For more information,

contact the Special Education Department:

C165 Peters Hall

P.O. Box 7006

Radford University

Radford, VA 24142

Phone: 540/ 831-6425

FAX: 540/ 831-5124

Special Education Minor

OVERVIEW OF SPECIAL EDUCATION MINOR

The minor in special education provides an opportunity for undergraduate students at Radford University to acquire professional knowledge related to understanding and assisting individuals with disabilities. Through a flexible selection of courses, the minor will vary with each student. In general, it includes a focus on educationally relevant disability law and policy, characteristics and etiology of disabilities, and special education programming and services. The minor provides solid grounding in special education for undergraduate students who are not currently pursuing licensure in special education, but who may do so at a later time. The minor is a strong complement to studies in fields such as Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, Speech and Language Pathology, Secondary Education licensure programs, Interdisciplinary Studies non-licensure program, and for students in the Bachelor of General Studies.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

With the guidance of the faculty advisor, students in the minor may elect to focus on early childhood special education or school-age special education. The 18 semester hours for the minor includes either EDSP 360, EDSP 361, or EDSP 362 as a prerequisite to the remaining 15 credit hours. The remaining 15 credit hours may be selected, with the approval of a faculty advisor from the department, from the electives listed below. Note that some courses in the minor have additional prerequisites (see RU Undergraduate Catalog).

Required (3 hours) (choose 1): Credit Hours

EDSP 360. Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education 3
EDSP 361. Current Trends in Education of Exceptional Individuals 3
EDSP 362. Introduction to Special Education for Secondary Educators

Electives (15 hours):

EDSP 437. Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation in Early Childhood Special Education 3
EDSP 438. Program Management in Early Childhood Special Education 3
EDSP 439. Medical and Neurodevelopmental Aspects of Teaching Young Children with Disabilities 3
EDSP 445. Adaptive Strategies in Arithmetic 3
EDSP 464. Introduction to Mental Retardation and Severe Disabilities 3
EDSP 451. Collaborative Consultation and Communication Skills 3
EDSP 462. Behavior Management for Exceptional Learners 2
EDSP 466. Teaching Students with Individualized Adapted Curriculum 
EDSP 469. Evaluative Techniques 3
EDSP 471. Teaching the Gifted Child 3
EDSP 472. Survey of Learning and Behavioral Disorders 3

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Due to the critical shortage of special education teachers, and the fact that most students with disabilities receive services in their local schools and communities, this minor may contribute to employment opportunities in Human Services agencies and schools. For individuals interested in teaching, completion of the minor may meet the requirements for the "Special Education Conditional License" as approved by the State Board of Education in Virginia as follows:

Special Education Conditional License: A Special Education Conditional License is a three-year, non-renewable teaching license issued to an individual employed as a special education teacher in a public school or a nonpublic special education school in Virginia who does not hold the appropriate special education endorsement. The conditional license is not applicable to individuals employed as speech pathologists. To be issued the Special Education Conditional License an individual must:

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