Special Education
Preparing Competent, Compassionate,
Cooperative, and Committed Leaders
The Department of Special Education offers a sequence of
courses and experiences designed for persons interested in careers as
special educators and related professionals. Program graduates are
employed as special class teachers, resource room teachers, regular
class teachers, educational programmers and diagnosticians. The
curriculum prepares graduates to teach in public/private schools and/or
work with exceptional residential settings, centers for persons with
disabilities and other institutions. A broad-based course sequence
ensures competence in planning and implementing individualized education
programs for exceptional persons in the least restrictive environment.
Two (2) undergraduate degree programs are offered that prepare graduates for public school teaching with options in (a) Emotional Disturbance/Learning Disabilities and (b) Learning Disabilities/Mental Retardation. In these teacher certification programs, students earn the B.A. degree in Psychology or the B.S. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Psychology/ Learning Disabilities/Emotional Disturbance (LD/ED)
Students seeking teaching certification in Special Education
(K-12) with endorsements in LD/ED can pursue a Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Psychology. Students are admitted to the Teacher
Education Program after completing 60 hours of course work and
passing scores on PRAXIS I.
Psychology/ Learning
Disabilities/Mental Retardation (LD/MR)
Students seeking teaching certification in Special Education
(K-12) with endorsements in LD/MR can pursue a Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Psychology. Students are admitted to the Teacher
Education Program after completing 60 hours of course work and
passing scores on PRAXIS I.
Interdisciplinary Studies/ Learning
Disabilities/Emotional Disturbance (LD/ED) Students
seeking teaching certification in Special Education (K-12) with
endorsements in LD/ED can pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Interdisciplinary Studies. Students are admitted to the Teacher
Education Program after completing 60 hours of course work and passing
scores on PRAXIS I.
Interdisciplinary Studies/ Learning Disabilities/Mental Retardation
(LD/MR)
Students seeking teaching certification in Special Education
(K-12) with endorsements in LD/MR can pursue a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Students are admitted to
the Teacher Education Program after completing 60 hours of course
work and passing scores on PRAXIS I.
Master of Arts in Severe Disabilities – Teacher Licensure
Students seeking credentials to teach individuals with severe
disabilities can earn a Master of Arts Degree in Severe Disabilities
with Teacher Licensure. Admission requirements are consistent
with those of the Graduate Council of Norfolk State University and the
admissions committee of the Special Education Department.
Master of Arts in Severe Disabilities – Rehabilitation Counseling
Students can earn a Master of Arts Degree in Severe Disabilities
with a certificate which documents preparedness to work as a
rehabilitation counselor. Admission requirements are consistent with
those of the Graduate Council of Norfolk State University and the
admissions committee of the Special Education Department.
Master of Arts in Severe Disabilities – General
Students from any discipline who wish to increase their competence
in serving persons with disabilities can earn a Master of Arts Degree in
Severe Disabilities. Admission requirements are consistent with those
of the Graduate Council of Norfolk State University and the admissions
committee of the Special Education Department.

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