BSEd in Special Education (General Curriculum) / MEd in Special Education (General Curriculum, Non-Thesis)

As a graduate of this Double Dawgs pathway, you will be eligible for certification in special education in general curriculum and have an advanced degree in special education-general curriculum, plus hold a graduate certificate in dyslexia.

This pathway positions you to be a teacher leader and reading intervention specialist in Georgia P-12 public schools and recommends you for a master’s level teaching certificate (T-5), which earns a higher salary. And because special education continues to be a critical shortage area in Georgia, our graduates often have high job placement rates and can choose where they want to work.

With this training, you will be prepared to provide evidence-based practices in special education and support other educators in providing appropriate interventions for students with high-incidence disabilities.

Highlights

1. High job placement
2. Earn your master’s while working in the field
3. Receive specialized training in dyslexia interventions
4. Earn Georgia teacher certification at a higher pay level

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

View a Sample Program of Study

How to Apply

Admission to the Program

The B.S.Ed. in Special Education (General Curriculum) follows a cohort model with students beginning in the Fall semester each year. Applying to the B.S.Ed./M.Ed. pathway will require you to join a cohort and to indicate your interest in the B.S.Ed./M.Ed. Double Dawg pathway on the cohort application. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis during each Spring semester until cohorts reach capacity.

To enter the B.S.Ed. in Special Education (General Curriculum) program, students must meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Demonstrate a 2.8 GPA or higher
2. Completion of Core Areas I-VI, a grade of C or better in EDUC 2110, EDUC 2120, AND EDUC (EPSY) 2130, and a minimum 2.8 GPA

All students admitted to the pathway are required to have a GAPSC pre-service certificate prior to taking EDSE 4441, 4442, and 4443: Practicum in Special Education.

Admissions Criteria to the Graduate Program

Students will apply to the Graduate School in their fourth year for Summer admission. Applications are due no later than April 1. Required documentation includes the Graduate School application, application fee, statement of purpose, resume, and unofficial transcripts.

If the student’s GPA for at least 60 hours of undergraduate coursework is 3.0 or above, the student will NOT have to take an entrance exam. If a student’s GPA for 60 hours of coursework is below 3.0, the student will be required to take an entrance exam. The student will have the option of taking either the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT).

Deadline to Apply