Special Education
Description
Education is a fundamental and necessary part of youth for all children. For students with special needs, education can be extremely difficult. Special Education teachers have the joy and the challenge of working with and forming relationships with students to face these difficulties. OU's nationally recognized Special Education program works to ensure its students will have the knowledge and the experience needed to work with children with special needs. Beginning with the first course taken in the Education curriculum, students complete 400 hours in classroom settings.
These field experiences prepare students for student-teaching internships during either the certification or graduate portion of their education. During these internships, students observe, prepare lesson plans and teach. The student teaching programs typically last 16 weeks. Students are allowed to request a school and even a specific teacher.
The Special Education curriculum is designed so that students will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in four years. If students wish to be certified to teach, they can choose to complete a semester-long certification process or they can continue their education and receive a master's degree in education. Students receive certification to become Special Education teachers.
Degree Options
A Special Education student graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. A student could also pursue a Master of Education, a Doctor of Philosophy or a Doctor of Education degree. Students who pursue a master's degree may be certified as reading specialists.
Accreditation
In 2007, U.S. News and World Report ranked the College of Education 40th among the best graduate programs in the nation.
The Special Education program is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Council for Exceptional Children, a specialty organization.
Notable Achievements
Special Education faculty members have been published in such academic publications as the Journal of Special Education Technology and Teaching Exceptional Children. In addition, several Education faculty members serve on editorial boards for prestigious academic publications
Education students can participate in organizations including Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society that recognizes outstanding contributions to education, and the Student Council for Exceptional Children, which provides professional growth opportunities through field experiences.
Interests and Skills
Special Education students typically have interests in working with and forming relationships with young children, especially those with special needs. They would also enjoy working with students to meet common goals. High school preparation should include working with young children both on group and individual levels.
This page last updated: Oct 27, 2009