B.S. Ed. Secondary Education: Special Education

To earn this degree, you must complete at least 149 units of coursework, which we describe in the sections that follow:

• at least 35 units of liberal studies requirements.    Be aware that you may not use courses with an ESE prefix to satisfy these liberal studies requirements.  Contact your department for information about liberal studies courses that are specific to this major.

• at least 15 units of general requirements

• at least 40 units of special education major requirements

• at least 59 units of secondary education major requirements

• elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 149 units

Be aware that some courses required for your degree may have prerequisites that you must also take. Check the courses in the appropriate subject.(You may be able to count these prerequisites toward your liberal studies or general elective credit.)

You can expect to complete this plan in four and one-half to five years. We offer numerous education courses in the summer, which may help you to graduate sooner.

Please note that you must complete NAU’s diversity requirements by taking two 3-unit courses, one in U.S. ethnic diversity and one in global diversity awareness. These courses may be used to meet other requirements within your academic plan if you choose them carefully. Click here for a list of the available diversity courses.

Also note that NAU requires that at least 30 units of the courses you take for your degree must be upper-division courses (those numbered 300 and above).

You should also be aware that you must have a grade point average of at least 2.5 in all of your NAU coursework in order to graduate. This requirement applies to all B.S.Ed. majors at NAU.

Finally, please note that you may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement; however, you must still meet the total of at least 149 units to graduate. Contact your advisor for details.

Also be aware that, for the B.S.Ed. degree, you must have the following:

• a grade of at least B for the English foundation requirement (ENG 105 or equivalent)

(If you don’t receive a 3.0, you may complete an additional writing course, at the 200 level or above, with at least a B, to meet this requirement.)

• a grade of at least C for the mathematics foundation requirement (generally MAT 110, 114, 125, or 155)

Candidates in the B.S.Ed. in Special and Secondary Education program are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, and professional knowledge to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements. Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the ESE 423, ESE 425, ESE 450, and ESE 491 classes in the special education program and the ECI 322, ECI 450, ECI 465, and ECI 495C in the elementary education program.

General Requirements

You take the following 15 units:

• EDF 200 (3 units)

• EPS 325 (3 units)

• POS 220 (3 units)

(You may be able to meet this requirement through an exam given by Center for Business Outreach.)

• MAT 150 and 155 (6 units)

Special Education Requirements

You must take both special and elementary education coursework for this major, for a total of 40 units.

You take the following 31 units of special education courses:

• ESE 308, 380, 423, 425, and 426 (13 units)

• 10 units of ESE 308, 424, 434, and 450

• 8 units of student teaching (ESE 491)

• Because Arizona special education certification is for grades K-12, you must also take the following 9 units in elementary education: ECI 300, 306, and 307.

Secondary Education Requirements

You must take at least 59 units in secondary education and discipline courses:

• BME 431 (3 units)

• ECI 308, 322, 450, and 465 (10 units)

• at least 34 units in your discipline (such as English or biology)

For information about these units, refer to the appropriate academic department. You can get a list of approved disciplines from the College of Education’s Student Services office, room 101, Eastburn Education Center (928-523-2611). You must work with your advisor to determine the courses you will use for this student-individualized plan as early as possible to ensure that you graduate in a timely fashion. Please be aware that your advisor must approve these 34 units of coursework.

Please note that as part of NAU’s general university requirements, you must complete a junior writing course that counts as part of your secondary education requirements. For specific information, contact the appropriate academic department for your discipline.

• ECI 495C, which meets NAU’s senior capstone requirement (12 units)

(Please note that many academic departments require special methods courses before you student teach; you must take these courses in addition to ECI 450.)

General Electives

Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 149 units of credit.  

You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren’t used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)

Click here for more information about our Special Education undergraduate courses and faculty.