Inclusive Elementary and Special Education, BS

Contact:

Sheila DeRose, (for intra-university transfer), 111 Waverly, Suite 230, 315-443-4522, saderose@syr.edu

Julie Causton, Program Coordinator, 315-443-2685 or jcauston@syr.edu.

This innovative program is designed to prepare graduates for careers in classrooms (grades 1-6) that serve an increasingly diverse student population. Through this rigorous program, students are offered the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children through the development of a strong inclusive education philosophy and pedagogy. In addition to liberal arts distribution courses and depth in a liberal arts area, students take professional courses that integrate within them material on children with both typical and “special” needs who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. Supervised field experiences take place throughout the program at a variety of Syracuse area settings, and include placements in schools that are at the forefront of inclusive education. There is also an opportunity to student teach for one semester in New York City, through the “Bridge to the City” option.

Program Requirements

Program requirements include liberal arts skills and distribution courses, a concentration or major of no less than 30 credits in an approved liberal arts and sciences area, and professional coursework. The demands of the program means that greater amount of credits hours than many programs and heavier semester loads are typical. Total credits are usually between 133 and 145, although the length varies and can be more than 145 credits, depending on the student’s skill background, the chosen liberal arts concentration or major, and other choices made by the student. In most cases, students enroll for more than 15 credits in a semester and/or take summer courses (at SU or other colleges) to complete the degree within four years. Therefore, prospective students not already enrolled in the School of Education are encouraged to consult with the School of Education as early as possible. Please note that in choosing courses to meet the Liberal Arts requirements, students must keep their choice of liberal arts concentration or major in mind, including required number of upper division courses, and, whenever possible, choose courses that can also be used toward that concentration or major.

Liberal Arts Requirements:

Foreign Language:

One course (minimum 3 credits) in a language other than English (including American Sign Language), or equivalent competency established by examination or level three of high school study

• Distribution courses selected from an approved course list

U.S. History (3 credits)
History II (Diversity within the U.S or Global History) (3 credits)
Geography (3 credits)
Citizenship, Economics, and Government (3 credits)
Global Perspectives (3 credits)
Literature (6 credits)

Liberal Arts Concentrations Available:

The program requires students to complete a 30-credit liberal arts concentration or major. This liberal arts area must be chosen as early as possible, so that maximum overlap between the liberal arts/general education requirements (see above) and the concentration/major may be achieved.

Human Thought and Expression concentration: study of literature, history, philosophy, religion, gender and ethnic studies, history and the arts, and other humanities;
People, Places and Societies concentration: study of anthropology, sociology, gender and ethnic studies, international relations, economics, geography, history, political science, and other social sciences;
Mathematics
Natural Sciences

Liberal Arts Majors Available:

African American Studies
English and Textual Studies;
History

A guide to assist in this choice is available from the Department of Teaching and Leadership, 150 Huntington Hall, or the Office of Academic and Student Services, 111 Waverly Avenue, suite 230.

Professional Education Requirements:

EDU 203 - Introduction to Inclusive Schooling
EDU 201 - Practicum in Pre-K Inclusive Education a practicum experience offered under EDU 200, or an alternative appropriate credit-bearing field experience.
EDU 303 - Teaching and Learning for Inclusive Schooling or if the requirement must be taken in the fall semester, EDU 204 - Principles of Learning in Inclusive Classrooms
SPE 311 - Perspectives on Disabilities
CSD 303 - Communication in the Classroom (or, if necessary, CSD 212 Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders)
IDE 201 - Integrating Technology into Instruction I
EDU 366 - Safe and Healthy Learning Environments or equivalent, which includes the following topics: Identifying/reporting child abuse, violence prevention, child abduction prevention, highway/general safety, alcohol/drug/tobacco prevention, fire and arson prevention, and training related to the Dignity for All Students (DASA) Act.

Arts in Education (complete 2 credits)

Pre-Block and Block reviews of progress

Both this program and the teaching profession are demanding, requiring not only appropriate attitudes about children, and skills in working with them, but also knowledge of the content to be taught, excellent writing skills, critical thinking skills, and much more. Students’ progress is reviewed several times through the program against specific proficiencies and other assessment criteria. Effective for those entering the program Fall 2014 or later, to be eligible for Block I, students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA a 3.0 average for and no grade below a B- in EDU 203 , EDU 201 , SPE 311 , and EDU 303 ; a B- or better grade in each writing course taken; and a B- or better average with no grade below a C in both the two required mathematics courses and the two required natural science courses, with at least one B- grade in each before entering Block I. In addition, they must have satisfactory ratings on the proficiencies and dispositions that are part of the professional courses and field experiences. Reviews also take place to determine eligibility to enter subsequent blocks, and additional information about this is available from the program faculty teaching in the blocks.

Course Catalog