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Bachelor of Science in Education - Columbus State University

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Academics

Bachelor of Science in Education

Program Description

The Special Education program at Columbus State University provides pre-service teachers a solid knowledge base emphasizing contemporary theory and research. In the first two years, a pre-professional special education major completes studies which establish eligibility for admission to teacher education. This is followed by a sequence of campus and field-based courses culminating in the student teaching semester during the senior year.

Educator Preparation at Columbus State University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

All educator preparation programs are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

The B.S.Ed. Special Education program is also nationally recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children.

Career Opportunities

Special Education is a profession with a future. The discipline of General Curriculum Reading Concentration prepares successful students for well paid positions in public or private schools which are expected to last. The graduate is prepared for employment in the areas of teaching preschool and school age children and, with experience, for directing a child care center. In addition, it provides an excellent base for pursuing careers in the areas of social services and early intervention. The B.S.Ed. Special Education - General Curriculum program leads to entry level (T-4) Georgia certification.

Admission Requirements

During the sophomore year, students intending to complete a teacher education program make formal application to the teacher education program. Normally, this occurs after the student has completed three semesters of full-time course work. Application is made to the COEHP Office of Student Advising and Field Experiences. For additional information, go to http://safe.columbusstate.edu/teacher_ed.php

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Demonstrating competence in creating safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments for individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Demonstrate and use knowledge of general and specialized curricula to individualize learning for individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of multiple methods of assessment and data-sources in making educational decisions.
  • Demonstrate competence in selecting, adapting, and using a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Demonstrate and use foundational knowledge of the field and professional ethical principles and practice standards to inform special education practice, to engage in lifelong learning, and to advance the profession.
  • Demonstrate competence in collaborating with families, other educators, related service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways to address the needs of individuals with exceptionalities across a range of learning experiences.

Additional Program Requirements

A review of student records is conducted each semester to determine whether a student is eligible to continue in the Teacher Education Program. Retention is based on the following:

  • Maintain a CSU and Overall 2.50 GPA. If the grade point average falls below the requirement, the student has one semester to raise his/her GPA. Students who do not meet the GPA requirements after that semester must take additional courses other than the ones required for admission to teacher education.
  • Students must earn not less than a C in field and professional courses. Only 10 percent of the professional and field courses may be repeated at CSU or another accredited college. Correspondence courses will not be accepted in field or professional courses.
  • Students who fail to complete a degree program after three years from date of admission to Teacher Education will be excluded from the program and required to re-apply under current admission policies.


To be eligible for CSU's recommendation for a Georgia professional teaching certificate, students must complete a rigorous program of coursework. They also must meet certain other criteria required by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Please contact the COEHP Student Advising & Field Experiences office at 706-565-1433 for further information.

Program of Study

Area A Essential Skills Required Hours: 9
ENGL 1101 (with a grade of "C" or better)
ENGL 1102 (with a grade of "C" or better)
Select one of the following courses:

MATH 1001
MATH 1101
MATH 1111
MATH 1113
MATH 1125
MATH 1131

Area B Institutional Options Required Hours: 4-5
COMM 1110
Select two of the following courses:

ITDS 1125
ITDS 1779
ITDS 2726
ITDS 2727
ITDS 2735
ITDS 2746
ITDS 2748
ITDS 2749
ITDS 2755

OR
Select one of the following courses:

EURO 2105
INTS 2105
LEAD 1705
LIBR 1105
POLS 2401
HIST 1111
HIST 1112

Foreign Language 1001, 1002, 2001, or 2002
Any Area C-E course with a study abroad component.

Note: Students must complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours within the following ranges: Area B, 4-5 hours; Area D1, 7-8 hours; Area D2, 3-4 hours. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

Area C Humanities/Fine Arts/Ethics Required Hours: 6
Select one of the following humanities courses:

ENGL 2111
ENGL 2112
ITDS 1145*
ITDS 1155
ITDS 2125
PHIL 2010

Select one of the following fine arts courses:

ARTH 1100
ITDS 1145*
MUSC 1100
THEA 1100
ARTH 2125
ARTH 2126

*ITDS 1145, though listed under both humanities and fine arts, may be taken only once.

Area D Science/Math/Technology Required Hours: 10-11
D1: Select two science courses from the list below, one of which must include a lab.

ANTH 1145 (no lab)
ASTR 1105/1305 (lab optional)
ASTR 1106/1305
ATSC 1112/1112L
BIOL 1215K (lab included)
BIOL 1125 (no lab)
BIOL 1225K (lab included)
CHEM 1151/1151L
CHEM 1152/1152L
CHEM 1211/1211L
CHEM 1212/1212L
ENVS 1105/1105L (lab optional)
ENVS 1205K
GEOL 1110 (no lab)
GEOL 1121/1121L
GEOL 1122/1322
GEOL 2225 (lab included)
PHYS 1111/1311
PHYS 1112/1312
PHYS 1125/1325 (lab optional)
PHYS 2211/2311
PHYS 2212/2312

D2: Select one of the following courses or a science course from above:

CPSC 1105
CPSC 1301K
GEOG 2215
MATH 1113
MATH 1125
MATH 1131
MATH 1132
MATH 1165
MATH 2125
PHIL 2500
STAT 1401

Note: Students must complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours within the following ranges: Area B, 4-5 hours; Area D1, 7-8 hours; Area D2, 3-4 hours. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

Area E Social Sciences Required Hours: 12
Select one course from the following two courses:
HIST 2111
HIST 2112
Take the following course:
POLS 1101
Select one behavioral science course from the following courses:

ECON 2105
ECON 2106
PHIL 2030
PSYC 1101
SOCI 1101

Select one world cultures course from the following courses:

ANTH 1105
ANTH 1107
ANTH 2105
ANTH 2136
ENGL 2136
GEOG 1101
HIST 1111
HIST 1112
INTS 2105
ITDS 1156

Wellness Requirement Required Hours: 3

PHED 1205
Select any one MSAL 4419.

Area F Courses Related to Major Required Hours: 18

EDUC 2110 Critical Issues in Education
EDUC 2120 Diversity in Educational Contexts
EDUC 2130 Exploring Learning and Teaching
SPED 2155 Nat/Charact of Mild/Mod Dis
SPED 2256 Intro to the Excep Learner in Gen Ed
SPED 2405 Classroom Practicum in Mild/Mod
Select one semester hour of advisor approved electives

Area G Program Requirements Required Hours: 60

SPED 2255 Comm Arts/Lang Dev for Child w/Dis.
SPED 3215 Assessment and RX in Special Ed
SPED 3225 Teaching Math in Special Education
SPED 3275 Behavior Mgmt for Students w/Dis
SPED 4105 Tech Adapt. for Except. Learners
SPED 4136 Policies and Procedures in Special Education
SPED 4216 Teaching Soc. Stud. & Science
SPED 4225 Collaboration & Consultation
SPED 4245 Meth/Materials in Mild & Mod
SPED 4407 Teaching Pract. In Mild/Mod Dis
SPED 4408 Program Practicum in Special Education
EDRG 3215 Teaching Children to Read
EDRG 4219 Diagnostic and Prescriptive Reading Instruction
EDRG 5115 Word Perception and Vocabulary Development in Grades 4-12
EDRG 5217 Teach Read & Writing in Grade 4-12
EDUF 4205 Integrating Technology

Student Teaching Experience
EDUF 4115 Classroom Management
SPED 4485 Student Teaching

Total Hours Required: 123

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