Special Education BA

The Special Education B.A. at the University of Alaska Southeast is designed to prepare teacher candidates to develop and implement special education services for students with disabilities. The program addresses the needs of children and youth with disabilities, Alaska’s diverse Native and non-Native communities, and Alaska’s remote, rural, and urban communities.

Courses are offered through a variety of virtual platforms, with an e-Learning option for students who live and work in Alaska’s remote and rural communities. The degree requires 120 credit hours, including General Education Requirements, breadth requirements, and major requirements. Admission to senior year practicum and student teaching requires meeting specified senior-year prerequisites.

Students who complete the program can receive an Alaska Teaching Certificate with an Endorsement in Special Education (Grades PK or K-12) from the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development. Exit criteria include satisfactory course completion, a GPA of 3.00 or higher, and a portfolio.

Modules

• ECE S489Early Literacy: Culturally Responsive Reading Practices
• ED S222Orientation to the Teaching Profession
• ED S302Foundations of Literacy and Language Development
• ED S333The Learner and the Learning Process
• ED S452Student Teaching
• EDSE S405Early Childhood Special Education
• EDSE S410Assessing Students with Disabilities
• EDSE S412Curriculum and Strategies: Low Incidence
• EDSE S422Curriculum and Strategies: High Incidence
• EDSE S482Inclusive Education for Students with Disabilities
• EDSE S483Language and Literacy: Assessment and Intervention
• EDSE S494Special Education Practicum (Special Education Practicum)

Admission to Senior Year Practicum and Student Teaching requires membership in the SOE adopted data management system. The software is necessary for selected upper-division courses in the degree program.

In addition to UAS admissions requirements, students must complete the following to be admitted into the senior year:

• Minimum GPA of 2.5
• Successful completion of all pre-senior year courses with grades of C 2.00 (not C-) or better
• Application for student teaching, including fingerprinting and background check
• Praxis Core/CASE exam scores meeting Alaska Department of Education & Early Development requirements for initial teacher certification. The Praxis Core exam assesses basic knowledge in reading, writing, and math.
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals other than an education professor speaking to the student’s potential as a certified teacher.

• Alaska Teaching Certificate with an Endorsement in Special Education (Grades PK or K-12) from the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development