization Options: Mild/Moderate Educational Needs; Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs
Minimum Hours Required for Degree: Licensure as a Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialist: 120 to 134 hours; Licensure as a moderate/Intensive Intervention Specialist: 127 to 141 hours.
Teaching Credential: Ohio four-year Resident Educator teaching license as a Mild/Moderate or Moderate/Intensive Intervention Specialist (ages 5 through 21 and grades K through 12). Requires successful completion of all program requirements, acceptable scores on applicable PRAXIS II examinations required for licensure and highly qualified teacher status (HQT) by the State Board of Education, and a passing score on the portfolio Checkpoint 4.
Portfolio: All teaching license students are expected to maintain a portfolio while completing their professional coursework and field experiences. The portfolio will evolve from a working portfolio to a professional portfolio and finally to an employment portfolio. In it, students are responsible for housing various required and optional artifacts that demonstrate their level of competency in each of the outcomes of their program.
At various portfolio checkpoints, students must meet specific portfolio criteria in order to be eligible to continue to the next phase of their program. For complete information on portfolios, students are strongly encouraged to access the Student Portfolio Handbook available at www.csuohio.edu/cehs/students/eportfolio/docs/PortfolioHandbook.pdf.
As of Fall semester, 2007, all students entering teacher license programs are required to maintain their portfolios in the Cleveland State University ePortfolio System. As of Fall semester 2012, all students entering teacher licensure programs must maintain their portfolio using TaskStream.
Accreditation: Having met current curriculum guidelines set by the Council for Exceptional Children, the Special Education Program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Admission to Major: Must be admitted to the College of Education and Human Services (requires 2.50 cumulative grade-point average). Must also be accepted into a College of Education and Human Services program. This requires 2.50 cumulative grade-point average, grade of C or better on college-level English composition course, grade of C or better on college-level math course, an intake interview, and verification of good moral character.
Advising: Admission and program guidelines may be secured from the Education Student Services Center, Julka Hall 170A, 216-687-4625. Continuing academic, personal, and professional advising is available from assigned faculty advisers and the College Advising Office.
Evening Program: No evening program as students - must be available for field placements in area schools during the day; however, those classes that do not require fieldwork are generally offered in the evenings.
Department Office: Teacher Education; Julka Hall 302A, (216) 687-4600. Primarily designed to provide course work in the education of learners with exceptional needs. Available program options in the field of special education permit concentrated study in one of two areas: Learners with Mild or Moderate Educational Needs or Learners with Moderate or Intensive Educational Needs.
The specialization in Mild/Moderate Educational Needs is designed to prepare candidates to develop, implement, and evaluate individualized programs for children and adolescents ages 5 through 21 who have special academic and social adjustment needs. These individuals are typically identified as having a specific learning disability, mild/moderate intellectual disabilities, or mild/moderate behavioral disorders. Students who complete this program are eligible for provisional licensure as a mild/moderate intervention specialist and will demonstrate diagnostic skills and competencies in the assessment of academic and social needs as they particularly apply to the development and delivery of instruction in both general and special education classrooms.
Alternatively, the Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs specialization is intended to prepare candidates to work with children and youths ages 5 through 21 who have moderate, severe, or profound intellectual disabilities; emotional disorders; or multiple disabilities. Students who complete this program are eligible for provisional licensure as a Moderate/Intensive Intervention Specialist and will demonstrate skills in curriculum design and implementation, interdisciplinary teaming, and working with parents of individuals with exceptional needs.