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1. University Studies Requirements
2. Professional Education Courses
3. Special Education Major
4. Professional Depth
5. Electives

GPA Requirement. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required to apply for admission, to remain in good standing, and to graduate from the program. All required special education classes must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Grades and Course Repetitions. Students are required to earn a "C" or higher in all licensure classes. Students who receive a grade below "C" must retake the course. Each student will be allowed to repeat a maximum of one licensure course or practicum. No course or practicum may be repeated more than once. In addition, students who withdraw from two practica (or one practica two times) may not be permitted to continue their program. Student teaching may not be repeated without appeal and approval by the appropriate special education program committee. Student teaching may not be repeated more than one time.

1) University Studies Requirements (27-31 credits plus 5 additional classes).

1. General Education Requirements (27-31 credits). USU's General Education program consists of two sets of requirements: Competency and Breadth.
1. Communications Literacy (CL) (6 credits)
1. English 1010 OR AP English Test (score of 3 or higher) OR ACT English Test (score of 29 or higher) OR English CLEP Test (score of 500 or better).
2. ENGL 2010
2. Quantitative Literacy (QL) (3-4 credits)
1. STAT 1040 (3 credits), OR AP Calculus Test (score of 3 or better). MATH 1050 (4 credits) will also be accepted for the SPED major, but STAT 1040 is preferred.
3. Computer and Information Literacy (CIL) (0-3 credits)
1. Click here for link to the CIL web page.
2. No specific course is required, but students must pass a competency exam in computer and information literacy.
4. Breadth Requirements (18 credits)
1. Breadth American Institutions: Recommended course is USU 1300
2. Breadth Creative Arts: Recommended course is USU 1330
3. Breadth Humanities: Recommended course is USU 1320.
4. Breadth Life Science: Required class for severe majors is NFS 1020. The recommended course for the other emphasis areas is USU 1310.
5. Breadth Physical Science: Recommended course is USU 1310. Note: USU 1310 will count for either the life or physical science breadth requirement.
6. Breadth Social Science: REQUIRED class is FHD 1500. If students take a different breadth social science class, it will count as an elective.
2. Depth Education Requirements (five courses)
1. Communications Intensive (2 courses). The following classes are the only classes that will meet this requirement for the special education major.
1. ELED 3000 (6-8 credits) OR SCED 3100 and SCED 3210
2. SPED 5200 (15 credits) OR SPED 5210 (6 credits) . SPED 5210 is for dual majors only.
2. Quantitative Intensive (1 course)
1. SPED 5010 (3 credits)
3. Depth Course Requirements (2 courses). Students must take two approved 3000-level or above courses. The courses must be from 2 of the following three categories.
1. Depth Humanities and Creative Arts (DHA)
2. Depth Life and Physical Sciences (DSC)
3. Depth Social Sciences (DSS)

2) Professional Education Courses (15-18 credits). These courses must be completed prior to beginning the special education coursework. Students must be admitted to the special education program before they will be cleared to register for these classes. Students who are dual majors with secondary education click here. Link

1. ELED 3000 (8 credits). This class will not only meet during published times, but will also require time spent in an elementary or middle school classroom all day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Students are advised to not schedule other classes or work on these days.
2. SPED 4000 (2 credits) (Sometimes taught during summer semester)
3. PSY 3660 (2 credits)
4. INST 4010 (3 credits) (Sometimes taught during summer semester)
5. Early Childhood Majors: Students admitted to the early childhood emphasis will take ELED 3000 for 6 credits instead of 8 and will also take the following courses for a total of 18 credit hours.
1. FHD 2250 (4 credits)
2. SPED 5830 (1 credit)

3) Special Education Major Courses

1. Mild Moderate Endorsement (48 credits) Note: Students are advised that the courses are taught in the afternoons. Please leave mornings open each day for practica (teaching in a school setting). During spring semester, SPED 5340 will be taught all day for the first 3 weeks of the semester. Students are advised to arrange their course schedules and work schedules accordingly.
1. SPED 5010. Applied Behavioral Analysis 1: Principles, Assessment, and Analysis (fall semester) (3 credits)
2. SPED 5040. Foundations of Effective Assessment and Instructional Practices (fall semester) (3 credits)
3. SPED 5050. Applied Behavioral Analysis 2: Applications. (spring semester) (3 credits)
4. SPED 5060. Consulting with Parents and Teachers. (spring semester) (3 credits)
5. SPED 5070. Policies and Procedures in Special Education. (Fall semester) (3 credits)
6. SPED 5200 (or 5210 for Dual Majors). Student Teaching. (Fall or spring semester) (15 credits)
7. SPED 5310. Teaching Reading and Language Arts to Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities. (Fall semester) (4 credits)
8. SPED 5320. Teaching Content Areas and Transition to Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities. (Spring semester) (3 credits)
9. SPED 5330. Eligibility Assessment for Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities. (Fall semester) (1 credit)
10. SPED 5340. Teaching Math to Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities. See note in number one above. (Spring semester) (3 credits)
11. SPED 5410, Practicum: Direct Instruction Reading and Language Arts for Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities. (Fall semester) (3 credits)
12. SPED 5420. Practicum: Teaching Mathematics to Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities. (Spring semester) (4 credits)
13. SPED 5530. Assistive and Adaptive Technology for Persons with Disabilities. (Spring semester) (2 credits)
2. Severe Endorsement (44 credits) Note: Students are advised that the courses are taught in the afternoons. Please leave mornings open each day for practica (teaching in a school setting).
1. SPED 5010. Applied Behavioral Analysis 1: Principles, Assessment, and Analysis (Fall semester) (3 credits)
2. SPED 5040. Foundations of Effective Assessment and Instructional Practices (Fall semester) (3 credits)
3. SPED 5050. Applied Behavioral Analysis 2: Applications. (Spring semester) (3 credits)
4. SPED 5060. Consulting with Parents and Teachers. (Spring semester) (3 credits)
5. SPED 5070. Policies and Procedures in Special Education. (Fall semester) (3 credits)
6. SPED 5200 (or 5210 for Dual Majors). Student Teaching. (Fall or Spring semester) (15 credits)
7. SPED 5510. Curriculum for Students with Severe Disabilities. (Fall semester) (4 credits)
8. SPED 5520. Curriculum for Secondary-Level Students with Severe Disabilities. (Spring semester) (3 credits)
9. SPED 5530. Assistive and Adaptive Technology for Persons with Disabilities. (Spring semester) (2 credits)
10. SPED 5600. Practicum: Introduction to Instruction of Students with Severe Disabilities. (Fall semester) (3 credits)
11. SPED 5610. Practicum: Advanced Systematic Instruction of Students with Severe Disabilities. (Spring semester) (4 credits)
3. Early Childhood Certificate (48 credits) Note: Students are advised that the courses are taught in the afternoons. Please leave mornings open each day for practica (teaching in a school setting).
1. SPED 5010. Applied Behavioral Analysis 1: Principles, Assessment, and Analysis (Fall semester) (3 credits)
2. SPED 5040. Foundations of Effective Assessment and Instructional Practices (Fall semester) (3 credits)
3. SPED 5050. Applied Behavioral Analysis 2: Applications. (Spring semester) (3 credits)
4. SPED 5060. Consulting with Parents and Teachers. (Spring semester) (3 credits)
5. SPED 5070. Policies and Procedures in Special Education. (Fall semester) (3 credits)
6. SPED 5200 (or 5210 for Dual Majors). Student Teaching. (Fall or Spring semester) (15 credits)
7. SPED 5530. Assistive and Adaptive Technology for Persons with Disabilities. (Spring semester) (2 credits)
8. SPED 5710. Young Children with Disabilities: Characteristics and Services. (Spring semester) (3 credits)
9. SPED 5730. Intervention Strategies for Young Children with Disabilities. (Fall semester) (3 credits)
10. SPED 5810. Seminar and Field Experiences with Infants and Families. (Spring semester) (4 credits)
11. SPED 5820. Preschool Practicum with Young Children with Disabilities in Community Environments. (Fall semester) (4 credits)
12. SPED 5840 Seminar: Preschool Practicum with Young Children with Disabilities. (Spring semester) (2 credits)

4) Professional Depth (15 credits)

1. The professional depth area is designed to enhance the Special Education major's background. Areas recommended include communicative disorders, psychology, sociology, family and human development, and social work. The special education advisor must approve courses taken for this area.

5) Electives (7-20 credits)

6) Diversity Requirement (0 credits) Special Education majors are required to take one course that meets the diversity requirement. See the individual major planning guides for more information.