BSEd in Special Education (General Curriculum)

You will enter the program in the fall of your junior year with a group of cohorts who progress through the required coursework together. Each semester features practicum experience, culminating in a semester spent student-teaching in a local area special education, prekindergarten, or kindergarten class.

All special education students must complete:

• 6 hours in required courses on classroom and behavior management and working with families and other professionals
• 30 hours of coursework related to their area of emphasis
• 9 hours of practicum experience
• 15 hours of student teaching

Coursework for General Curriculum students covers:

• Language development
• Reading instruction
• Assessment of students with disabilities
• Collaboration
• Behavior management
• Contemporary issues in special education

Download Four-Year Plan

Additional information and disclosures regarding state licensure for professional practice in this field can be found at the UGA Licensure Disclosure Portal.

In typical cohort years, this program admits approximately 15-20 students.

Prior to applying, you should consult with the special education advisor in the Office of Undergraduate Advising. They can advise you on how to arrange your program of study prior to application, so you are well-positioned for enrollment if accepted.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

• Overall minimum GPA of 2.80
• Completion of Core Areas I-VI required by the end of the semester of application
• No grade lower than C in Core Area VI and no grade lower than B in SPED 2000
• Passing score on or exemption of the GACE Program Admissions Assessment
• Completion of (1) Federal and Georgia Constitution and (2) U.S. and Georgia History University requirements by the end of the semester of application (Note: You may only take the exemption exams for these subjects a certain number of times. Please consult with the UGA Testing Center to ensure your timeline works.)

Course Prerequisites

• SPED 2000

Special Requirements Upon Admission

• Overall GPA of 2.80
• Completion of all Core Areas I-VI
• Minimum grade of C in all special education program courses
• Minumum grade of B- in practicum and student teaching courses
• Minimum grade of B in the exceptional children course requirements for certification
• Teacher certification candidates must (1) earn a GaPSC Pre-Service Certificate prior to beginning field experience and (2) complete several assessments prior to certification

Part 1: Apply to the University of Georgia

Students must be accepted to UGA before entering into a College of Education program.

Start UGA Application

Part 2: Apply to the BSEd in Special Education (General Curriculum)

You are ready to apply to this program when you have completed or are in the process of completing the minimum eligibility requirements. If you are in the process of completing any required core course work, you may be provisionally accepted contingent upon satisfactory completion of the required courses while maintaining the required minimum 2.80 GPA for admission.

Application Deadline

Applications for the fall 2021 cohort are due by 5 p.m. Friday, January 22, 2021.

Application Materials

1. Common Major Application
2. Additional items: Please upload unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended as a PDF. You should adhere to the following file naming format: "Last Name_First Name_Transcript" (example: Smith_Jane_Transcript).

Applications are evaluated by a committee consisting of faculty and staff in the special education program. The evaluation process examines all applicant materials for adherence to minimum eligibility criteria, including consideration of GPA, completion of Core Areas I-VI, and performance on the GACE Program Admission Assessment.

Candidates meeting minimum eligibility criteria will be admitted to the program emphasis of their choice on a space available basis. Full consideration will be given to candidates meeting the application deadline.

Simply meeting the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee acceptance to the program. Applicants who are not accepted may apply again the following application cycle. Students may apply for admission in the spring if requirements will be completed in the summer.

Admission decisions will be made by March 1. You will be notified via email of the admission decision by the program coordinator or other program contact.

• Special Education Undergraduate Handbook
• What can I do with a major in...?
• Career Outcomes