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Summary of Program Requirements for Special Education Students

Students who earn degrees in Special Education also complete the elementary certification program.  Upon completion of the program, they are qualified to teach all subjects in regular education classrooms, grades K-5 (and all subjects in regular education, self-contained classrooms, grades K-8); children with learning disabilities in grades K-12; and a core subject area (their teaching major) in regular education classrooms, grades 6-8. Requirements of the Special Education program include:

1. University Integrative Studies and Writing Requirements

  • Integrative Studies
    • Integrative Studies in the Social Sciences (ISS)
    • Integrative Studies in the Sciences: Biological and Physical (ISB and ISP)
    • Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities (IAH)
  • University Writing Requirements
    • Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures (WRA) Tier I (formerly called ATL)
    • Tier II writing course required within the major
  • Math Requirement
    • All students must demonstrate proficiency beyond the level of College Algebra; specific requirements vary by College and degree major

2. Professional Education Studies

TE 150 and CEP 240 can be taken during the freshman and sophomore years and serve as prerequisites for TE 301. Students must be formally admitted to the teacher preparation program before they can take TE 301 (see Applications & Admissions for more information).  Once admitted to the teacher preparation program, students typically take TE 301 during the junior year, TE 401 during Fall Semester of the senior year and TE 402 during Spring Semester of the senior year. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in these five education courses, with no individual grade below 2.0, to progress to the internship year.

3. Teaching Majors and Minors

Special Education majors who were freshmen in 2009 or later must complete one of four approved elementary teaching majors:  Language Arts, Integrated Science, Mathematics or Social Studies.  In addition, they may opt to add one or more approved disciplinary teaching majors or disciplinary teaching minors; however, doing so is optional. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 overall and in their teaching major to progress to the internship year.  Students who were freshmen before 2009 and are pursuing the two minor option must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in both teaching minors.

4. Elementary Planned Program

The Elementary Planned Program is designed to provide the breath of content knowledge required to teach all subjects in the elementary grades. The Planned Program must include a minimum of 20 credits that are not double counted with the teaching major. Students must have a GPA of at least 2.5 in the Planned Program, with no individual grade below 2.0. Grades of at least 2.0 in MTH 201 and TE 348, prerequisites for TE 401, must be earned prior to enrollment in TE 401.

5. Competency Examinations

The Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills test must be passed prior to admission to the teacher preparation program. All students pursuing elementary certification, including Special Education majors, must pass the Elementary Education MTTC (083) prior to the internship year. The Learning Disabilities MTTC (063) and the MTTC corresponding to the teaching major must be passed before the candidate can be recommended for either endorsement on his or her certificate. The MTTC corresponding to the teaching major must be passed prior to the internship year if the candidate wishes to have a middle school internship placement.

6. Technology Requirement

The Michigan Department of Education requires that students demonstrate awareness, proficiency and expertise in personal productivity and pedagogical technology before they receive a teaching certificate. MSU requires demonstration of specific skills prior to the internship. Typically, this is accomplished in professional education courses.

7. Bachelor Degree

All baccalaureate requirements must be fulfilled and the bachelor degree must be conferred prior to beginning the internship year.

8. Teaching Majors and Minors

All standards (academic requirements, testing requirements and professional standards) must be satisfied before a student can progress to the internship year.

9. Internship Year

The internship includes a full academic year of study and experience in a selected school. During the internship, interns complete graduate-level coursework. With faculty approval, some of the credits earned in 800-level courses may later be applied to selected master’s degree programs.

10. Certification

After successful completion of all College, University, and State of Michigan requirements (including the internship and courses taken concurrent with the internship), the teacher candidate is eligible to apply for provisional teacher certification. After the application has been reviewed by the Certification Office in 134 Erickson, the qualified candidate is recommended to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) for certification.