Special Education Requirements

Breiseth • 800-WILKES U, x4671 (T) • 570-408-4905 (F) • Email

you can download a Pre-Fall12 checklist or if you have applied to the program for the Fall 12 semester, use this Post-Fall12 checklist.  If you don't have the Adobe Reader needed to open the document you can download a free one from the company's website.

Use the links below to see course descriptions for Pre-Fall 12 Program. Post Fall 12 Program requirements are listed at the bottom of this page.

PSY 221 Developmental Psychology
ED 321 Foundations of Reading with Field Experience
ED 330 Math in Early Child/Elementary Education
ED 370 Science in Early Child/Elementary Education

The following are 3-credit courses.
Required Courses:
ED 518 School Law or ED 519 Issues, Laws and Trends in Education
ED 522 Curriculum and Instruction (previously School Curriculum)
ED 585 Integrating Technology into the Curriculum

And one of the following core foundations courses
ED 510 Psychological Foundations
ED 511 Philosophical Foundations
ED 512 Social Foundations
ED 513 Comparative Foundations
ED 514 Issues in Education
ED 515 Cognition

EDSP 501 Sp Ed Methods I with Field Experience (15 hours)
EDSP 502 Sp Ed Methods II with Field Experience (15 hours)
EDSP 503 Behavior Management with Field Experience (15 hours)
EDSP 504 Assessment in Special Education
EDSP 505 Sp Ed Issues and Topics

The internship must be taken as the last EDSP course or in conjunction with the last EDSP course and must have prior approval from the Program Advisor
EDSP 506 Internship in Special Education

Post Fall 12 Program Requirements for Special Education

Candidates who enter the program starting fall 2012 will declare either the PK-8 or 7-12 grade band option. The current N-12 certification will not be granted by the state after August 31, 2013. The criteria for certification and admission to each grade band option is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) as follows:

Special Education PreK-8 Option: Candidates with previous PA certificates in early childhood N-3, elementary K-6 or PreK-4, middle school 4-8, and certified reading specialists are eligible for this option.

Special Education 7-12 Option: Candidates with previous PA certificates in secondary education 7-12 and certified reading specialists are eligible for this option.

(Courses designated with * are required for state certification)
PREREQUISITE COURSES: 9 Credits: Prerequisite courses or their equivalents may be completed at the undergraduate or graduate level, online or face-to-face. Candidates will receive credit for prerequisites completed in previous preparation program.                                                            
* EDAM 5066: Accommodations and Adaptations in Literacy for Diverse Learners              
* ESL 504: Intercultural Communication For Language Teachers
* ED 569: Teaching Diverse Learners Using Inclusive Classroom Practices                                     

CORE COURSES: 12 Credits  
 * ED 510: Psychological Foundations      
ED 519: Issues, Laws & Trends in Education     
ED 522: Curriculum and Instruction      
ED 585: Integrating Technology into the Curriculum   
into the Curriculum                               

SPECIAL EDUCATION COURSES:  15 credits
(Act 34, 151, and 114 clearances are required for field experiences)

* EDSP 501: Sp Ed Meth I w/Field Exp. (20 hrs.)     
* EDSP 502: Sp Ed Meth II w/Field Exp. (20 hrs.)     
* EDSP 503: Behavior Mgt w/Field Exp. (20 hrs.)     
* EDSP 504: Assessment in Sp Ed                              
* EDSP 505: Effective Practices in Sp Ed             

SPECIAL ED INTERNSHIP:  3 Credits
Must be taken as the final EDSP course or in conjunction with the final EDSP course. Advisor must give permission to register for the Internship.
* EDSP 506: Internship in Sp Ed (6 weeks/100 hrs.)

A maximum of six graduate credits completed at another accredited institution may be used toward your Wilkes MS degree. You must have completed the courses within six years prior to the date of admission to Wilkes University and have received a grade of B or better. Official transcripts are required.