2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog Department of Special Education

The Honors Program seeks to facilitate customized learning for Honors students in their disciplines by offering the opportunity for students to engage in Honors education and to have Honors Learning Experiences in upper division courses. Learn more about Honors in the Major.

Major in Special Education

In addition to meeting University requirements for graduation and teacher requirements, all students in Special Education must successfully complete:

• Pre-student teaching - Clinical Experiences in Teacher Education designed to meet professional performance standards. These experiences include successful completion of a minimum number of semester hours through enrollment in appropriate field experience coursework (see sequence-specific requirements). Additional teaching or related experiences may be included as a part of core or specific sequence requirements or in remedial experiences. Performance evaluations in each of these experiences must recommend that the student advance to the next level of experience prior to doing so. Repeat of field experience coursework requires consent of the Department Chair. Students are responsible for housing arrangements and transportation to clinical sites.
• A full semester of Student Teaching (STT 399) for which teacher candidates are awarded 12 semester hours of credit. In order to be recommended for initial licensure, candidates must demonstrate during this capstone experience that they have obtained competence in the knowledge, performance, and disposition areas designated by the profession of special education and this department. Students are responsible for housing arrangements and transportation to student teaching sites.
• Passage of all applicable teacher licensure assessments.

Students in the Special Education major must complete one of the following sequences.

Specialist in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Sequence

With the passage of appropriate licensing exams, this program leads to Illinois Professional Licensure for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist. Specialists in Deaf and Hard of Hearing teach students in preschool through age 21 in public schools and other specialized programs. Students in this specialty take courses in language, literacy, audiology, and sign language. Sequence-specific assessment: Passing score on communication proficiency (i.e. ASL PI) prior to student teaching.

View Specialist in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Sequence Course Requirements

Specialist in Learning and Behavior Sequence

With the passage of appropriate licensing exams, this program leads to Illinois Professional Licensure for Learning Behavior Specialist I. The Learning and Behavior Specialist prepares students to teach children from kindergarten through age 21 with learning, emotional, or intellectual disabilities, orthopedic impairments, autism spectrum disorders, multiple disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, or other health impairments who receive special education services.

View Specialist in Learning and Behavior Sequence Course Requirements

Specialist in Learning and Behavior Online Sequence

With the passage of appropriate licensing exams, this program leads to Illinois Professional Licensure for Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS I) for paraprofessionals. The Learning and Behavior Specialist prepares students to teach children from kindergarten through age 21 with learning, emotional, or intellectual disabilities, orthopedic impairments, autism spectrum disorders, multiple disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, or other health impairments who receive special education services.

This program is a Major in Special Education, Specialist LBS I Online Sequence for paraprofessionals who want to be licensed as an LBS I.

In addition to meeting University requirements for graduation and teacher education requirements, our department requires students enter Illinois State University with:

• A minimum of 60 credit hours earned, including an Introduction to Special Education course (e.g., Illinois State University’s SED 101), and Fundamentals of Psychology (e.g., Illinois State University’s PSY 110) course
• A baccalaureate-oriented Associates Degree (A.A. or A.S.) from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution. For those transferring from an Illinois college or university, the A.S. degree must include the complete Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) General Education Core Curriculum (GECC)
  Or  have completed the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) General Education Core Curriculum (GECC).
• An approved Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum course with a "D" designation to satisfy the IDEAS Graduation Requirement
• An approved Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum course with an "N" designation to satisfy the AMALI Graduation Requirement
• At least two years working as a paraprofessional with students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)

Visit the Special Education Department website for more information about the admission requirements, including required documentation, process, and timeline. Additional information about the curriculum and plan of study for this online sequence is also available on the Specialist in Learning and Behavior Online Sequence website.

As a part of participation in the PULSE program, students are required to maintain employment as a paraprofessional throughout the duration of the pre-student teaching and student teaching semesters. This employment status is essential for ensuring that students gain practical, hands-on experience while completing the required coursework (SED 390, 392, 252.01, 252.02 and STT 399).

If a student is unable to remain employed as a paraprofessional, a non-paid clinical and/or student teaching placement option will be provided within one hour of the student’s home address. Please note that such a placement alternative may extend the student's duration in the program and/or impact the specific clinical opportunities available to the student.

The Major in Special Education, Specialist in Learning and Behavior Online Sequence majors must successfully complete:

• Pre-student teaching: Clinical Experiences in Teacher Education are designed to meet professional performance standards. These experiences include successful completion of a minimum number of semester hours through enrollment in appropriate field experience coursework during their Field Base semester (SED 252A01, 252A02). Additional teaching or related experiences may be included as a part of core or specific sequence requirements. Performance evaluations must recommend that the student advance to student teaching prior to doing so. Repeat of field experience coursework requires the consent of the Department Chair. Students are responsible for housing arrangements and transportation to clinical sites.
• A full semester of Student Teaching (STT 399) for which teacher candidates are awarded 12 semester hours of credit is required. In order to be recommended for initial licensure, candidates must demonstrate during this capstone experience that they have obtained competence in the knowledge, performance, and disposition areas designated by the profession of special education and this department.
• Passage of all applicable teacher licensure assessments.
• A minimum GPA of 2.50 is required both overall and in major coursework for retention in all Special Education programs.

View Specialist in Learning and Behavior Online Sequence Course Requirements

Specialist in Low Vision and Blindness Sequence

With the passage of appropriate licensing exams, this program leads to Illinois Professional Licensure for Low Vision and Blindness Specialist. Teachers of children with visual impairments work with learners who are blind or visually impaired, from preschool through age 21. Sequence-specific assessment: Braille proficiency tests.

View Specialist in Low Vision and Blindness Sequence Course Requirements

Minor in Learning Behavior Specialist 1 

Pursuing a minor in special education greatly enhances the educational journey of our non-Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS1) majors in all concentrations across the university. By successfully completing courses within their education field of study and recommended minor courses, teacher candidates broaden their academic horizons and become eligible to pursue an LBS1 endorsement. This integrated approach fosters a well-rounded and conscious commitment to an inclusive and diverse education producing exceptionally well-prepared and highly effective teachers.

Admission requirements: 

• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• 24 credit hours
• SED 101 completed or concurrent enrollment at the time of application

18 hours required 

• SED 101
• SED 205
• SED 206
• SED 388

Take one of the following options based on major: 

• SED 361 and SED 362 (early childhood or elementary)
• SED 360 and SED 344 (middle-level or secondary education)

Notes 

• A grade of C or better is required in all SED-required courses.
• Education majors enrolled in a full educational licensure program, this minor may lead to an ISBE subsequent endorsement. Additional requirements, including passage of content exam(s) and clinical hours, may be required beyond the coursework listed. Since ISBE subsequent endorsement requirements are subject to change due to updated licensure code, students must confirm current requirements with their academic advisor each year of enrollment to ensure required coursework and additional ISBE licensure requirements for the endorsement are completed at the time of graduation.