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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Special Education and Teaching

School of Education

Concentration(s):
Early Childhood
Program description

The purpose of the B.S.Ed. in Special Education and Teaching is to prepare students to serve as initially licensed special education teachers in K-12 schools as well as to serve as educators and leaders in schools and community-based settings.


The program focuses on providing students with the tools they need to make a difference in the lives of children, youth and adults with disabilities. Students will garner the knowledge and skills to become licensed special education teachers who work with children with high incidence disabilities, including individuals with learning disabilities, emotional disturbance and mild to moderate intellectual disability. Students will be able to recognize a child’s educational and social problems, to formulate effective and personalized/individualized instruction, and to consult with parents, teachers and administrators to incorporate accommodations and transitions across the child’s educational program. Students also will be prepared to teach reading and language, mathematics, and other core content areas, as well as be able to apply classroom and behavior management and social skills to students with diverse abilities and backgrounds.


Graduates will be prepared to work in public and private elementary, middle and high schools across Virginia, with particular focus in urban and high-need areas. Graduates will be capable of working with diverse learners and adapting instructional programs based on the needs of their students and clients. Successful completion of the program will result in licensure in special education/general education curriculum (K-12).

Career opportunities

Graduates typically work in public or private school systems, child care centers, and youth service organizations. Teaching in public schools requires licensure. Be sure to explore the certification requirements in the state you want to teach in as they can differ across states. Graduates can also find work with programs such as Richmond Teacher Residency, Americorps, PeaceCorps, Fulbright Student Program, City Year, America Reads, or The Literacy Lab. Learn more and explore potential career pathways at https://www.teach.org/.

Change of major requirements

Email soeadvising@vcu.edu to schedule an advising appointment to discuss requirements.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Childcare Worker
  • Elementary School Teacher
  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • PreSchool or Child Care Center Director
  • PreSchool Teacher
  • Recreation Worker
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Teacher Assistant
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • Advancement to Teacher Preparation requires 2.8 cumulative GPA and acceptance to Clinical Internship (Student Teaching) requires 3.0+ cumulative GPA.
Transfer Maps

Contact information

Department name:
Department of Counseling and Special Education
Building/room location:
Oliver Hall Education
Phone:
804-828-8160
Email:
soeadvising@vcu.edu 
https://soe.vcu.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/bsed-special-education/
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
Major map compass icon
Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
  • Map out a 4-year course plan in the DegreeWorks Student Educational Planner.
  • Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to review your CSI self-report, start goal planning, and choose electives.
  • Sharpen your study skills in supplemental instruction sessions at the Campus Learning Center.
  • Become familiar with licensure exam tests criteria, costs, and passing score requirements.
  • Complete the VCLA Exam and Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Module.
  • Pass licensure exam #1: the Virginia Communications & Literacy Assessment (VCLA).
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living learning community.
  • Consider applying to the Honors College.
  • Get involved, meet people, and develop your interests by joining one of VCU's 50 student clubs and organizations.
  • If living on campus, connect with your Resident Assistant, attend hall events, and participate in Community Council.
  • Participate in RAM CAMP to get a jump start on learning about VCU’s campus community.
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.
  • Use REAL’s Student Opportunity Center platform to take the hassle out of finding hands-on experiences and make your first-year extraordinary.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center.
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Talk to professors about your research interests, electives, and strategies for success in your classes.
  • Begin studying for Licensure Exam #2: Praxis Early Childhood Education (Test #5001).
  • Complete Practicums 1 and 2 through the Teacher Preparation Program and Behavioral Intervention and Dyslexia Awareness modules.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Explore global career options with a career advisor to set goals for getting your dream job.
  • Organize examples of your academic and professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections in an ePortfolio.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Apply to the Innovative Teacher Pipeline (ITP) Program.
  • Volunteer with student organizations, non-profit organizations, or education facilities to build teaching and interpersonal skills and explore student populations and career trends of interest.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
  • Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
  • Get required REAL experience and effect community change by using iExcel’s Active Citizen’s Toolkit to vote and volunteer.
  • Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams by showcasing your interpersonal skills on your resume.
  • Apply to be an OMSA diversity ambassador.
  • Consider applying to the Multilingual Ambassadors Program (participation available dependent upon REAL Grant funding).
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Get expert advice from VCU Alumni ranging from graduate school to your career simply by asking a question through Ask A Ram.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through InterviewStream or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Develop career-related skills by pursuing part-time job opportunities in areas such as youth development, teaching assistant, after-school and tutoring programs, mentor programs, and camp counseling.
  • Submit the Student Teaching Internship application and complete your 16-week long internship placements.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Develop career-related skills by pursuing part-time job opportunities in areas such as youth development, teaching assistant, after-school and tutoring programs, mentor programs, and camp counseling.
  • Apply to the Innovative Teacher Pipeline, Mirror Me and/or Distinguished Fellows undergraduate teaching pathways program.

Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Earn CPR and First Aid licensure.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Consider becoming an educator through programs like RTR, which prepare graduates from a variety of majors to become teachers in high-need schools.
  • Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
  • Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
  • Join a professional organization related to your industry of interest and consider serving on a committee to build and practice career-related and leadership skills.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services. 
  • Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
  • Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Collaborate with your advisor and the Clinical Placement & Licensure Coordinator to prepare your teaching licensure application.
  • Submit your teaching licensure application.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Special Education and Teaching

School of Education

Concentration(s):
No concentration | No concentration | No concentration | Engineering Education | Early Childhood
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
  • Map out a 4-year course plan in the DegreeWorks Student Educational Planner.
  • Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to review your CSI self-report, start goal planning, and choose electives.
  • Sharpen your study skills in supplemental instruction sessions at the Campus Learning Center.
  • Become familiar with licensure exam tests criteria, costs, and passing score requirements.
  • Complete the VCLA Exam and Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Module.
  • Pass licensure exam #1: the Virginia Communications & Literacy Assessment (VCLA).
  • Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living learning community.
  • Consider applying to the Honors College.
  • Get involved, meet people, and develop your interests by joining one of VCU's 50 student clubs and organizations.
  • If living on campus, connect with your Resident Assistant, attend hall events, and participate in Community Council.
  • Participate in RAM CAMP to get a jump start on learning about VCU’s campus community.
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.
  • Use REAL’s Student Opportunity Center platform to take the hassle out of finding hands-on experiences and make your first-year extraordinary.
Experience Year 2
  • Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center.
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Talk to professors about your research interests, electives, and strategies for success in your classes.
  • Begin studying for Licensure Exam #2: Praxis Early Childhood Education (Test #5001).
  • Complete Practicums 1 and 2 through the Teacher Preparation Program and Behavioral Intervention and Dyslexia Awareness modules.
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Explore global career options with a career advisor to set goals for getting your dream job.
  • Organize examples of your academic and professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections in an ePortfolio.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Apply to the Innovative Teacher Pipeline (ITP) Program.
  • Volunteer with student organizations, non-profit organizations, or education facilities to build teaching and interpersonal skills and explore student populations and career trends of interest.
Year 3
  • Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
  • Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
  • Get required REAL experience and effect community change by using iExcel’s Active Citizen’s Toolkit to vote and volunteer.
  • Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams by showcasing your interpersonal skills on your resume.
  • Apply to be an OMSA diversity ambassador.
  • Consider applying to the Multilingual Ambassadors Program (participation available dependent upon REAL Grant funding).
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Get expert advice from VCU Alumni ranging from graduate school to your career simply by asking a question through Ask A Ram.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through InterviewStream or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Develop career-related skills by pursuing part-time job opportunities in areas such as youth development, teaching assistant, after-school and tutoring programs, mentor programs, and camp counseling.
  • Submit the Student Teaching Internship application and complete your 16-week long internship placements.
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Develop career-related skills by pursuing part-time job opportunities in areas such as youth development, teaching assistant, after-school and tutoring programs, mentor programs, and camp counseling.
  • Apply to the Innovative Teacher Pipeline, Mirror Me and/or Distinguished Fellows undergraduate teaching pathways program.
Excel Year 4
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Earn CPR and First Aid licensure.
  • Consider becoming an educator through programs like RTR, which prepare graduates from a variety of majors to become teachers in high-need schools.
  • Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
  • Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
  • Join a professional organization related to your industry of interest and consider serving on a committee to build and practice career-related and leadership skills.
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services. 
  • Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
  • Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Collaborate with your advisor and the Clinical Placement & Licensure Coordinator to prepare your teaching licensure application.
  • Submit your teaching licensure application.