Skip to main
University-wide Navigation

College of Education, Dept. of Early Childhood, Special Education, & Counselor Education Special Education (B.S.)

Request Information How to Apply

What can you do with this degree?

This AAQEP Accredited degree will prepare you to teach students Kindergarten to 12th grade with both high and low incidence disabilities. This may include students with specific learning disabilities, other health impairments, emotional disturbances, intellectual disabilities, autism, or multiple disabilities.

You'll have an opportunity to work within diverse elementary, middle, and high school settings in both urban and rural communities.

The Special Education program is approved by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.

Delivery Method: On-campus

Credit Hours: 120

Teacher certification information

Why Study With Us?

You'll be immersed in field experiences from the start, gaining over 200 hours of field experience in classroom observations that occur across disability categories and grade levels, in addition to a full semester of student teaching.

What You'll Study

The B.S. in Special Education degree contains three steps:

  1. UK Core requirements
  2. Program related studies courses
  3. Professional education component

View the Candidate Policies and Procedures Manual for Bachelor of Science in Special Education.

Below is a template of the course progression followed by Special Education students.

Year 1

Semester 1 (16 course hours)

  • PSY 100- Introduction to Psychology (4)
  • EDS 375- Intro to Teaching Exceptional Children (3)
  • UK Core- Composition & Communication I : CIS or WRD 110 (3)
  • UK Core- Quantitative Foundations: MA111- Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics (3)
  • UK Core- Social Science: EPE 174- The College Student (3)

Semester 2 (15 course hours)

  • STA 210- Statistical Inferential Reasoning (3)
  • UK Core- Composition & Communication II: CIS or WRD 111 (3)
  • UK Core- Global Dynamics (3)
  • UK Core- Humanities (3)
  • UK Core- Natural Science (3)

Year 2

Semester 3 (15 course hours)

  • EDS 513- Legal Issues in Special Education (3)
  • EES 160- Geology for Teachers or PHY 160- Physics/Astronomy for Teachers (3)
  • MA 201- Math for Elementary Teachers (3) (B or better required in this course) 
  • UK Core- US Citizenship: EPE 301- Education in American Society (3)
  • Free Elective Course (3)

Semester 4 (16 course hours)

Check with your advisor to make sure requirements are completed for applying to the Teacher Education Program.

  • EDS 301- Initial Practicum in Special Education (1)
  • EDS 505- Preparing to Teach Diverse Learners (3)
  • EDS 516- Principles of Behavior Management and Instruction (3) or EDS 547- Collaboration/Inclusion (3)
  • EDS 526- Intro to Special Education Assessment and Program Planning (3)
  • EDS 570- Learning & Behavioral Disabilities (3)
  • UK Core- Arts and Creativity (3)

Year 3

Semester 5 (13 course hours)

Apply to the Teacher Education Program

  • EDS 301- Initial Practicum in Special Education (1)
  • EDS 500- Communication Strategies (3)
  • EDS 516- Principles of Behavior Management and Instruction (3) or EDS 547- Collaboration/Inclusion (3)
  • EDS 517- Assistive Technology in Special Education (3)
  • EDS 530- Moderate/Severe Disabilities (3)

 

Semester 6 (18 course hours)

  • *EDC 326- Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Education
  • *EDS 401- Intermediate Practicum in Special Education 
  • *EDS 518- Behavior Management in Applied Settings
  • *EDS 548- Curriculum Design for Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities
  • *EDS 549- Methods for Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities
  • *SEM 328- Teaching Science in Elementary Education

Year 4

Semester 7 (15 course hours)

  • *EDC 339- Designing a Reading and Language Arts Program for the Elementary School
  • *EDS 402- Advanced Practicum in Special Education
  • *EDS 528- Reading and Language Arts Methods for Students with Learning & Behavioral   
  •   Disabilities
  • *EDS 529- Educational Programming for Students with Learning & Behavioral Disabilities
  • *SEM 337- Teaching Mathematics in Elementary Schools

 

Semester 8

  • *EDS 550- Student Teaching in Special Education

*requires prior admission to the Teacher Education Program

Request Information

Questions about applying? Complete our form to be contacted by a recruiter for more information.

Request Information

Cost of Attendance

Understand the total estimated expense to attend UK, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

Cost of Attendance

Tuition and Fees

Understand the specific charges for instruction and related services, excluding other living and personal expenses.

Tuition and Fees

University of Kentucky Homepage A link to return to the University of Kentucky Homepage
An Equal Opportunity University
Accreditation
Directory
Email
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Disclosures
© University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky 40506