Elementary Education/Special Education, B.S.E.

System-Wide General Education Requirement (30 credits)

Majors must take MATH 102  (or a course requiring MATH 102 as a prerequisite), EPSY 210  and INED 211  as part of the System-Wide General Education Requirement.

No grade less than a “C” in MATH 102, ENGL 101, SPCM 101, EPSY 210 and INED 211.

Note:

¹ No grade less than a “C” - must be completed prior to admission to Teacher Education

² Requires field experience

Professional Education Courses (104 Credits)

All professional education courses require a grade of “C” or better.

• Choose one course from the following (3 credits)
• CIS 123 - Problem Solving and Programming 3 credits
• CIS 130 - Visual Basic Programming 3 credits
• CSC 150 - Computer Science I 3 credits

•  

• CSC 105 - Introduction to Computers 3 credits
• CIS 350 - Computer Hardware, Data Communications and Networking 3 credits
• EDFN 295 - Practicum: Pre-Admission 1 credit
• EDFN 300 - Survey of Middle Level Education 1 credit
• EDFN 338 - Foundations of American Education 1-2 credits (2 credits required) ¹
• EDFN 365 - Computer-Based Technology & Learning 2-3 credits (3 credits required)
• EDFN 475 - Human Relations 3 credits
• ELED 303 - Earth and Physical Science for Elementary Teachers 3-4 credits (4 credits)
• ELED 303L - Earth and Physical Science for Elementary Teachers Lab 0 credits
• EPSY 302 - Educational Psychology 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ¹
• LIBM 205 - Children’s Literature 2 credits
• MATH 341 - Math Concepts for Teachers I 3 credits
• MATH 342 - Math Concepts for Teachers II 3 credits
• SPED 100 - Introduction to Persons with Exceptionalities 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ¹

• Note:  Admission to the Teacher Education Program is required for the remaining courses.

• EDFN 440 - Classroom Management 1-3 credits (2 credits required)
• ELED 310 - K-8 Methods of Music, Art and Drama 2 credits
• ELED 320 - K-8 Science Methods 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ²
• ELED 330 - K-8 Math Methods 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ²
• ELED 360 - K-8 Social Science Methods 2-3 credits ²
• ELED 361 - Social Science for Elementary Teachers 2 credits
• ELED 440 - K-8 Language Arts Methods 2-3 credits (2 credits required)
• ELED 450 - K-8 Reading Methods 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ²
• ELED 459 - Introduction to Literacy Assessment and Remediation 1-3 credits (3 credits required) ²
• ELED 462 - Teaching English: New Language 2 credits
• ELED 488 - K-8 Student Teaching 2-16 credits (6 credits required)
• HLTH 420 - K-12 Methods of Health Instruction 1-3 credits (1 credit required)
• PE 360 - K-8 Physical Education Methods 1-2 credits (1 credit required) ²
• SEED 450 - Reading and Content Literacy 1-3 credits (3 credits require)
• SPED 410 - Behavior Management of Exceptional Children 3 credits
• SPED 413 - Serving Students with MR, DD, and Severe Disabilities 3 credits ²
• SPED 417 - Vocational-Transitional Programming 2-3 credits (2 credits required)
• SPED 420 - K-12 Curriculum and Instructional Strategies 3 credits
• SPED 431 - Identification and Assessment in Special Education 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ²
• SPED 442 - Serving Students with Learning Disabilities 2 credits ²
• SPED 443 - Serving Students with Learning Disabilities Practicum 1 credit
• SPED 454 - Literacy: Data Based Reflective Teaching 2-3 credits (2 credits required) ²
• SPED 460 - Family Systems and Professional Collaboration 2-3 credits (2 credits required)
• SPED 465 - Computer Applications Special Education 3 credits ²
• SPED 488 - Student Teaching in Special Education 1-16 credits (8 credits required)

Electives (7 Credits)

Yearlong Residency/Student Teaching

Teacher candidates complete a yearlong residency / student teaching capstone experience during the final two semesters prior to graduation.  Placements are made in districts with which the College of Education has a formal partnership and whose personnel are trained in the co-teaching model.  Out-of-area placements are not granted for the yearlong residency / student teaching experience. 

Teaching Certification and Licensure

Dakota State University (DSU) Educator Preparation Programs are approved by the South Dakota State Board of Education and are nationally accredited by Council for the Accreditation of Eductor Preparation (CAEP). Dakota State University is a regionally accredited post-secondary institution.  All students completing Teacher Certification programs through Dakota State University will be recommended for an initial South Dakota Teaching License regardless of the state in which they reside while completing the coursework.  Therefore, out-of-state applicants will want to verify the licensure and certification requirements for their state of interest.

Students who successfully complete Educator Preparation Programs at Dakota State University are eligible to receive a recommendation for the applicable teaching certification in the State of South Dakota.  All education graduates are encouraged to apply for South Dakota certification immediately upon completion of their degree.

Teacher education graduates may also be eligible for Dakota State University recommendation for certification in other states. Teaching certification/licensure requirements vary among states.  Dakota State University cannot confirm the graduate will be immediately certified outside of South Dakota and is researching certification/licensure outside of South Dakota.  If you are seeking certification or licensure, you will want to contact the appropriate governing body in your state. The U.S. Department of Education hyperlink will help you learn more about certification in your state:  http://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html.  Please contact the College of Education Office regarding licensure certification outside of South Dakota at 605-256-5177.