Teaching in Special Education (M.A.T.) - Adapted Curriculum & Early Childhood Special Education with CTE-Transition & Special Needs (Add-On Endorsement)

Teaching in Special Education (M.A.T.) - Adapted Curriculum & Early Childhood Special Education with CTE-Transition & Special Needs (Add-On Endorsement)

Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2023 through summer 2024. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.

After completion of the required program coursework (including student teaching in required endorsement area), content competencies (if applicable), and the passing of licensure tests, the graduate of this program would be eligible for a VA state teaching license with endorsements in Special Education Adapted Curriculum (K-12), CTE-Transition & Special Needs, and Early Childhood Special Education (0-5 years).

Core Courses
EDSP 521Foundations of Exceptionality3
EDSP 522Special Education and Disability Law3
EDSP 622Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education3
EDLC 504Educational Philosophy and Theories of Learning3
EDLC 623Principles of Behavior Management3
Total Hours15
Adapted Curriculum & Early Childhood Special Education Concentration
EDSP 519Characteristics and Medical Aspects of Severe Disabilities3
EDSP 525Transition and Assessment for Exceptional Learners 13
EDSP 529Employment, Community, and Independent Living3
EDSP 534Individualized Programming and Curriculum 23
EDLC 651Language and Literacy for Diverse Populations3
Early Childhood Courses
EDEC 670Curriculum and Methods for Early Childhood Education3
EDLC 554Reading and Language Acquisition3
Multiple Endorsement Courses
EDGT 585School of Education Gate 3 – Multiple Endorsements 3,4,50
Candidates will be assigned one of the following:3
EDST 566
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – One placement - Distance 4,6
EDST 567
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – One placement - Local 4,6
EDST 568
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – Two placement - Distance 4,6
EDST 569
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – Two placement – Local 4,6
Total Hours24
1

EDSP 525 must be taken in the same semester as EDSP 688

2

EDSP 534 must be taken in the same semester as EDSP 588.

3

Candidates should enroll in the Gate 3 course the semester prior to desired student teaching semester. If a Fall student teaching semester is desired, candidates should enroll in the Gate 3 course during the prior Spring semester. If a Spring student teaching semester is desired, candidates should enroll in the Gate 3 course during the previous Fall semester. These courses are not offered in Summer terms.

4

Background check clearance required (EDGT 585, EDSP 588, EDSP 688, EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, and EDST 569). 

5

Candidates will be assigned either EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, or EDST 569) Course and section number will be designated during EDGT 580/EDGT 585.

6

Candidates will be assigned either EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, or EDST 569. Course and section number will be designated during EDGT 580/EDGT 585.

Gate & Field Experience Courses
EDGT 520School of Education Gate 1 – MAT Initial Licensure0
EDGT 560School of Education Gate 2 – MAT Initial Licensure0
EDGT 580School of Education Gate 3 – MAT Initial Licensure 1,20
EDSP 588Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education I 3,40
EDSP 688Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education II 4,50
Total Hours0
1

Candidates should enroll in the Gate 3 course the semester prior to desired student teaching semester. If a Fall student teaching semester is desired, candidates should enroll in the Gate 3 course during the prior Spring semester. If a Spring student teaching semester is desired, candidates should enroll in the Gate 3 course during the previous Fall semester. These courses are not offered in Summer terms.

2

Candidates will be assigned either EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, or EDST 569. Course and section number will be designated during EDGT 580/EDGT 585.

3

EDSP 534 must be taken in the same semester as EDSP 588

4

Background check clearance required (EDGT 585, EDSP 588, EDSP 588, EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, and EDST 569).

5

EDSP 525 must be taken in the same semester as EDSP 688

Student Teaching Courses
EDST 587The Reflective Practitioner: Resource Seminar – Special Education3
Choose one of the following:3
EDST 560
Student Teaching - One Placement – Distance 1,2
EDST 561
Student Teaching - One Placement - Local 1,2,3
EDST 562
Student Teaching - Two Placement – Distance 1,2
EDST 563
Student Teaching - Two Placement - Local 1,2,3
EDST 564
Student Teaching – Own Classroom – Distance 1,2
EDST 565
Student Teaching – Own Classroom – Local 1,2
EDST 566
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – One placement - Distance 1,2
EDST 567
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – One placement - Local 1,2
EDST 568
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – Two placement - Distance 1,2
EDST 569
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – Two placement – Local 1,2
Total Hours6
1

Background check clearance required (EDGT 585, EDSP 588, EDSP 688, EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, EDST 569, and EDST 587).

2

Candidates will be assigned either EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, or EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, or EDST 569. Course and section number will be designated during EDGT 580/EDGT 585.

3

International candidates seeking a “student visa” to study in residence in the U.S. may use EDST 561 or EDST 563 to count as part of their residency requirement.

Notes:

  • Competencies must be met prior to student teaching. Please refer to the Elementary/Middle Content Competency Chart
  •  All practicum courses should be completed before student teaching and students should not complete practicum during the summer semester

All applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete 45 hours
  • A maximum of 50% of the program hours may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
  • 3.0 GPA
  • No more than two grades 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

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterHours
EDGT 520 School of Education Gate 1 – MAT Initial Licensure 0
EDLC 504 Educational Philosophy and Theories of Learning 3
EDGT 560 School of Education Gate 2 – MAT Initial Licensure 0
EDSP 521 Foundations of Exceptionality 3
EDSP 622 Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education 3
 Hours9
Second Semester
EDSP 519 Characteristics and Medical Aspects of Severe Disabilities 3
EDLC 554 Reading and Language Acquisition 3
EDLC 651 Language and Literacy for Diverse Populations 3
 Hours9
Second Year
First Semester
EDSP 588 Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education I 1,2 0
EDSP 534 Individualized Programming and Curriculum 1 3
EDLC 623 Principles of Behavior Management 3
EDSP 522 Special Education and Disability Law 3
 Hours9
Second Semester
EDSP 688 Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education II 1,2 0
EDGT 580 School of Education Gate 3 – MAT Initial Licensure 1 0
EDSP 525 Transition and Assessment for Exceptional Learners 1 3
EDSP 529 Employment, Community, and Independent Living 3
 Hours6
Third Year
First Semester
EDGT 585 School of Education Gate 3 – Multiple Endorsements 1,2 0
EDST 587 The Reflective Practitioner: Resource Seminar – Special Education 1,2 3
Student Teaching Elective 2 3
 Hours6
Second Semester
EDST Elective 3 3
EDEC 670 Curriculum and Methods for Early Childhood Education 3
 Hours6
 Total Hours45
1

All practicum courses must be completed before student teaching, and candidates should not plan to take practicum courses in summer sessions.

2

Background check clearance required (EDGT 585, EDSP 588, 688, EDST 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 569, 587)

3

Candidates will be assigned one of the following courses: EDST 566, 567, 568, or 569

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