Most importantly, students have extensive field experience opportunities throughout the entire program. Before student teaching, students complete at least two semester-length field experiences in which they work alongside an experienced special education teacher (their mentor) for a minimum of 6 hours each week. During students’ final semester, they complete a semester-long field experience in a secondary setting (grades 5-12), which consists of 10 weeks of student-teaching in special education and 6 weeks of a practicum in their content area.
Students majoring in secondary special education obtain teacher licensure at the secondary level (grades 5-12) in special education (Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention) and have the option of adding licensure in one of three general education content areas (Language Arts/English, Mathematics, or Science). Students take challenging coursework in their identified content area and in special education that focuses on meeting the unique needs of individuals with mild/high-incidence disabilities in various educational settings. Students learn how to:
- design lessons that incorporate practices, programs, and methods that are supported by research,
- use assessments to inform instruction and monitor students’ progress
- select and use assistive technology,
- manage classroom environments,
- collaborate effectively with school-based professionals (e.g., teachers, administrators, school psychologists), outside agencies, and students’ families,
- support students’ social and emotional learning,
- develop and implement high-quality individualized education plans (IEPs), and
- support students’ content-area learning through accommodations, modifications, universal design for learning, and differentiated instruction.
After being admitted to IU Bloomington through the Office of Admissions, students must apply to Teacher Education Program (TEP). After completing further program-specific requirements, students may be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP). Admission to TEP is competitive; meeting minimum admission requirements is necessary but not always sufficient for admission. Late applications are considered on a space-available basis.
Deadlines:
Fall Term: March 1
Spring Term: October 1
We offer a range of scholarships for qualified students. Current students can be considered for most School of Education scholarships by completing one application each year.
We also encourage students to visit Student Central for information about financial assistance.
If you are a prospective student who applies to our Direct Admit Scholars program, you’ll be considered for scholarship opportunities as an entering freshman.
- Students complete at least two semester-length field experiences in which they work alongside an experienced special education teacher (their mentor) for a minimum of 6 hours each week.
- The program culminates in a semester-long field experience in a secondary setting (grades 5-12), which consists of 10 weeks of student-teaching in special education and 6 weeks of a practicum in their content area.
The B.S.Ed. in Secondary Special Education leads to an initial practitioner license in Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention (Grades 5-12). To obtain this license, students must pass students must pass all three of the following Indiana CORE assessments:
- Developmental Pedagogy: Secondary Education [5-12] (Code: 006)
- Content Area: Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention (Code: 025)
- Content Area: Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention: Reading Instruction (Code: 064)
Students may also choose to add licensure in their selected content area (Language Arts/English, Mathematics, or Science) by passing the corresponding Indiana CORE content area assessment:
- Mathematics (Grades 5-12; Code: 035)
- Middle School Mathematics (Grads 5-9; Code: 034)
- Language Arts (Grades 5-12; Code: 021)
- Middle School Language Arts (Grades 5-9; Code: 020)
- Life Science (Grades 5-12; Test Code: 045)
- Middle School Life Science (Grades 5-9; Code: 036)
- Chemistry (Grades 5-12; Code: 043)
- Earth/Space Science (Grades 5-12; Code: 044)
- Physical Science (Grades 5-12; Code: 046)
- Physics (Grades 5-12; Code: 047)
Learn more about applying for your initial license.
Contact Us
Office of Teacher Education
ED 1000
(812) 856-8500
edhelp@iu.edu