Special Education Interdisciplinary Studies (B.S.) - Online
With Fifth-Year Option for M.A.T. & Licensure
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.
General Education/Foundational Skills Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication & Information Literacy 1 | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| Communications Elective | 3 | |
| Information Literacy Elective | 3 | |
| Information Literacy Elective | 3 | |
| Technological Solutions & Quantitative Reasoning 1 | ||
| UNIV 104 | Instructional Technology for Successful Online Learning | 0-3 |
| Math Elective | MATH 114 or higher | 3 |
| Critical Thinking 1 | ||
| RLGN 104 | Christian Life and Biblical Worldview 2 | 4 |
| Critical Thinking Elective | 3 | |
| Civic & Global Engagement 1 | ||
| Cultural Studies Elective | 3 | |
| Social & Scientific Inquiry 1 | ||
| Natural Science Elective | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Christianity & Contexts 1 | ||
| BIBL 104 | Survey of Old and New Testament | 4 |
| THEO 104 | Introduction to Theology Survey 2 | 4 |
| Total Hours | 39-42 | |
- 1
Refer to the list of approved general education electives before enrolling in foundational skill requirements
- 2
Students transferring in 45 or more UG credit hours will have the requirement of RLGN 104 waived; Students transferring in 60 or more UG credit hours will also have the requirement of THEO 104 waived
Major Requirements
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 a state-approved program. Refer to www.liberty.edu/education.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Foundational Courses | ||
| BIOL 101 | Principles of Biology 1 | 3 |
| or BIOL 102 | Principles of Human Biology | |
| COMS 101 | Speech Communication 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Composition and Literature 1 | 3 |
| HIEU 201 | History of Western Civilization I 1 | 3 |
| HIUS 221 | Survey of American History I 1 | 3 |
| MATH 117 | Elements of Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| MATH 217 | Elementary Geometry 1 | 3 |
| PHSC 210 | Elements of Earth Science 1 | 3 |
| or PHYS 101 | Elements of Physics | |
| PSYC 101 | General Psychology 1 | 3 |
| or PSYC 210 | Developmental Psychology | |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
- 1
Course may fulfill select general education requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core | ||
| Area of Study I: Education | ||
| EDUC 200 | Principles of Education | 3 |
| EDUC 205 | Learning Theory and Portfolio Development | 3 |
| EDUC 301 | Instructional Practices for Math Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 302 | Instructional Practices for Reading Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 304 | Classroom Management for Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 305 | Educational Philosophy for Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 307 | Instructional Practices for Differentiated Instruction | 3 |
| EDUC Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Area of Study II: Content Core | ||
| EDSP 323 | Special Education Law and Characteristics 3,4 | 3 |
| or EDSP 429 | Survey of Trends in Special Education | |
| EDSP 360 | Learning and Behavior Problems | 3 |
| EDSP 367 | Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| EDSP 370 | Intervention for Students with Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| EDSP 377 | Autism: Educational and Theoretical Approaches | 3 |
| EDSP 410 | Instructional Adaptation for Special Education | 3 |
| PSYC 345 | Exceptional Child | 3 |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
- 1
Choose from EDUC 380 Current Issues in Education (3 c.h.)6, EDUC 390 Teaching Practicum (3 c.h.)5,7, or EDUC 398 Field Experience Capstone (3 c.h.)8
- 2
Choose any Cultural Studies course from the General Education list
- 3
Completion of this course allows graduates to apply for a provisional license in Special Education in VA at completion of the degree program
- 4
This is a non-licensure course and does not lead to eligibility for a provisional license in Special Education in VA
- 5
Background check clearance required for EDUC 390 Teaching Practicum (3 c.h.)
- 6
Capstone course that requires no field experience and does not lead to ACSI licensure
- 7
Capstone course where students must complete a minimum of 300 hours and leads to ACSI licensure
- 8
EDUC 398 Field Experience Capstone (3 c.h.) requires 45 hours of field experience
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Free Electives | ||
| Choose 3-24 credit hours of Free Electives | 3-24 | |
| Total Hours | 3-24 | |
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- 120 Total hours
- 2.0 Overall grade point average
- 30 Hours must be upper-level courses (300-400 level)
- Grade of ‘C’ Minimum required for all upper-level courses in the major
- 25% Of major taken through Liberty University
- 30 Hours must be completed through Liberty University
- Grad App Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student's anticipated graduation date
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| BIBL 104 | Survey of Old and New Testament | 4 |
| UNIV 104 | Instructional Technology for Successful Online Learning | 0-3 |
| Communications Elective (COMS 101) 1 | 3 | |
| EDUC 200 | Principles of Education | 3 |
| EDUC 205 | Learning Theory and Portfolio Development | 3 |
| Hours | 13-16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| THEO 104 | Introduction to Theology Survey | 4 |
| Information Literacy Elective (ENGL 102) 1 | 3 | |
| EDUC 301 | Instructional Practices for Math Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 302 | Instructional Practices for Reading Teachers | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PSYC 101 or PSYC 210 |
General Psychology or Developmental Psychology |
3 |
| RLGN 104 | Christian Life and Biblical Worldview | 4 |
| Information Literacy Elective (HIEU 201 or HIUS 221) 1 | 3 | |
| EDUC 304 | Classroom Management for Teachers | 3 |
| PSYC 345 | Exceptional Child | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HIEU 201 or HIUS 221 |
History of Western Civilization I or Survey of American History I |
3 |
| EDSP 367 | Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| EDSP 3232 or EDSP 4293 | 3 | |
| EDUC 305 | Educational Philosophy for Teachers | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Social Science Elective (PSYC 101 or PSYC 210) 1 | 3 | |
| EDSP 360 | Learning and Behavior Problems | 3 |
| EDSP 370 | Intervention for Students with Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| EDSP 410 | Instructional Adaptation for Special Education | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIOL 101 or or BIOL 102 or PHSC 210 or PHYS 101 1 | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking Elective 1,4 | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MATH 117 or MATH 217 |
Elements of Mathematics or Elementary Geometry |
3 |
| Natural Science Elective (BIOL 101 or BIOL 102 or PHSC 210 or PHYS 101) 1 | 3 | |
| EDSP 377 | Autism: Educational and Theoretical Approaches | 3 |
| EDUC 307 | Instructional Practices for Differentiated Instruction | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Cultural Studies Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Math Elective (MATH 117 or MATH 217) 1 | 3 | |
| Education Elective 6 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120-123 | |
- 1
Refer to the list of approved general education electives at www.liberty.edu/gened before enrolling in core competency requirements
- 2
Completion of this course allows graduates to apply for a provisional license in Special Education in VA at completion of degree program
- 3
This is a non-licensure course and does not lead to eligibility for a provisional license in Special Education in VA
- 4
Literature Elective recommended
- 5
Choose any Cultural Studies course from the General Education list
- 6
Choose from EDUC 3807 , 3908,9, or 3988,10
- 7
Capstone course that requires no field experience and does not lead to ACSI licensure
- 8
Background check clearance required
- 9
Capstone course where students must complete a minimum of 300 hours and leads to ACSI licensure
- 10
EDUC 398 requires 45 hours of field experience