Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Special Education and Teaching, Bachelor of Science in Education

VCU

Community college:
Uniform Certificate of General Studies (Virginia Community College System)
Virginia Community College System
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/.

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
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
  • Completion of Certificate.
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5.
  • All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
  • Apply for admission during first year at community college.
  • Following admission to VCU, students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 for subsequent admission to the VCU teacher preparation program and a 3.0 GPA for student teaching course 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 major map
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, Bachelor of Science in Education

Virginia Community College System (Uniform Certificate of General Studies)

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
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your course plan.
  • Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
Experience Year 2

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your course plan.
  • Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Special Education and Teaching, Bachelor of Science in Education

Virginia Community College System (Uniform Certificate of General Studies)

Virginia Community College System courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
Students who earn this Certificate before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education requirements.
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning (or any other approved MTH course) MATH 131 3 General education
Select any approved Humanities/Fine Arts elective VCU equivalent 3 General education
Select any approved Humanities/Fine Arts or Literature elective VCU equivalent 3 General education
Select any approved history course HIST 3 General education
Select any approved Social/Behavioral Science elective VCU equivalent 3 General education
Select any approved natural or physical science VCU equivalent 4 General education
Select two approved general education electives VCU equivalents 6 General education
Community college credits transferred to VCU 32
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Your GPA Doesn't Transfer With You Although you worked hard to earn your grades at your current institution, they will only be considered by VCU for an admission decision. Once you enroll at VCU, your GPA will reset to 0.0, and your new GPA will be determined by your level of success in your classes at VCU.
EDUS 202 Diversity, Democracy and Ethics 3 Major
EDUS 301 Human Development and Learning 3 Major
SEDP 200 Characteristics of Individuals With Disabilities 3 Major
SEDP 201 Teaching Individuals With Mild and Moderate Disabilities 3 Major
SEDP 203 Special Education Law 3 Major
SEDP 216 Families and Professional Partnerships 3 Major
SEDP 282 Multicultural Perspectives in Education 3 Major
SEDP 330 Survey of Special Education 3 Major
SEDP 402 Exceptionality and Technology: Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Assistive Technology 3 Major
SEDP 405 Collaborative Practices and Co-teaching in Inclusive Schools 3 Major
SEDP 415 Action Research in Education and Special Education: Capstone Project 3 Major
SEDP 420 Special Education Leadership for Inclusive Schools 3 Major
SEDP 495 Universal Design for Learning and Transition 3 Major
CLED 405 A Survey of Career Counseling 3 Major
SEDP 311 Secondary Education and Transition Planning 3 Major
SEDP 315 Classroom Management and Behavior Support for Students With Disabilities 3 Major
SEDP 320 Development and Implementation of Positive Behavior Support Plans 3 Major
SEDP 378 Teaching Math to Students With Disabilities 3 Major
SEDP 379 Assessment Practices in Autism and Developmental Disabilities 3 Major
SEDP 380 Teaching Reading to Students With Disabilities 3 Major
SEDP 389 IEP and Due Process in Special Education 3 Major
SEDP 401 Assessment in Diverse Settings 3 Major
SEDP 404 Methods in Teaching Science and Social Studies for Students With Disabilities 3 Major
SEDP 460 Specialized Reading and Writing Interventions for Students With Disabilities 3 Major
SEDP 461 Specialized Math Interventions for Students With High Incidence Disabilities 3 Major
TEDU 410 Building a Community of Learners: Classroom Management 3 Major
TEDU 510 Instructional Technology in PK-12 Environments 2 Major
SEDP 250 Special Education Elementary Supervision 2 Major
SEDP 350 Special Education Middle School Supervision 2 Major
SEDP 450 Special Education High School Supervision 2 Major
SEDP 499 Student Teaching 6 Major
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 93
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 123