Overview

The Special Education Major at Lock Haven University is designed to address competencies required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).  The program provides candidates with coursework and field experiences that address the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required by the Framework for Special Education Grades Pre K-8 and 7-12 Guidelines. 

Candidates choosing to pursue teacher certification in special education must also complete a major program of study in another teacher certification area.  Lock Haven University offers several options to achieve dual certification including:  Pre-K to 4, Secondary Social Studies Education, Secondary English Education, and Secondary Mathematics Education.  The companion content area chosen by the candidate pursuing the special education certificate will determine which level of special education the candidate will be eligible to receive; either a Pre-K to grade 8 special education certificate or Grades 7 to 12 special education certificate. 

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Earn a Dual Certification in Special Education

Candidates electing to seek dual certification in Special Education and a content area should make this decision as early as possible in their program of study.  While candidates in each teacher education programs must complete the equivalent of 9 semester hours in special education coursework, the dual certificate candidate will NOT complete the same special education courses as those candidates who elect not to pursue special education certification.  Dual certification candidates are not required to complete SPEC 204—Cognitive Development for Diverse Learners or SPEC 309—Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms.  The competencies addressed in these two courses will be gained through special education courses required of the major program of study.  Because of the 9 credit hour requirement for all majors, in most cases the dual major will only take 21 additional credits of coursework in special education. 

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ECE PreK-4/ Special Education Certification  

Lock Haven University offers a program that allows Early Childhood Education Majors to add the Special Education Certification by adding just 9 more credits.  The program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Special Education and the Department of Prek-4/Early Childhood Education.

Coursework includes:

·         General Education Study

·         Professional Education coursework

·         Required Early Childhood coursework

·         Required Special Education coursework

·         2 student teaching placements (one in each area of certification)

Early Childhood majors who wish to add Special Education certification should declare their intentions early in their coursework to benefit from the 129 credit program. 

The course requirement check sheet: MS Word | PDF

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Lock Haven University offers a program that allows Secondary English Education Majors to dual major with Special Education by completing an 20 additional credits.  The program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Special Education and the Enlgish Department.

Coursework includes:

·         General Education Study

·         Professional Education coursework

·         Required English content courses

·         Required Special Education coursework

·         2 student teaching placements (one in each area of certification)

Secondary English majors who wish to add the Special Education major should declare their intentions early to benefit from the 140 credit hour program. 

The course requirement checksheet: MS Word | PDF

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Secondary Social Studies Certification with a Second Major in Special Education   

Lock Haven University offers a program that allows Secondary Social Studies Education Majors to dual major with Special Education by completing an additional 23 credits.  The program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Special Education and the History, Political Science, Economics, and Geography Department.

Coursework includes:

·         General Education Study

·         Professional Education coursework

·         Required Social Studies content courses

·         Required Special Education coursework

·         2 student teaching placements (one in each area of certification)

Secondary Social Studies majors who wish to add the Special Education major should declare their intentions early to benefit from the 143 credit hour program. 

The course requirement checksheet: MS Word | PDF

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Secondary Mathematics Certification with a Second Major in Special Education   

Lock Haven University offers a program that allows Secondary Mathematics Education Majors to dual major with Special Education by completing an additional 18 credits.  The program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Special Education and the Mathematics Department.

Coursework includes:

·         General Education Study

·         Professional Education coursework

·         Required Mathematics Education content courses

·         Required Special Education coursework

·         2 student teaching placements (one in each area of certification)

Secondary Mathematics majors who wish to add Special Education major should declare their intentions early to benefit from the 138 credit hour program. 

The course requirement checksheet:  MS Word | PDF.

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For more information you may contact the Early Childhood Education Department Chair.

National Recognition

The Special Education Program at Lock Haven University has continuously received National Recognition from the Council for Exceptional Children with the most recent recognition occurring in July 2008.  Although the most recent national review included a review of competencies under the old structure for the Special Education Major, the faculty in the Special Education Program are confident that the new structure will continue to satisfy the Council for Exceptional Children. 

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Special Education in Pennsylvania

Mission:

To set high standards for all exceptional students in the Commonwealth receiving special education services and programs.

Role:

To provide effective and efficient administration and management of the Commonwealth's resources dedicated to enabling school districts to maintain high standards in their delivery of a Free and Appropriate Education to exceptional students.

Function:

To provide effective and efficient planning, administration, monitoring, and training activities which result in an appropriate education aimed at increasing standards for all exceptional students.

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