Licensure

Due to Arkansas Teacher Licensure Changes

Effective December 31, 2001: The Special Education and the Special Education-Elementary Education programs described in the ASU Bulletin will be discontinued due to changes in Arkansas licensure standards. NO ONE will graduate with a degree in either of these programs after December 31, 2001. New Arkansas teacher licensure standards will require a regular education degree as a pre or corequisite for endorsement in special education. Entering students who can not complete the program listed in the ASU Bulletin by Fall semester, 2001 should select a regular education major using the following guidelines. Students who wish to teach special education preschool through grade 4 (P-4) must complete requirements for a regular education P-4 teaching license, while students wishing to teach special education in grades 4-12 must complete requirements for either a regular education grades 4-8 or grades 7-12 teaching license. The student must complete the prerequisite course SE 2013 - Introduction to Special Education as a Profession and SE 3023 - Characteristics of Individuals with Disabilities as preparation for admission into the Special Education - Instructional Specialist Grades 4-12 endorsement program. Students considering pursuing a career in special education are encouraged to meet with a special education faculty member to review the program requirements. These are available at the web site http://147.97.11.245/secd/index.html

Persons holding licensure in an area of regular education and desiring licensure in special education with an MSE degree should make application to the Graduate School and follow the procedure specified in the Graduate Bulletin. Options are available for Special Education - Instructional Specialist Grades P-4 and Special Educational - Instructional Specialist Grades 4-12. Students seeking a certification only program should consult a special education advisor and develop a licensure endorsement program plan. Completion of licensure programs will require admission to the graduate school, even if the MSE is not sought.

Purpose of the Program

The purpose of the program in Special Education - Instructional Specialist 4-12 is to offer general education teachers, who wish to add special education to their teaching certificate, an advanced performance-based program of study based on the recommendations of professional organizations and accrediting associations such as the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and NCATE. Students completing this program gain expertise in teaching students exhibiting developmental, learning and behavioral disabilities, and in consulting with general education teachers who have students with disabilities in their classrooms.

Students seeking admission into the licensure program in Special Education 4-12, 1) be eligible for general education licensure, 2) complete 6 semester hours of undergraduate special education courses, as specified below in item I, 3) meet the general admission requirements of the Graduate School, and 4) complete an interview with a special education program advisor.

SE 2013 Introduction to Special Education as a Profession
SE 3023 Characteristics of Individuals with Disabilities

II. Courses required for endorsement in Special Education-Instructional Specialist 4-12

               SE 5033   Behavior Intervention and Consultation
              SE 5043   Educational Diagnosis and Assessment in Special Education *
              SE 6053     Educational Procedures for Individuals with Mild Disabilities
              SE 6063    Educational Procedures for Children with Emotional Disabilities
              SE 6073    Educational Procedures for Individuals with Moderate-Profound Disabilities
              SE 6093    Collaboration for Special Education Service Delivery
              SE 6813    Introductory Laboratory Experiences I in Special Education
              SE 6823   Advanced Laboratory Experiences II in Special Education

            Total credit hours             30

Students who have completed course work at other institutions and wish to have it considered as a substitute for meeting the above requirements will submit a copy of the course syllabus, transcript, and documentation of performance of the skills included in the ASU course for which the transfer course will substitute.

In addition to the required course work, candidates for licensure in Special Education Instructional Specialist 4-12 must prepare a professional portfolio which documents proficiency in the knowledge and skill base of special education as defined by the Council for Exceptional Children (CED). Also, all candidates must take the appropriate Praxis II Examinations (tests numbered 0351 and 0352) for licensure in Arkansas.