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.
