Education - Special Education, Bachelor of Science
This program is designed for candidates preparing for careers serving children and youth with disabilities. This program prepares candidates to be special education teachers at the elementary or secondary level. The preparation meets or exceeds the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) initial level special educator preparation standards for special education teachers.
Other Information
Praxis II Content Test
All educator preparation candidates are required to receive a passing score on the Praxis II content test in each endorsement area of their preparation prior to being awarded initial teacher certification through the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE).
This link will take you to the ETS website page for the Nebraska Department of Education requirements. The page lists the Nebraska requirements for each endorsement area.
Student Organizations
Allies for Sign Language
The main objective of this organization shall be to unite members and community for the purpose of fellowship, friendship and promote academic achievement; act as a resource to attract and retain deaf and hard of hearing students; provide a basis for cultural exchange among the Deaf students and the hearing students; advocate for accessibility; further the understanding of Deaf culture throughout the world; promote discussion of current trends and issues relating to deaf education; as well as provide social activities that include members of the deaf community.
For more information contact Julie Delkamiller by email at jdelkamiller@unomaha.edu or Jonathan Scherling via email at jscherling@unomaha.edu.
Student Council for Exceptional Children
Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) is an organization that is dedicated to advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities. The student chapter is associated with the International Council for Exceptional Children. For more information contact Dr. Lisa Epp at lepp@unomaha.edu or Dr. Apryl Poch at apoch@unomaha.edu.
Contact
512 Roskens Hall
6005 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68182-0054
402.554.2201
Website
Elementary (K-6) Requirements
Elementary (K-6) candidates are required to take the following special education courses:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Courses Required for Major (Core Curriculum) | ||
SPED 1500 | INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
SPED 2300 | SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW & INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS | 3 |
SPED 3020 | DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUE: ROLE IN TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS | 3 |
SPED 4000 | PRACTICUM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
SPED/COUN 4010 | MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS: RISK FACTORS AND INTERVENTIONS | 3 |
SPED 4150 | READING AND WRITING INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES | 3 |
SPED 4230 | LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND DISORDERS FOR TEACHERS | 3 |
SPED 4640 | METHODS AND MATERIALS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
SPED 4710 | INTERACTIONS AND COLLABORATION | 3 |
SPED 4720 | CLINICAL PRACTICE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 12 |
SPED 4810 | BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS | 3 |
Required Related Coursework | ||
KINS 4150 | ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THEORY AND PRACTICE | 3 |
TED 3350 | TEACHING AND ASSESSING READING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS | 6 |
TED 4330 | TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS: ELEMENTARY | 3 |
TED 4340 | TEACHING OF SCIENCE: ELEMENTARY | 3 |
MTCH 2000 | MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS I | 3 |
MTCH 2010 | MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS II | 3 |
Educator Preparation Program Required Courses | ||
TED 2100 | EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS | 3 |
TED 2200 | HUMAN RELATIONS FOR BIAS-FREE CLASSROOMS | 3 |
TED 2300 | HUMAN GROWTH AND LEARNING | 3 |
TED 2400 | PLANNING FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING | 6 |
Total Credits | 78 |
Secondary (7-12) Requirements
Secondary (7-12) candidates are required to take the following special education courses:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Courses Required for Major (Core Curriculum) | ||
SPED 1500 | INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
SPED 2300 | SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW & INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS | 3 |
SPED 3020 | DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUE: ROLE IN TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS | 3 |
SPED 4000 | PRACTICUM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
SPED/COUN 4010 | MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS: RISK FACTORS AND INTERVENTIONS | 3 |
SPED 4150 | READING AND WRITING INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES | 3 |
SPED 4230 | LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND DISORDERS FOR TEACHERS | 3 |
SPED 4640 | METHODS AND MATERIALS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
SPED 4650 | TRANSITION PLANNING | 3 |
SPED 4710 | INTERACTIONS AND COLLABORATION | 3 |
SPED 4720 | CLINICAL PRACTICE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 12 |
SPED 4810 | BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS | 3 |
Required Related Coursework | ||
KINS 4150 | ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THEORY AND PRACTICE | 3 |
MTCH 2000 | MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS I | 3 |
MTCH 2010 | MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS II | 3 |
TED 3550 | SECONDARY CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT | 3 |
TED 3690 | LITERACY AND LEARNING | 3 |
TED 4660 | YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE | 3 |
Educator Preparation Program Required Courses | ||
TED 2100 | EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS | 3 |
TED 2200 | HUMAN RELATIONS FOR BIAS-FREE CLASSROOMS | 3 |
TED 2300 | HUMAN GROWTH AND LEARNING | 3 |
TED 2400 | PLANNING FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING | 6 |
Total Credits | 78 |
For more information and a complete listing of program requirements visit the website
Candidates must have satisfactorily completed all required coursework prior to clinical practice.
A minimum grade of "C" must be earned in all certification requirements, endorsements, and concentrations. All grades of incomplete and any grades below "C" in these specific requirements must be removed prior to clinical practice. Candidates are responsible for contacting their advisor regarding said grades.
For courses in this major/ endorsement that require a grade of C or higher, CR/ NC is not permissible.
Candidates must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher in order to be eligible for clinical practice.
Sign Language Interpreter
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Related Coursework (9 hours) | ||
PSYC 1010 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I | 3 |
PSYC 2500 | LIFESPAN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
PSYC 4590 | PSYCHOLOGY OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN | 3 |
ASL Development Requirements (26 credits) | ||
SPED 1110 & SPED 1114 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I and AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I LAB | 4 |
SPED 1120 & SPED 1124 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II and AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II LAB | 4 |
SPED 2110 & SPED 2114 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE III and AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE III LAB | 4 |
SPED 2120 & SPED 2124 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IV and AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IV LAB | 4 |
SPED 3110 & SPED 3114 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE V and AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE V LAB | 4 |
SPED 2200 | DEAF STUDIES | 3 |
SPED 3100 | ENGLISH/ASL COMPARATIVE LINGUISTICS | 3 |
Interpreting Development Requirements (44 credits) | ||
SPED 2100 | PROFESSIONALISM & ETHICS OF INTERPRETING | 3 |
SPED 3120 | ACADEMIC INTERPRETING | 3 |
SPED 3130 | COMMUNITY INTERPRETING | 3 |
SPED 3140 | DISCOURSE ANALYSIS AND SOCIOLINGUISTICS FOR INTERPRETERS | 3 |
SPED 3150 | COGNITIVE PROCESSING IN ASL AND ENGLISH | 3 |
SPED 4180 | INTERPRETING IN SPECIALIZED SETTINGS | 3 |
SPED 4310 | VOICE-TO-SIGN | 3 |
SPED 4320 | SIGN-TO-VOICE | 3 |
SPED 4110 | SIGNED ENGLISH AND OTHER SYSTEMS | 3 |
SPED 4240 | TEACHING/INTERPRETING LANGUAGE TO DEAF/HARD OF HEARING | 5 |
SPED 4740 | EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETING PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR | 6 |
SPED 4760 | COMMUNITY INTERPRETING PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR | 6 |
Total Credits | 79 |
Grade requirements in Sign Language Interpreting program
Grade of "C-" or better required in General Education Courses and electives. "C" or better is required in Related Coursework, ASL Development and Interpreting Development. The advanced writing course also requires a "C" or better.
GPA requirements in Sign Language Interpreting Program
Students must maintain a 2.75 minimum GPA to remain in the major. Once students pass ASL 2, SPED 1120/SPED 1124, a 2.75 GPA is required to meet course prerequisites.
Education - Special Education Bachelor of Science
Freshman | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
ENGL 1150 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | 3 |
MATH 1120 or MATH 1300 | INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL THINKING or COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | 3 |
CMST 1110 | PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS | 3 |
Social Science | 3 | |
Attend Welcome Week events; other campus events | ||
Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
Credits | 12 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 1160 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION II | 3 |
Natural/Physical Science with Lab | 4-5 | |
SPED 1500 | INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | |
Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | |
Advising appointment for fall: February - March | ||
Join a student organization. Consider joining Student Council for Exceptional Children. | ||
Make a plan to take the Praxis Core | ||
Credits | 16-17 | |
Sophomore | ||
Fall | ||
TED 2100 | EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS | 3 |
TED 2200 | HUMAN RELATIONS FOR BIAS-FREE CLASSROOMS | 3 |
Social Science | 3 | |
Humanities and Fine Arts with Global Diversity | 3 | |
Elective for Degree | 3 | |
Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
Identify professional organization to get involved with. Begin resume development. | ||
Apply to Educator Preparation Program Oct. 1 deadline | ||
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
TED 2300 | HUMAN GROWTH AND LEARNING | 3 |
MTCH 2000 | MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS I | 3 |
NAtural/Physical Science | 3 | |
*Elective for Degree | 3 | |
*May be taken any summer or semester before clinical practice | ||
Advising appointment for fall: February - March | ||
Elective for Degree | 2 | |
Credits | 14 | |
Junior | ||
Fall | ||
TED 2400 | PLANNING FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING | 6 |
MTCH 2010 | MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS II | 3 |
SPED 2300 | SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW & INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS | 3 |
KINS 4150 | ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THEORY AND PRACTICE | 3 |
SPED 4230 | LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND DISORDERS FOR TEACHERS | 3 |
Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
MUST attempt PRAXIS Core by January 10th and have 2.75 minimum NU GPA to progress in Educator Preparation Program. | ||
Credits | 18 | |
Spring | ||
SPED 3020 | DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUE: ROLE IN TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS | 3 |
SPED 4640 | METHODS AND MATERIALS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
SPED 4000 | PRACTICUM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
SPED 4710 | INTERACTIONS AND COLLABORATION | 3 |
SPED 4810 | BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS | 3 |
Advising appointment for fall: February - March | ||
Credits | 15 | |
Senior | ||
Fall | ||
TED 3350 | TEACHING AND ASSESSING READING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS | 6 |
TED 4330 | TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS: ELEMENTARY | 3 |
TED 4340 | TEACHING OF SCIENCE: ELEMENTARY | 3 |
SPED 4150 | READING AND WRITING INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES | 3 |
SPED 4010 | MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS: RISK FACTORS AND INTERVENTIONS | 3 |
Take Praxis II- SPED #5354 | ||
Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
Apply for clinical practice at beginning of fall term. | ||
Credits | 18 | |
Spring | ||
SPED 4720 | CLINICAL PRACTICE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 12 |
Apply for graduation | ||
Credits | 12 | |
Total Credits | 120-121 |
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
This plan is not a contract and curriculum is subject to change
Additional Information About this Plan:
University Degree Requirements: The minimum number of hours for a UNO undergraduate degree is 120 credit hours. Please review the requirements for your specific program to determine all requirements for the program. In order to graduate on-time (four years for an undergraduate degree), you need to take 30 hours each year. Information based on 2023-2024 University of Nebraska at Omaha undergraduate catalog.
Placement Exams: For Math, English, Foreign Language, a placement exam may be required. More information on these exams can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/enrollment-management/testing-center/placement-exams/information.php
**Transfer credit or placement exam scores may change suggested plan of study
GPA Requirements:
2.5 minimum GPA to remain in College of Education, 2.5 minimum GPA to apply to Educator Preparation Program, 2.75 minimum GPA to progress in Educator Preparation Program
# Professional education course: a grade of C or higher is required to pass the class
Graduation Requirements: 2.75 minimum NU GPA
Sign Language Interpreter
Road Map designed to start in odd year (2023, 2025, etc.). Road Map will be different if starting in even year (2024, 2026, etc.)
Freshman | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
Odd | ||
ENGL 1150 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | 3 |
SPED 2200 | DEAF STUDIES | 3 |
SPED 2100 | PROFESSIONALISM & ETHICS OF INTERPRETING | 3 |
SPED 1110 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I | 3 |
SPED 1114 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I LAB | 1 |
Quantitative Literacy | 3 | |
Attend Welcome Week events; other campus events | ||
Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
Join a student group, such as Allies for Sign Language | ||
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
Even | ||
ENGL 1160 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION II | 3 |
CMST 1110 | PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS | 3 |
SPED 1120 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II | 3 |
SPED 1124 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II LAB | 1 |
PSYC 1010 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I | 3 |
Humanities and Fine Arts with Global Diversity | 3 | |
Advising appointment for fall: February – March | ||
Credits | 16 | |
Sophomore | ||
Fall | ||
Even | ||
SPED 2110 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE III | 3 |
SPED 2114 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE III LAB | 1 |
SPED 3150 | COGNITIVE PROCESSING IN ASL AND ENGLISH | 3 |
Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | |
Social Science | 3 | |
Natural/Physical Science with Lab | 4 | |
Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
Identify professional organization to get involved with. Begin resume development | ||
Credits | 17 | |
Spring | ||
Odd | ||
SPED 2120 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IV | 3 |
SPED 2124 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IV LAB | 1 |
PSYC 2500 | LIFESPAN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
ENGL 2400 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION or WRITING FOR THE WORKPLACE or INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING | 3 |
Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 13 | |
Summer | ||
Odd | ||
SPED 3110 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE V | 3 |
SPED 3114 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE V LAB | 1 |
SPED 4110 | SIGNED ENGLISH AND OTHER SYSTEMS | 3 |
Advising appointment for fall: February - March | ||
Credits | 7 | |
Junior | ||
Fall | ||
Odd | ||
SPED 4180 | INTERPRETING IN SPECIALIZED SETTINGS | 3 |
SPED 4310 | VOICE-TO-SIGN | 3 |
Humanities and Fine Aarts | 3 | |
Natural/Physical Science | 3 | |
Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
Credits | 12 | |
Spring | ||
Even | ||
SPED 3130 | COMMUNITY INTERPRETING | 3 |
SPED 4240 | TEACHING/INTERPRETING LANGUAGE TO DEAF/HARD OF HEARING | 5 |
PSYC 4590 | PSYCHOLOGY OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN | 3 |
SPED 3140 | DISCOURSE ANALYSIS AND SOCIOLINGUISTICS FOR INTERPRETERS | 3 |
Elective | 1 | |
Advising appointment for fall: February - March | ||
Credits | 15 | |
Senior | ||
Fall | ||
SPED 3120 | ACADEMIC INTERPRETING | 3 |
SPED 4740 | EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETING PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR | 6 |
Social Science | 3 | |
Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
Credits | 12 | |
Spring | ||
Odd | ||
SPED 3100 | ENGLISH/ASL COMPARATIVE LINGUISTICS | 3 |
SPED 4320 | SIGN-TO-VOICE | 3 |
SPED 4760 | COMMUNITY INTERPRETING PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR | 6 |
Apply for graduation | ||
Credits | 12 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
This plan is not a contract and curriculum is subject to change.
Additional Information About this Plan:
University Degree Requirements: The minimum number of hours for a UNO undergraduate degree is 120 credit hours. Please review the requirements for your specific program to determine all requirements for the program. In order to graduate on-time (four years for an undergraduate degree), you need to take 30 hours each year. Information based on 2023-2024 University of Nebraska at Omaha undergraduate catalog.
Placement Exams: For Math, English, Foreign Language, a placement exam may be required. More information on these exams can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/enrollment-management/testing-center/placement-exams/information.php
**Transfer credit or placement exam scores may change suggested plan of study
GPA Requirements:
2.5 minimum GPA to remain in College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, 2.5 minimum GPA to apply to Educator Preparation Program, 2.75 minimum GPA to progress in Educator Preparation Program
# Professional education course: a grade of C or higher is required to pass the class
Graduation Requirements: 2.75 minimum NU GPA