Program Details
Special Education and Teaching with concentration in Early Childhood, Bachelor of Science in Education
Bachelor of Science in EducationVirginia Commonwealth University
Transfer Guides are designed to maximize transfer credit as students complete their associate degree at the community college before transferring to the bachelor's degree program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college. The following Transfer Guide(s), applicable to this program, are available in the Resource Center. If there is a program-specific Transfer Guide and a general or general studies Transfer Guide, you are advised to follow the program-specific Transfer Guide. Please see your community college advisor for assistance in selecting the best pathway.
The purpose of the B.S.Ed. in Special Education and Teaching with a concentration in early childhood is to prepare students to serve as initially licensed special education teachers or early interventionists. The program will focus on providing students with the tools they need to work in settings serving children birth to age 5 with disabilities or who are at-risk for developmental delays, as well as work with their families. Students will garner the knowledge and skills to be able to recognize a child’s developmental and social concerns, to formulate effective and personalized/individualized instruction, and to consult with parents, teachers, related service providers and administrators to incorporate accommodations and transitions across the child’s educational program. Skills gained through this program are the ability to identify developmental concerns, adapt curriculum and support communication, motor, cognitive, social and self-help skills, as well as provide strategies for behavior management. Students will be prepared to support families of infants and toddlers through coaching around identified outcomes based on the child’s specific needs, work as the lead teacher in preschool special education settings and provide consultation to preschool teachers who work with children with diverse abilities and backgrounds. Graduates will be prepared to work in early intervention and early childhood special education settings across Virginia, with particular focus in urban and high-need areas. Successful completion of the program will result in licensure in special education/early childhood curriculum (B-5).
Outcomes
Student learning outcomes: Content knowledge: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the subjects they will teach as a special education teacher. Learner and learning: Students will understand human development and learning theories appropriate to the age group they will teach and acquire an awareness of the diversity of the school-age populations’ cultural backgrounds, learning strengths and needs. Instructional practice: Students will demonstrate an ability to plan and implement effective teaching and measure student learning in ways that lead to sustained development and learning. Professional responsibility: Students will develop an understanding of purposes for education and a defensible philosophical approach toward teaching and demonstrate professional dispositions. Early childhood concentration-specific outcome Early childhood content: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the subjects they will teach specifically as an early childhood special education teacher or an early interventionist.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | The B.S.Ed. in Special Education and Teaching - Early Childhood concentration prepares students to serve infants, toddlers, and preschoolers representing various abilities, including those with developmental delays and disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, communication delays, challenging behaviors, and autism. |
| Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes Students must have received a minimum grade of C in all required education courses (ECSE, EDUS, SEDP and TEDU). Students must have received a minimum grade of C in all prerequisite courses for all required upper-level education courses (ECSE, EDUS, SEDP and TEDU). Required education courses (ECSE, EDUS, SEDP and TEDU) in which students earn a grade of D or F must be repeated. Students must achieve a 2.8 GPA to be admitted to teacher preparation and a 3.0 GPA to be admitted to clinical internship. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Complete courses that are equivalent to VCU's lower-level general education core and required education courses to fulfill the courses required for your particular associates or certificate program. Connect with your advisor at your community college to ensure that you are following the transfer guide and schedule a meeting with a VCU Transfer Center advisor. Students can finish in 4 full-time (15-17 credit per semester) semesters if students transfer in with a completed associates degree. Three suggested transfer courses that will allow a four-semester course sequence (see this Transfer Equivalency resource to find VCU course equivalency at your transfer institution): EDUS 202 Diversity, Democracy, and Ethics EDUS 301 Human Development and Learning (or PSYC 304) SEDP 330 Survey of Special Education
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | Students across VCU can round out their degrees, enhance their major studies, and give themselves a professional edge by pursuing one of our undergraduate minors. Programs include minors in Special Education, Early Intervention Special Education, and Teaching English as a Second Language. We also offer a nine-credit certificate program in Disability Studies. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Program highlights include Hands-on and field-based experience throughout the curriculum. Upon successfully completing the program, students will be eligible for Initial teacher licensure with an endorsement in early childhood special education by the Virginia Department of Education. |
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Virginia Commonwealth University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Students who earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts & Sciences, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, General Education Certificate, or Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System, Richard Bland College, or the College of Southern Maryland may be eligible to participate in the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. Students with one of these degrees may also be eligible to have the majority of their general education requirements waived. Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. The Uniform Certificate of General Studies is recommended for this major. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. The Uniform Certificate of General Studies is recommended for this major. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | VCU accepts a variety of types of credit for prior learning, including but not limited to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), military experience, Cambridge, and industry certifications that are recommended for credit by the American Council on Education or the National College Credit Recommendation Service. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | VCU is a large, research-driven institution nestled on two campuses in downtown Richmond, Virginia, offering a vast array of degree programs from arts to dental hygiene to engineering to education. VCU students have access to hundreds of student organizations, which is a great way to connect with others whether or not you choose to live in one of our many on-campus residence halls. Take advantage of VCU's location with access to the James River and its park system, internship and job opportunities, community engagement, and interstates to travel to the beach, the mountains, and Washington, D.C.. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | https://admissions.vcu.edu/apply-to-vcu/undergraduate/transfer/ |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wytheville Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Arts & Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Germanna Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Paul D. Camp Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences in Education | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Wytheville Community College | Associate of Science in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| James Madison University | Bachelor of Science, Major in Special Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Mary Baldwin University | Bachelor of Arts in Special Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | Online, Hybrid |
| George Mason University | Special Education, BSEd | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education | 4-Year | Hybrid |
| Old Dominion University | Special Education-BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Marymount University | Special Education (K-12) (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Art | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Bluefield University | BS in Special Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Applied History Social Sciences (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary History and Integrative Social Sciences Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary History and Social Sciences Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary Mathematics & Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-2059.01 | Adapted Physical Education Specialists | Provide individualized physical education instruction or services to children, youth, or adults with exceptional physical needs due to gross motor developmental delays or other impairments. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2059.00 | Special Education Teachers, All Other | All special education teachers not listed separately. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2056.00 | Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | Teach academic, social, and life skills to elementary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2055.00 | Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | Teach academic, social, and life skills to kindergarten students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2057.00 | Special Education Teachers, Middle School | Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2051.00 | Special Education Teachers, Preschool | Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2058.00 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-9043.00 | Teaching Assistants, Special Education | Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher to provide academic, social, or life skills to students who have learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
Cost To Complete