Exceptional Child Education Bachelor of Science
| Required Major Hours |
|
47 |
| Required Minor Hours |
|
27 |
| Total Program Hours |
|
74 |
Exceptional Child Education is designed to prepare candidates to become special education teachers in Grades K-12. The program follows InTASC standards, GWU Conceptual Framework, and the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards. Candidates pursuing this major will be prepared to teach in a K-12 setting. During the program, candidates will investigate current educational theories, educational philosophies, and exceptional child teaching methods. Multiple opportunities will be provided for candidates to observe and teach in PK-12 schools. Candidates must meet the requirements listed in the Catalog for entrance into Teacher Education and for entrance into the Professional Semester. Candidates will not be permitted to complete more than 50% of the major or Professional Education minor until they are formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program. Candidates must be admitted into the Teacher Education Program at least two full semesters prior to the student teaching experience.
The School of Education admission process is different than the Gardner-Webb admission process. The School of Education interview is a secondary admission process specific to the School of Education.
The North Carolina State Board of Education has adopted new teacher standards and required all teacher education programs to be revised. Candidates who are already in Teacher Education can choose to complete the current program or the new program.
The optional 14-credit-hour concentration in Exceptional Children (EC) prepares candidates to support diverse learners and become successful teachers of exceptional children. In order to be recommended for licensure, candidates must successfully complete a dual student teaching experience (EDUC 450) and must pass all Elementary Education and Exceptional Children licensure exams.
The Exceptional Children Concentration is also available for non-Elementary Education candidates. For candidates who are non-Elementary Education majors, the following courses are required in order to obtain the concentration: MED 204, MED 205, and EDU 302.
A non-licensure track for qualifying candidates is available. Please consult the Professional Education Committee (PEC) Handbook for details.
Exceptional Child Education at Gardner-Webb University is state-approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education.
Students who graduate from the Exceptional Child Education program will demonstrate proficiency in the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards (NCPTS) as follows:
1. Teachers demonstrate leadership;
2. Teachers establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students;
3. Teachers know the content they teach;
4. Teachers facilitate learning for their students.
5. Teachers reflect on their practice, and
6. Teachers contribute to the academic success of students.
Proficiencies will be met as students exhibit competency in the following goals and learning outcomes.
Student Learning Outcomes
Student Learning Outcomes are subject to change based on data collected and analyzed by the Exceptional Child Education faculty.
1. Candidates will be able to demonstrate leadership skills to assume leadership roles in an educational setting (NCPTS I);
2. Candidates will be able to apply leadership skills to assume leadership roles in an educational setting (NCPTS I);
3. Candidates will be able to demonstrate the ability to adapt instruction for the diverse needs of learners (NCPTS II);
4. Candidates will be able to differentiate instruction in an effective and appropriate manner (NCPTS II);
5. Candidates will be able to demonstrate advanced content knowledge related to core concepts (NCPTS III);
6. Candidates will be able to implement processes relative to the specific discipline (NCPTS III);
7. Candidates will be able to use formative and summative assessment data to inform instruction (NCPTS IV);
8. Candidates will be able to integrate reading practices and assessments to design and implement an appropriate reading program of instruction (NCPTS IV);
9. Candidates will be able to implement management processes in an educational setting (NCPTS IV);
10.Candidates will be able to reflect critically on performances of others and/or self for the purpose of improvement (NCPTS V);
11. Candidates will use research and data to adapt instruction (NCPTS V);
12.Candidates will be able to design instruction to meet the needs of digital-age learners (NCPTS V); and
13.Candidates will be able to demonstrate professional dispositions in varied settings with regard to all members of an organization (NCPTS V).
Program Requirements
Required Major Hours (47)
| PED 311 | Healthful Living for the Elementary Educator Seminar | 1 |
| EDU 251 | Introduction to Effective Teaching and Learning | 1 |
| EDU 252 | Applying Principles of Effective Teaching and Learning | 1 |
| EDU 302 | Literacy Foundations | 3 |
| EDU 306 | Literacy and Language Arts for K-8 | 3 |
| EDU 312 | Practicum in Literacy (K-9) | 2 |
| EDU 320 | Vocabulary, Comprehension and Writing Instruction | 3 |
| EDU 410 | Introduction to Curriculum Integration and Assessment | 3 |
| MED 204 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| MED 205 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II | 3 |
| MED 330 | Math Methods in 21st Century Schools | 3 |
| ECE 270 | Critical Components of Special Education | 3 |
| ECE 370 | Specially Designed Instruction for Exceptional Learners | 4 |
| ECE 380 | Communication and Collaboration with Stakeholders | 3 |
| ECE 425 | Providing Instruction - Continuum of Alternative Exceptional Children Placements | 4 |
| ECE 430 | Classroom and Behavior Management | |
| ECE 445 | IEP Development & Seminar | |
Required Minor Hours (27)
| EDU 250 | Teaching in the 21st Century Schools | 4 |
| EDU 350 | Diverse Populations in 21st Century Schools | 4 |
| EDU 435 | Facilitating Learning in 21st Century Schools | 4 |
| EDU 450 | Student Teaching | 12 |
| PSY 303 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
EDU 435 must be taken the semester prior to student teaching.
EDUC 450 must be taken the final semester and no other courses may be taken concurrently. Students may not be employed during this semester.