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This innovative program will allow paraprofessionals (instructional aides) working in Texas public schools and other qualified individuals who have completed at least 45 hours at community colleges to seamlessly transfer to SFASU and complete online a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (BSIS) degree with a concentration in special education and EC-12 special education teacher certification. Paraprofessionals can earn a Texas teaching certificate while remaining in the schools and classrooms where they work. The program is modeled after the successful EC-4 online completer program developed by the Department of Elementary Education at SFASU in 2005, which received the prestigious Star Award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2008.
One benefit of an online program is that it may help you save money on expenses for things such as fuel and parking permits. Plus the flexibility of an online program means you don’t have to miss work in order to attend class!
SFA’s online Special Education program is affordable. Tuition and fees for typical 12-hour semester in this program will cost approximately $2,850* excluding textbooks and any special course fees. Your exact cost may be higher or lower.
There are numerous scholarships, grants and other forms of financial aid available to qualified applicants, including:
Pell Grants
Educational Aide Exemptions
TEACH Grants
Stafford Loans
Helpful Links:
o Tuition Calculator (scroll down to the sections Only for Online Students)
o Financial Aid Office
* Amount quoted is for Texas residents, 2010 spring semester
After completing at least 45 hours that transfer towards the EC-12 Special Education Degree Plan at a community college, individuals may apply for admission to the program. Candidates in this program may transfer as many as 66 academic hours plus four hours of kinesiology activity from a community college to apply toward the degree. Hours from a university may also be accepted. Once admitted to this program, the remaining courses will be offered online from SFASU. Candidates may take as many as twelve hours per semester or as few as three hours per semester. Online courses will be offered during the fall and spring semesters only. During the summer students may take needed courses from the community college. A lab component requiring one trip to SFA campus per semester for a minimum of one to a maximum of three days may be necessary in order to complete the program. Paraprofessionals and others who are employed will need to make arrangements with employers in order to make this trip.
1. Self discipline and technological skills 2. GPA of 3.0 in approved 45 hours of specified courses 3. Prior or current experiences with children and access to a special education classroom for field experience 4. Commitment to four trips to Nacogdoches, Texas, one per semester 2. Priority will also be given to students living sixty miles or more from campus or having other circumstances limiting the ability for on-campus instruction including but not limited to: a. head of household with dependents, b. fulltime job, c. primary care provider for family or other dependents, or d. other extenuating circumstances. 3. Priority will also be given to students who exhibit exemplary writing skills reflected in the application. |
COURSES IN READING (RDG)
318. Early Literacy Development - A study of early literacy, assessment, and instruction.
320. Literacy Development in Middle Childhood - The study of middle childhood literacy assessment and instruction. Prerequisites: RDG 318 and pass all four parts of the Elementary Education Admissions Test.
COURSES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION (SPE)
329. Survey of Exceptionalities - Introductory course covering the conditions and psychological characteristics of exceptional children.
432. Educational Appraisal of Exceptional Children - Fundamental concepts of measurement with emphasis upon the utility and limitations of various test and assessment procedures.
434. Functional Living Skills for Persons with Disabilities - Addresses issues and procedures in teaching independent living skills to students with disabilities, such as mental retardation, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and multiple disabilities. Prerequisites: SPE 329, 439.
438. Academic Instruction for Persons with Disabilities - Addresses effective instructional approaches to help students with disabilities (mental retardation, learning disabilities, behavior disorders) achieve academic goals. Prerequisites: SPE 329, 439.
439. Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis - Principles of behavior management for classroom and community use with students with disabilities. Prerequisite: SPE 329.
443. Student Teaching in Special Education - 3 – 6 semester hours. Senior standing and admission to the Educator Certification Program.
460. Children with Behavioral Disorders - Etiology, characteristics and remediation of behavior disorders of children. Capstone course for special education. Required of all majors and minors. Prerequisites: SPE 329 and 9 hours education, psychology or sociology.
461. Practicum in Special Education - 3 semester hours. Enables the student to apply academic experiences in an instructional setting with supervision prior to the student teaching experience. Students must complete 45 contact hours working with children with special needs. (Capstone course and should be taken the semester prior to student teaching.) Prerequistes: SPE 329, 439, 432, 434, 438, and admission
463. Consulting with Parents and Professionals - Study of family involvement and ways in which a special education teacher can interact positively with the family and collaborate/consult with other concerned professionals. Prerequisites: Admission to Educator Certification Program (except for non-education majors).
464. Early Childhood Special Education - Comprehensive overview of the field, including medical aspects of serving young children with disabilities, methods, technology, transition and interagency coordination. Prerequisites: SPE 329.
465. Educational Programming for Students with Autism - Overview of etiology, research, characteristics, and program components related to children and youth with autism. Discussion of traditional and current causations with subsequent implications drawn for providing appropriate educational interventions. Prerequisite: SPE 329.
COURSES IN SECONDARY EDUCATION (SED)
SED 370 Introduction to Pedagogy and Active Learning - 3 semester hours. An overview of the pedagogical skills and competencies needed to become effective, learner-centered teachers. SED 370 is a learner-centered experience exploring active learning patterns and practices with an emphasis on the integration of instructional technology into the teaching and learning process.
SED 372 Reading and Information Literacy in Secondary Classrooms - 3 semester hours. The study of reading and writing processes, language development, and conventions of writing and content reading. Emphasis will be on instructional and comprehension strategies appropriate for content area literacy instruction and assessment and for working with culturally and linguistically diverse learners to improve communication skills. Prerequisite: EPS 380 and SED 370 and admission to Educator Certification Program.
SED 443 The Professional Educator - 3 semester hours. This web-based course is designed to synthesize educational strategies and practices while the candidate completes student teaching. It also assists students in preparation for teacher certification examinations
SED 450 Diversity in a Learner Centered Environment - 2 semester hours. This course seeks to provide understanding and strategies that will empower pre-service teacher candidates to assume the responsibility for the creation of a classroom learning environment wherein students from diverse cultural, linguistic, ethnic, economic, and ability backgrounds may attain maximum academic, social, and emotional success.
 | Apply for admission to Stephen F. Austin State University: SFA Admission for Transfer Students |
| Apply for admission to the EC-12 Special Education, Distance Education Completion Programm (Admission to the program is contingent upon admission to the University.) |
| Apply for financial aid if needed: SFA Financial Aid Office |
| Be advised by the Program Coordinator, Dr Melanie McGill: specialed@sfasu.edu |
| Meet the criteria and apply for admission to the Educator Certification Program at approximately 66 credit hours: Criteria for Admission to Educator Certification |
*All rules, policies and requirements of the University, College of Education, and Department of Human Services shall apply to student admission and continuance in the program. |
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Melanie McGill, Ph D. |
| Phone: (936) 468-1215 Fax: (936) 468-5837 |
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| mjmcgill@sfasu.edu Department of Human Services P. O. Box 13019 Nacogdoches, Texas 75962 |
The Online Special Education program is housed in the Department of Human Services, one of six departments in the James I. Perkins College of Education at Stephen F. Austin State University. The mission of the James I. Perkins College of Education is to prepare competent, successful, caring and enthusiastic professionals dedicated to responsible service, leadership and continued professional and intellectual development.
In the James I. Perkins College of Education at Stephen F. Austin State University, we value and are committed to:
• Academic excellence through critical, reflective and creative thinking
• Life-long learning
• Collaboration and shared decision making
• Openness to new ideas, culturally diverse people and innovation and change
• Integrity, responsibility, diligence and ethical behavior, and
• Service that enriches the community
ACCREDITATION
The James I. Perkins College of Education is fully accredited through the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The EC-12 Special Education program has been nationally recognized by meeting the special education teacher preparation standards set forth by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
