Curriculum & Instruction (Ed.S.) - Special Education
Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2019 through summer 2020. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.
This is a non-licensure degree and is not a state-approved program. Completion of this degree will not lead to the eligibility of a VA state teaching license or a teaching license or certificate in any other state. If you would like to be eligible for a VA state teaching license or work through reciprocity guidelines to be eligible for a license or certificate in another state, you must complete the coursework for this degree and the additional classes and requirements that are listed in the Notes section of the DCP. Please consult www.liberty.edu/advisingguide for licensure information and requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Education Theory Courses | ||
| EDUC 701 | Advanced Learning Theory and Research | 3 |
| Choose three credit hours of the following: | 3 | |
| Theories of Historical and Social Foundations of Education | ||
| Theories of Educational Leadership 1 | ||
| Curriculum & Instruction Core | ||
| Choose nine credit hours of the following: | 9 | |
| Issues & Trends in Learning Technologies 1 | ||
| Issues and Trends in Curriculum and Instruction | ||
| Curriculum Theory | ||
| Investigations in Curriculum Change | ||
| Research in Curriculum Design and Development | ||
| Special Education Cognate | ||
| EDUC 721 | Issues and Trends in Exceptionality | 3 |
| Choose six credit hours of the following: | 6 | |
| Organization and Design of Gifted Education Programs 2 | ||
| Educational Assessment for Special Needs 2 | ||
| Instructional Methods for Behavior and Learning | ||
| Technology and Diversity 2 | ||
| Research & Evaluation Courses | ||
| EDUC 750 | Survey of Educational Research | 3 |
| EDUC 798 | Advanced Research and Writing 3 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | Intensive format optional |
| 2 | If seeking licensure, student may choose to take 600 level courses on ‘Licensure options’ section. These courses must be approved by the School of Education |
| 3 | Capstone course to be taken in final semester |
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- Complete 30 hours
- A minimum of 24 hours must be completed through Liberty University, not to include credits from a prior degree earned through Liberty
- A maximum of 6 hours of transfer credit, including credit from a degree on the same academic level previously earned through Liberty, may be applied to the degree
- 3.0 GPA
- No more than one grade of C may be applied to the degree (includes grades of C+ & C-)
- No grade of D or below may be applied to the degree (includes grades of D+ & D-)
- Degree must be completed within 5 years
- Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date
Program Offered in Online Format
Licensure Options
Must complete DCP for EdS, and additional courses below
Initial Licensure
Additional courses required:
Elementary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 530 | Teaching Mathematics | 3 |
| EDUC 554 | Reading and Language Acquisition | 3 |
| EDUC 571 | Curriculum Fundamentals | 3 |
| EDUC 606 | Tests and Measurements | 3 |
| EDUC 623 | Principles of Behavior Management 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 632 | Language Acquisition and Instruction 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 634 | Teaching Science in the Elementary School | 3 |
| EDUC 636 | Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School | 3 |
| 1 | Intensive format optional |
- Student teaching
- Content competencies
- VCLA
- RVE
- Praxis Subject Assessment
Special Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 521 | Foundations of Exceptionality | 3 |
| EDUC 524 | Collaborating for Successful Inclusive Classrooms | 3 |
| EDUC 525 | Collaborating for Successful Transitions | 3 |
| EDUC 530 | Teaching Mathematics | 3 |
| EDUC 554 | Reading and Language Acquisition | 3 |
| EDUC 571 | Curriculum Fundamentals | 3 |
| EDUC 622 | Educational Assessment and Intervention 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 623 | Principles of Behavior Management 1 | 3 |
| 1 | Intensive format optional |
- Student teaching
- VCLA
- RVE
- Praxis Subject Assessment
Secondary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 539 | Current Issues in Content Areas | 3 |
| EDUC 556 | Teaching Content Area Reading | 3 |
| EDUC 571 | Curriculum Fundamentals | 3 |
| EDUC 606 | Tests and Measurements | 3 |
| EDUC 623 | Principles of Behavior Management 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 625 | Content Instructional Procedures | 3 |
| EDUC 656 | Teaching Content Area Reading | 3 |
| 1 | Intensive format optional |
- Student teaching
- Vontent competencies
- VCLA
- Praxis Subject Assessment
Add-on Licensure
Additional courses required and Field Experience Summary (45 hours)
Early Childhood (for 3- and 4-year-olds)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 501 | Advanced Child Development | 3 |
| EDUC 598 | Field Experience Practicum | 3 |
| EDUC 653 | Current Issues in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDUC 670 | Curriculum and Methods for Early Childhood | 3 |
- Must have elementary license
Gifted
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 526 | Principles and Practices in Gifted Education | 3 |
| EDUC 598 | Field Experience Practicum | 3 |
| EDUC 620 | Organization and Design of Gifted Education Programs | 3 |
| EDUC 621 | Educational Assessment for Special Needs | 3 |
| EDUC 627 | Reading and Research in Gifted Education | 3 |
- Must have initial license
Advanced Licensure
Additional courses required:
School Counseling
-
Master’s Degree in Counseling
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 600 | Human Development Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| EDUC 622 | Educational Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
- 33 hours of EDCE courses as listed on M.Ed. in School Counselor DCP
Reading or Math Specialist
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 622 | Educational Assessment and Intervention 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 641 | Supervision of Instruction 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 650 | Specialists for Reading/Math Programs | 3 |
| EDUC 652 | Current Issues in Reading/Math | 3 |
| EDUC 699 | Internship (-A03) | 3 |
| 1 | Intensive format optional |
- Must have initial license and 3 years experience
- Also for Math: EDUC 530 Teaching Mathematics (3 c.h.), Praxis II
or - Reading: EDUC 656 Teaching Content Area Reading (3 c.h.), EDUC 659 Foundations and Theories of Literacy Instruction (3 c.h.), RVE (Reading for Virginia Educators: Elementary and Special Education or Reading for Virginia Educators: Reading Specialist)
Building-level School Administration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 641 | Supervision of Instruction | 3 |
| EDUC 648 | School Finance and Management | 3 |
| EDUC 672 | Curriculum Development (Elementary/Secondary) | 3 |
| EDUC 699 | Internship (-A01) | 3 |
| EDUC 740 | Leadership Principles and Ethics | 3 |
| EDUC 741 | Theories of Educational Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 742 | Educational Leadership and Public Relations | 3 |
| EDUC 747 | Advanced Educational Law | 3 |
- Any graduate-level curriculum course may substitute for EDUC 672 Curriculum Development (Elementary/Secondary) (3 c.h.)
- Must have initial license and 3 years' experience