The exceptional education major consists of required education courses and affiliated courses from departments across the College. The sequence of required courses is informed by our state and national accrediting agencies, the VDOE and CAEP. Starting to plan your education program as early as possible is advised. Students should begin education courses in the spring semester of their freshman year or the fall semester of their sophomore year. Application to the program is submitted in spring of the student's sophomore year. For acceptance to the program, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.8, have taken EDUC 220 and EDUC 233, and must have earned passing scores on the Praxis Core Math exam and the VCLA exam. Candidates submit their application to student teach in the fall of their senior year and student teach in the spring semester of their senior year. For licensure in Virginia, candidates must achieve passing scores on the Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) assessment. They must also complete a series of online training and become CPR certified. Students who complete this major are eligible to apply for Virginia licensure - Special Education (General Curriculum, K-12).

Students majoring in Elementary Education can minor in Exceptional Education to add the Special Education (General Curriculum, K-12) endorsement. The minor only results in eligibility for special education licensure when completed in conjunction with the Elementary Education major.