School of Education
Special Education

A Solid Liberal Arts Foundation for Teaching Success

Benedictine’s Elementary Education program is anchored in a strong liberal arts foundation, ensuring that you develop a broad understanding of the world and the ability to connect with students from all backgrounds. This foundation, coupled with our rigorous special education coursework, prepares you to teach effectively in a 21st-century world.

Benefit from the guidance of esteemed faculty members who bring their expertise and passion for special education to the classroom. Our small class sizes foster a close-knit learning community, where you’ll receive personalized attention and support throughout the Elementary Education program.

Our dedicated faculty works closely with the Academic Support Center to provide comprehensive preparation and assistance in securing teaching positions upon graduation. With Benedictine’s commitment to your success, you’ll graduate with the confidence and skills to make a difference in the lives of special education students.

A Rigorous Sequence of Culminating Assessments to Ensure Readiness to Excel in the Classroom

Prior to embarking on their student teaching experience, teacher candidates demonstrate their mastery of their chosen subject area by passing the content area test in their major. This rigorous assessment validates their depth of knowledge and ensures they possess the pedagogical expertise to effectively instruct students in their field.

Following their immersive student teaching experience, teacher candidates engage in the edTPA, a nationally recognized performance assessment that measures their ability to plan, instruct, and assess student learning effectively. This comprehensive assessment evaluates their teaching skills, lesson planning strategies, and student engagement techniques, ensuring they are well-equipped to foster meaningful learning and student growth.

By successfully completing these culminating assessments, Benedictine University’s Education Program graduates demonstrate their unwavering commitment to excellence and their readiness to make a positive impact on the lives of their students.

Students majoring in Special Education/(LBS I) must complete the following requirements.

These align with, but are not totally inclusive of, all of the University’s Basic Skills and Distribution Requirements for an undergraduate degree at Benedictine University. 1. The Basic Skills core with at least a “C” in each course. This core includes WRIT 1101 Writing Colloquium, WRIT 1102 Research Writing, COMM 1110 Speech Communication, and MATH 1112 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I. 2. The Arts and Humanities distributions require 15 semester credit hours.

3. The Natural Sciences distribution requires 9 semester credit hours. One Life-Scientific (QLS) or Physical-Scientific (QPS) course must include a lab. A Computational Math course & Analytical (QCM) is needed. 4. The Social Sciences I and II distributions require 6 semester credit hours.

The cognate requirements for the major in the Special Education (LBS I) program for degree and license requirements are:

Course List

Code – Title –  Hours

MATH 1112 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I – 3

HIST 1111 American History to 1865 – 3
or HIST 1112 American History since 1865

PLSC 1102 American Government  – 3

Total Hours 9

The professional education requirements for the Special Education (LBS1) program for degree and license requirements are:

Course List

Code – Title – Hours

EDUC 2200 Preclinical Experience Level 1 with Seminar 1 – 1

EDUC 2205 Educational Foundations – 3

EDUC 2207 Introduction to Education Seminar – 1

EDUC 3209 Language Arts in the Elementary School – 3

EDUC 2210 Educational Psychology – 3

EDUC 2215 Technology for Teachers – 3

EDUC 3234 Preclinical Experience Level 2 with Seminar 1 – 1

EDUC 4236 Preclinical Experience Level 3 with Seminar 1 – 1

EDUC 3240 Teaching Reading/Writing in the Elementary School – 3

EDUC 3257 Characteristics of Learners with Low Incidence Disabilities – 3

EDUC 2260 Educating Students with Exceptionalities – 3

EDUC 3265 Characteristics of Learners with High Incidence Disabilities – 3

EDUC 4308 Creating An Inclusive Learning Environment – 3

EDUC 3311 Assessment and Diagnosis for Special Education (LBSI) – 3

EDUC 4320 Reading/Writing Diagnostics for All Learners – 3

EDUC 4355 Managing the Learning Environment – 3

EDUC 3357 Methods of Teaching Learners with Low Incidence Disabilities – 3

EDUC 3358 Methods of Teaching Learners with High Incidence Disabilities – 3

EDUC 2100 Physical Development and Health for Educators – 2

EDUC 4372 Student Teaching (w/ Seminar) Special Education (LBS1) 1 – 12

Total Hours 60

Included in these requirements are three preclinical experiences (EDUC 2200 Preclinical Experience Level 1 with Seminar, EDUC 3234 Preclinical Experience Level 2 with Seminar, and EDUC 4236 Preclinical Experience Level 3 with Seminar) and student teaching (EDUC 4372 Student Teaching (w/ Seminar) Special Education (LBS1))

All coursework for licensure must be completed with grades of “C” or better. Grades of C minus (C-) are considered to be below a “C”. “C-“ grades for equivalent courses received from another institution will need to be retaken at Benedictine and passed with a grade of “C” or better. Students need a 2.75 GPA Overall and a 3.0 in the Major to be eligible for licensure.

The majority of the licensure requirements are mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education. Any changes in licensure requirements must be met at the time they go into effect. This could change program requirements. Students must successfully pass any state test or evaluation before student teaching. If a student has not completed all license requirements at the time the degree is awarded, the transcript will show that the degree/program was completed “Without License.”

Completion of the Special Education major with licensure test requirements entitles the candidate to the Professional Educator License (PEL) with the endorsement for Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS I) for grades K-age 21.

Students in the Education programs will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):

Student Learning Outcome 1: Teacher candidates in the Education Program will pass student teaching.

• University SLO: 1; Disciplinary Competence and Skills

Student Learning Outcome 2: Teacher Candidates will pass the content area test in their major

• University SLO: 9; Personal Development

Student Learning Outcome 3: Teacher Candidates will successfully demonstrate proficiency in all areas of the Professional Dispositions/Standards for Teachers

• University SLO: 2; Critical and Creative Thinking Skills

Diverse Career Opportunities for Special Education Graduates

Special education graduates can pursue diverse career paths including special education teacher, instructional specialist, curriculum specialist, behavior intervention specialist, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, educational psychologist, special education coordinator, assistive technology specialist, and transition specialist.

What our alumni have done with this degree:

Benedictine University Special education program graduates are employed by K-12 public school districts, private schools for students with diverse disabilities, alternative schools for students with social and emotional disorders, special education cooperatives, special parks and recreation agencies, rehabilitation agencies, programs for adults with developmental disabilities, and other similar programs.

Here is an example of some courses you may take in the Special Education program:

• Educational Foundations
• Educational Psychology
• Technology for Teachers
• Characteristics of Learners with Low Incidence Disabilities
• Methods of Teaching Learners with Low Incidence Disabilities

Special Education courses (EDUC)

Lisle Undergraduate course descriptions