Special Education
Teachers fulfill unique needs in the lives and development of children whose needs go beyond what is usually available in the classroom.
Special Education, B.S.
Teachers fulfill unique needs in the lives and development of our younger citizens. For children whose needs go beyond what is usually available in the classroom, the teacher is even more crucial. Students can have a wide range of learning, intellectual, emotional, and physical disabilities. Teachers make sure that lessons and teaching strategies are designed to meet individual needs. If you have a desire to experience this rewarding challenge, a career in special education can lead to numerous employment opportunities. At MTSU, you can take the important first steps by choosing to major in Special Education in the Department of Elementary and Special Education. The Interventionist (K-8 or 6-12) and Comprehensive (K-12) programs lead to initial teacher licensure.
The following licensure programs are available (see Requirements for details):
- K-12 Comprehensive
- 6-12 General Interventionist
- K-8 Interventionist
News Briefs
Registration open for July 15-19 MTSU special needs summer camp
Registration is open and spots are still available for Middle Tennessee State University’s Inclusive College Experience camp for people ages 16 to 25 with intellectual disabilities.[ Read More ]
Registration open for MTSU center’s July educator training academies
Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Educational Media is hosting its annual PK-12 Collaborative Summer Academies — full-day professional development opportunities for teachers of English Language Learners, special education teachers and school counselors. [ Read More ]
News Briefs
Registration open for July 15-19 MTSU special needs summer camp
Registration is open and spots are still available for Middle Tennessee State University’s Inclusive College Experience camp for people ages 16 to 25 with intellectual disabilities.[ Read More ]
Registration open for MTSU center’s July educator training academies
Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Educational Media is hosting its annual PK-12 Collaborative Summer Academies — full-day professional development opportunities for teachers of English Language Learners, special education teachers and school counselors. [ Read More ]
Special Education, B.S.
Individuals trained to teach bring a desirable range of expertise and creativity to planning and administrative roles. Graduates completing their teacher preparation at MTSU are found in public and private school classrooms throughout Tennessee and in many other states. In addition to classroom teaching, other career options include
- Agency and administrative work
- Community and foundation work
- Consulting, professional development, and teacher training
- Education marketing and research
- Education policy development
- Higher education teaching and administration
- Job coaching
- Mental health agency work
- Private tutoring
Educators who studied at MTSU are employed in a variety of settings that include the Tennessee Department of Education and other state agencies, community colleges and universities, Head Start programs, and tutoring services. Graduates are employed in public and private schools and school districts throughout the country as well as in Tennessee.
Among the employers of MTSU alumni are
- Anderson County Schools
- Bedford County Schools
- Cannon County Schools
- Carroll County Schools
- Cheatham Co Schools
- Coffee County Schools
- Collierville Christian Academy
- Crockett County Schools
- Cumberland County Schools
- DeKalb County Schools
- Dickson County Schools
- Dyer County Schools
- Fayette County Schools
- Fayetteville City Schools
- Franklin Special School District
- Giles County Schools
- Grundy County Schools
- Hamilton County Schools
- Hardeman County Schools
- Hickman County Schools
- Kids Connection
- Knox County Schools
- Lawrence County Schools
- Lebanon Special School District
- Lewis County Schools
- Lincoln County Schools
- Macon County Schools
- Madison County Schools
- Manchester City Schools
- Marion County Schools
- Marshall County Schools
- Maury County Schools
- McNairy County Schools
- Memphis and Shelby County Schools
- Metro Action Commission, Nashville
- Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
- Middle Tennessee Christian School, Murfreesboro
- Montgomery County Schools
- Moore County Schools
- Murfreesboro City Schools
- Perry County Schools
- Providence Christian Academy, Murfreesboro
- Robertson County Schools
- Rutherford County Schools
- Sequatchie County Schools
- Sumner County Schools
- The Webb School, Bell Buckle
- Trousdale County Schools
- Tullahoma City Schools,
- Warren County Schools
- Wayne County Schools
- White County Schools
- Williamson County Schools
- Wilson County Schools
- Youth Village Center for Boys
MTSU’s Career Development Center
MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.
Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career.
Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called Handshake .
Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our What Can I Do with A Major In guides.
Degrees
Students willing to work with a broad spectrum of abilities can earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in Special Education, choosing from either Interventionist (K-8 & 6-12) or Comprehensive program (K-12).
For complete curriculum details, click on REQUIREMENTS.
View more information about admission to the Teacher Education Program!
An undergraduate minor in Special Education is available.
Other programs in the department
Undergraduate
Other undergraduate majors offered in the Department of Elementary and Special Education and leading to a B.S. include Early Childhood Education (grades Prek-3), Elementary Education (grades K-5) and Middle Level Education (grades 6-8).
Students wishing to teach in secondary schools must complete a major in the subject they wish to teach and a minor in Secondary Education in the Womack Department of Educational Leadership. Directed teaching and applying for and receiving teacher licensure complete the preparation process.
Graduate
Graduate degrees available through the Department of Elementary and Special Education include the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree with programs of study in Special Education with two concentrations: Comprehensive and Interventionist, Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Elementary School Education and Initial Licensure, and Literacy
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Literacy Studies and the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Assessment, Learning, and Student Success are available in the College of Education.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
MTSU discloses that the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Special Education is a teacher licensure preparation program accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Tennessee Department of Education. Admission to an undergraduate teacher licensure preparation program does not guarantee that students will obtain a teacher license. Successful completion of the program meets the educational requirements to apply for a practitioner teacher licensure in Tennessee.
The BS Special Education disclosure provided on MTSU’s professional licensure disclosure website indicates the states and territories where MTSU has determined, through reasonable and good faith effort, that the program does or does not meet the educational requirements for other US states and territories. Licensing authorities for each state set and enforce their own requirements and standards, which are subject to change. Current and prospective students not located in Tennessee or who plan to seek licensure or certification outside the state of Tennessee should contact the appropriate state licensing agency or board and discuss their plans with an advisor and the MTSU Office of Teacher Licensure before enrolling in the program to ensure they have the most up-to-date information and guidance regarding licensure requirements.
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