Teaching in Special Education (M.A.T.) - Early Childhood Special Education & General Curriculum

Teaching in Special Education (M.A.T.) - Early Childhood Special Education & General Curriculum

Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2024 through summer 2025. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.

As a requirement for completion of this program, including student teaching and passing required licensure tests, the graduate of this program, regardless of state residency, must obtain a VA state teaching license. The VA teaching license may then be used for reciprocity in another state according to the regulations of that state.

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
Early Childhood Special Education & General Curriculum Concentration
EDEC 670Curriculum and Methods for Early Childhood Education3
EDSP 519Characteristics and Medical Aspects of Severe Disabilities3
EDSP 534Individualized Programming and Curriculum 1,23
EDLC 554Foundations in Early Literacy Instruction 2,33
EDLC 651Language and Literacy for Diverse Populations3
Special Education General Curriculum Courses
EDSP 524Collaborating for Successful Inclusive Classrooms3
EDSP 525Transition and Assessment for Exceptional Learners 2,43
EDLC 530Teaching Mathematics3
EDLC 571Curriculum Fundamentals3
Multiple Endorsement Courses
EDGT 585School of Education Gate 3 – Multiple Endorsements 2,50
EDLC 588Initial Licensure Practicum I 2,30
Candidates will be assigned one of the following:3
EDST 566
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – One placement - Distance (Choose one of the following:) 2
EDST 567
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – One placement - Local 2
EDST 568
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – Two placement - Distance 2
EDST 569
Student Teaching - Multiple Endorsement – Two placement – Local 2
Total Hours30
1

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

2

Background check clearance required (EDGT 585, EDSP 525, EDSP 534,EDSP 588, EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565,EDST 566, EDST 567,EDST 568, EDST 569, EDLC 554, and EDLC 588).

3

EDLC 554 must be taken in the same semester as EDLC 588.

4

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

5

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.

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 10
EDSP 588Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education I 2,30
EDSP 688Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education II 3,40
Total Hours0
1

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

2

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

3

Background check clearance required (EDGT 585, EDSP 525, EDSP 534, EDSP 688, EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, EDST 569, EDLC 554 and EDLC 588)

4

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
EDST 562
Student Teaching - Two Placement – Distance 1,2
EDST 563
Student Teaching - Two Placement - Local 1,2
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, EDLC 554, EDLC 588, EDSP 588, EDSP 688, EDST 560, EDST 561,EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, EDST 569, EDLC 554, and EDLC 588).

2

Candidates will be assigned one of the following: 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.

Notes:

  •  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 51 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
EDLC 588 Initial Licensure Practicum I 1,2 0
EDSP 519 Characteristics and Medical Aspects of Severe Disabilities 3
EDLC 554 Foundations in Early Literacy Instruction 1,2 3
EDEC 670 Curriculum and Methods for Early Childhood Education 3
 Hours9
Second Year
First Semester
EDSP 588 Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education I 1,2 0
EDSP 534 Individualized Programming and Curriculum 1,2 3
EDLC 623 Principles of Behavior Management 3
EDSP 522 Special Education and Disability Law 3
EDLC 651 Language and Literacy for Diverse Populations 3
 Hours12
Second Semester
EDSP 688 Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education II 1,2 0
EDGT 580 School of Education Gate 3 – MAT Initial Licensure 0
EDSP 524 Collaborating for Successful Inclusive Classrooms 3
EDSP 525 Transition and Assessment for Exceptional Learners 1,2 3
EDLC 530 Teaching Mathematics 3
 Hours9
Third Year
First Semester
EDGT 585 School of Education Gate 3 – Multiple Endorsements 2 0
EDST 587 The Reflective Practitioner: Resource Seminar – Special Education 3
Student Teaching Elective 2 3
 Hours6
Second Semester
EDST Elective 2,3 3
EDLC 571 Curriculum Fundamentals 3
 Hours6
 Total Hours51
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 525, 534, 588, 688, EDST 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 569, EDLC 554 and 588) 

3

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

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