Students who want to become special education teachers must also major in either elementary, middle, or secondary (high school) teaching. Those choosing to major in special education will work with students who have identified learning disabilities, behavior disorders, mild intellectual disabilities, and/or physical and health disabilities. The special education teacher may work alongside a general education teacher providing support, accommodations, and modifications to students with disabilities in the general education classroom; may provide more individualized instruction to students with disabilities in a resource room; or may teach students with disabilities in a self-contained special education classroom. When finished, students may apply for certification to teach individuals with learning and behavior disorders from kindergarten through 12th grade. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 throughout the program. Additionally, students will need to work closely with their assigned advisor to ensure that requirements for both general education teaching certification (elementary, middle, or secondary), as well as the requirements for special education teaching certification, are met.
You should also know: At the time of graduation, all students in teacher education programs must meet the following requirements:
- Overall GPA of 2.75.
- Pedagogy (EDU and EDS courses) GPA of 2.75.
- Content course GPA of 2.75.
- NKU coursework GPA of 2.75.
- Minimum grade of C (not C-) in all education (EDS / EDU) courses.
♦ Indicates prerequisite.
