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. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses
EDLC 504	Educational Philosophy and Theories of Learning	3
EDLC 623	Principles of Behavior Management	3
EDSP 521	Foundations of Exceptionality	3
EDSP 522	Special Education and Disability Law	3
EDSP 622	Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education	3
Total Hours		15

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Early Childhood Special Education Cognate
EDEC 670	Curriculum and Methods for Early Childhood Education	3
EDLC 554	Foundations in Early Literacy Instruction	3
EDLC 651	Language and Literacy for Diverse Populations 1,2	3
EDSP 519	Characteristics and Medical Aspects of Severe Disabilities	3
EDSP 534	Individualized Programming and Curriculum 1,3	3
Total Hours		15

¹

Background check clearance required (EDLC 651, EDSP 534, EDSP 588, EDSP 688, EDST 587, EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, and EDST 569)

²

EDLC 651 must be taken in the same semester as EDSP 688

³

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

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Gate & Field Experience Courses
EDGT 520	School of Education Gate 1 – MAT Initial Licensure	0
EDGT 560	School of Education Gate 2 – MAT Initial Licensure	0
EDGT 580	School of Education Gate 3 – MAT Initial Licensure 1	0
EDSP 588	Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education I 2,3	0
EDSP 688	Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education II 3,4	0
Total Hours		0

¹

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.

²

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

³

Background check clearance required (EDLC 651, EDSP 534, EDSP 588, EDSP 688, EDST 587, EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, and EDST 569)

⁴

EDLC 651 must be taken in the same semester as EDSP 688

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Student Teaching Courses
EDST 587	The Reflective Practitioner: Resource Seminar – Special Education 1	3
Candidates will be assigned 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 Hours		6

¹

Background check clearance required (EDLC 651, EDSP 534, EDSP 588, EDSP 688, EDST 587, EDST 560, EDST 561, EDST 562, EDST 563, EDST 564, EDST 565, EDST 566, EDST 567, EDST 568, EDST 569)

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.

Note:

•  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 36 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 Semester		Hours
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
	Hours	6
Second Semester
EDSP 519	Characteristics and Medical Aspects of Severe Disabilities	3
EDSP 622	Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education	3
EDLC 554	Foundations in Early Literacy Instruction	3
	Hours	9
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
	Hours	9
Second Semester
EDSP 688	Initial Licensure Practicum in Special Education II 1,2	0
EDGT 580	School of Education Gate 3 – MAT Initial Licensure 1,3	0
EDLC 651	Language and Literacy for Diverse Populations 1,2	3
EDEC 670	Curriculum and Methods for Early Childhood Education	3
	Hours	6
Third Year
First Semester
Student Teaching Elective 1,2		3
EDST 587	The Reflective Practitioner: Resource Seminar – Special Education 1,2	3
	Hours	6
	Total Hours	36

¹

Should not be taken during the summer semester

²

Background check clearance required

³

Should be taken the semester before student teaching