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There is a great need for special education teachers as states all across the country are experiencing shortages. Today's special education teachers must be highly-skilled individuals who not just understand the complexities of their students’ needs, but can modify curriculum, and provide supplemental instruction.

Drexel University’s School of Education certification in special education program prepares special education teachers for these challenges.

​What ​Can ​You ​Do ​with ​a ​Special ​Education (SPED) ​Certification?

Drexel’s online Special Education (SPED) certification program seeks to produce professionals who are equipped with the fundamental skills, knowledge, and competencies they require to meet the needs of students at risk for school failure and students with disabilities in multiple settings. The program is intended for those interested in gaining greater skills and expertise and a teaching certification in the area of special education.

The responsibilities of special education teachers typically include:​an

• Assess the skills of a student and develop an Individual Education Program (IEP) that meets their educational needs and make updates based on student progress
• Teach students individually, or in small group and whole class settings
• Discuss IEP’s with the student’s parents, teachers, and appropriate school staff
• Mentor and train teaching assistants who work with students with special needs
• Transition students from one grade to the next

How ​to ​Get ​Certified ​in ​Special ​Education

Special Education Certification Eligibility and Admissions Requirements

This online Special Education certification program is for actively certified teachers seeking Pennsylvania's Special Education PreK-12 certification. Candidates must have an active PA Instructional I or Instructional II teaching certificate.

Out-of-state teachers are welcome to participate in the Special Education Program as non-PA certification students.

To be admitted into the Special Education certification program, students must also have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Required Materials

• Completed graduate school application
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduate GPA will be considered along with the undergraduate GPA)
• If you do not meet this requirement, you’re still encouraged to apply and your file will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Program Director
• Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended
• Two letters of recommendation—professional or academic
• An essay describing why the applicant is interested in pursuing graduate study in this field

Special ​Education ​Certification ​Program Curriculum

The Special Education Certification program is a part-time online program consisting of 27 graduate credits. For students that have not completed the prerequisite courses, the program will require 36 credits: 27 credits in Core Special Education Certification courses and 9.0 credits in prerequisites for certification in special education. The certification areas are Special Education PreK-8 and Special Education 7-12.

Course​ ​descriptions​ ​may​ ​be​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Drexel​ ​University​ ​Catalog.

Most of the coursework in this program requires field hours. Students must have the necessary clearances in order to begin the program.

Learning Outcomes and Program Benefits

There are multiple learning outcomes and benefits of enrolling in the Special Education Certification Program offered at Drexel University School of Education. Through the program, students will:

• Gain the skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary to meet the needs of students at risk for academic failure and students with disabilities in multiple settings
• Prepare to teach special education at all grade levels from PreK-12
• Complete all the courses required under state and federal regulations, as well as the PA General Standards for Special Education and the standards outlined by the Council of Exceptional Children (CEC).

How ​Long ​Does ​it ​Take ​To ​Get ​Certified ​in ​Special Education?

The Special Education certification program is a part-time, accelerated program. Students, on average, complete the program in about a year and a half.

DO YOU NEED TO RENEW THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION?

For certified teachers in Pennsylvania, a special education certification follows the same renewal cycle as the teacher’s original teaching certification. If a teacher converts their Instructional I teaching certification to Instructional II, their special education certification will also be converted.

Teachers in Pennsylvania must complete their Act 48 requirements every 5 years to renew their certification. This includes 6 semester hours of college credit (there is a conversion for quarter hours), or 180 hours of continuing education programming, i.e., professional development.

WHO SHOULD APPLY TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION PROGRAM?

Special Education certification is a great program for teachers who are looking to expand their skills to understand how to teach students with special needs. It also a requirement for teachers who would like to become certified special education teachers. Teachers looking for a rewarding career as a special education teacher would also benefit from this program.

Master​ ​of​ ​Science​ ​in​ ​Special​ ​Education

Credits​ ​earned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​Certification​ ​program​ ​may​ ​be​ ​applied​ ​to​ ​the Master​ ​of​ ​Science​ ​in​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​graduate​ ​program​.​ ​The​ ​MS​ ​program​ ​offers four​ ​concentrations:​ ​Applied Behavior Analysis; Autism​ ​Spectrum​ ​Disorders;​ ​Collaborative​ ​Special​ ​Education Law​ ​&​ ​Process;​ and ​Dyslexia Specialist (Wilson® Level 1 certification).​ ​Students​ ​may​ ​also​ ​work​ ​with​ ​their​ ​academic​ ​advisor​ ​to​ ​develop​ ​a customized​ ​concentration​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​specific​ ​objectives.

How ​to ​Apply ​to ​the ​Special ​Education ​Certification Program

The Special Education certification program is offered 100% online. you can get started by filling out the Drexel Online Application.

We offer student teaching both fall and spring semesters. All students seeking teacher certification spend at least one semester (15–16 weeks) in a full-day student teaching assignment appropriate to their level and subject specialty. This experience is part of the Professional Semester, which includes:

• Student teaching placement
• Student Teaching Seminar
• Perspectives in Education (Educ 500)
• Senior Seminar (unless taken in a previous semester)

You’ll work with at least one cooperating teacher (and up to three) who is experienced and highly qualified in his or her content area. You’ll also be assigned to and observed by a highly qualified, experienced college supervisor. The college supervisor will visit you four to six times during the 12-week placement and is responsible for assigning your final grade. Major departments are also encouraged to observe secondary student teachers during the experience.

Student Teaching Placements

K–5 or K–8 Certification

Students seeking K–5 or K–8 certification are assigned to an elementary or middle school classroom.

Students seeking elementary certification with an endorsement in learning disabilities or emotional impairments complete one student teaching assignment in a general elementary education classroom and a second in the appropriate special education classroom.

• During the fall semester, students take a five-week, six-credit special education block followed by 11 weeks of student teaching
• During the spring semester, the special education majors follow the Professional Semester configuration and complete 15–16 weeks of student teaching

Secondary Certification

Students seeking 6–12 certification are assigned a secondary (middle or high school) assignment in their area(s) of endorsement.

Students also seeking K–12 endorsements in music, visual arts, physical education or dance are given an assignment in their area of endorsement which includes experiences at both the elementary and secondary levels.

Spanish education majors who are following the elementary track/K–12 endorsement are required to complete a student teaching placement in an elementary classroom as well as an assignment in Spanish at the secondary level.

Special education majors following the secondary certification track will student teach in a special education setting at the middle or high school level. Efforts will be made to provide a student teaching opportunity in the minor area of study as well.

The Student Teaching Seminar

During the student teaching experience, student teachers are required to register for and attend the weekly evening Student Teaching Seminar. Some of the sessions are general in nature (e.g., resume writing, certification, portfolio design, etc.). Others are grade level specific (elementary, secondary and special education). In the grade-level meetings syllabus such as classroom management, conferencing, and teaching and learning strategies are presented. Students also discuss and reflect on their current classroom teaching experiences.

The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement facilitates the mobility of educators among the states and other jurisdictions that are members of NASDTEC and have signed the Agreement. Although there may be conditions applicable to individual jurisdictions, the Agreement makes it possible for an educator who completed an approved program and/or who holds a certificate or license in one jurisdiction to earn a certificate or license in another state or jurisdiction. Receiving states may impose certain special requirements which must be met in a reasonable period of time. Visit the NASDTEC site  to review specific state-by-state requirements for teachers: https://www.nasdtec.net/page/Interstate 

Teacher Certification

UAB will only recommend students for certification if they have successfully completed a State-approved teacher education program and other University requirements. Each student is responsible for submitting a completed certification packet to the Office of Student Services during the semester they intend to finish their approved program. A student who does not apply for their Professional Educator Certificate within five years (60 months) after completing a state-approved program may be required to fulfill additional requirements (i.e., testing and/or coursework).

The Office of Student Services will verify that each student meets all degree and certification requirements after graduation and submit completed certification packets to the Alabama State Department of Education.

Timeline

When to Apply

The best time to apply for your Professional Educator certificate is during your last term of enrollment. This timeline will ensure that your paperwork will be submitted to the Alabama State Department of Education(ALSDE) on time.

Deadlines

Completed certification application packets are processed and mailed to the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)in the order they are received.

Recertification of an Alabama Teaching Certificate

Please call the Alabama State Department of Education at 334-694-4557.

The level of courses you take (300, 400, 500, 600, etc.) will be dependent on your last certification, so communicating with one of our program directors is essential.

Important: You are responsible for sending the needed documentation to the state to complete the recertification process.

Enrollment Certification for Loan Deferment

The National Student Clearinghouse processes deferment forms. If you need an enrollment certification for deferment of a student loan, mail the forms to the Office of Student Services, Lyons Hall, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 or stop by Lyons Hall. Your deferment form will be forwarded to the National Student Clearinghouse. If the enrollment certification does not require an official school seal or signature, you may process the certification through www.bc.edu/myservices.

Enrollment Certification

Student Veteran Services is here to help you access your VA benefits. The three mostly commonly used VA educational benefits are:

To use your benefits, you must go through the VA certification process. A student's VA certification is completed once he or she has registered for classes. Students must request VA certification each semester through the online form. Students using VR&E or Post-9/11 G Bill should also request a tuition deferral with Student Accounts. Certification is a two-step process that helps to decrease the amount of debt to the institution and the VA:

1. After registering for classes, the student submits certification to start payment of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and book stipend.
2. After the drop date has passed, the Student Veteran Services office will report tuition and fees (including any Yellow Ribbon Scholarship)

Students who drop or add courses throughout the semester should contact the coordinator of Student Veteran Services as soon as possible to avoid overpayment.

New Student Certification

Like continuing students, new students should first meet with their academic advisor and then contact the coordinator of Student Veteran Services for the next steps.

Using eBenefits

eBenefits is a joint VA and DoD Web portal that provides self-service resources for student veterans. Through eBenefits, you can also access your up-to-date Enrollment Entitlement to track the time you have left for your GI Bill benefits. All students using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are encouraged to set up an account.

Yellow Ribbon Scholarships

Each year, The New School awards Yellow Ribbon Scholarships to all qualifying students. The scholarship is a match-to-match payment provided by The New School and the VA that covers the tuition and fees not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 

To qualify for Yellow Ribbon, students must:

• Have 100 percent eligibility from the Post-9/11 GI Bill
• Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program
• Have at least one semester of benefits remaining
• Submit an updated Enrollment Entitlement outlining remaining benefits
• Full-time status is preferred

Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit paid by the DoD and is usually the first education benefit available to military members. Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application process, and restrictions.

Return of Unearned Military Tuition Assistance

TA is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student using military tuition assistance withdraws, they may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the U.S. Department of Defense policy, The New School will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least 60 percent of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds will be returned to the service member’s branch of service (the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, or Air Force). In instances when a service member stops attending because of a military service obligation, The New School will work with them to find solutions to avoid a student debt for the returned portion.

More Options

For additional financial options, visit Student Financial Services or email [email protected].

From non-profits to government agencies, the field of education offers a wide range of fulfilling career options beyond the teaching profession. Drexel’s Bachelor of Science in Education non-certification degree program is designed for civically-minded students who want to make a difference in the world of education but may not want to pursue a career as a teacher. 

The BS in Education non-certification program offers great flexibility as it is available as a part-time online or as a full-time on-campus degree program. Through our comprehensive plan of study, students will receive an education-focused degree with the ability to take electives or minor in several education-related fields such as Sociology, Psychology, Sport Coaching Leadership, or Modern Language, to name a few. Graduates are prepared for success in careers in non-profit, government, and corporate sectors that focus on education. Students will not need to complete any student teaching experiences. 

The curriculum for the BS in Education non-certification program prepares students to analyze educational problems and work to suggest viable solutions. Students will develop collaboration and management skills as well as a deep understanding of the role of formal and information education in developing community and citizenship. 

Course titles and descriptions can be found in the Drexel Course Catalog.

What Can You Do with a BS in Education- non certification degree?

The BS in Education non-certification program offers students more elective credits than the BS in Education certification program. By offering more elective credits, students can choose classes that fit their career interests. Career paths could include:

• Education non-profit
• Local or federal departments of education
• Youth service organizations
• Community advocate
• Social entrepreneur
• Academic advisor/counselor

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I need to complete field experiences?

Students will complete courses that have field experiences which will include observing and assisting in classrooms, these are considered Stages 1 & 2 fieldwork. BS in Education non-certification students will not take Pre-student Teaching or Student Teaching field experiences.

Can I tailor this program to my various interests in education?

The BS in Education non-certification program has free electives that can provide flexibility that allows for customizing one's course selections so they can be tailored to the student's interests.

How many transfer credits are allowed?

BS in Education non-certification track also provides a higher amount of acceptable transfer credits into the free elective section. Students can apply a maximum of 90 transferable credits into the program allowing transfer students to complete their degree faster.

After completing this program, will I be eligible to teach in public schools?

The BS in Education non-certification track program does not lead towards state teacher licensure and/or the eligibility to teach in public school systems, however graduates might be eligible to teach PK-4 in schools that do not require certified teachers.

How to Apply for the BS in Education non-certification degree

Prospective students interested in the full-time on-campus BS in Education non-certification program must be accepted for admission to Drexel University. You can start your application for full-time or part-time admission by visiting Drexel Undergraduate Admissions.

Students interested in applying for the part-time online BS in Education non-certification program may start the application process by visiting Drexel Online.

Participating clubs are eligible for a Sustainability Champion award and receive VIP tickets to the Sustainability Celebration at The Forge Garden in June of each year. If you have any questions, please email sustainability@scu.edu. 

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