The undergraduate program is a state-approved program that leads to certification in Exceptional Student Education (ESE).
This program has been certified as a Global Pathway. Global Pathway programs have significant global content and align with the goals of USF’s Quality Enhancement Plan, the Global Citizens Project. Students in Global Pathway programs are well positioned to earn the Global Citizen Award and become eligible to apply for a study abroad scholarship offered by the Global Citizens Project.
University Admissions
Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to this program must meet the following Department of Education’s Teacher Educator Certification requirements:
- Earn a 2.5 overall GPA;
- Complete all general education and state mandated common prerequisite courses with a C- or higher in each;
- Pass all sections of the General Knowledge Test. Information can be found at http://www.usf.edu/education/academics/teacher-certification/general-knowledge-test.aspx;
- Submit an application to Student Academic Services, EDU 106, 813-974-2979.
Applications can be found at http://www.usf.edu/education/advising/undergraduate/coedu-applications.aspx.
The College of Education offers a full ESOL Endorsement for all Special Education major graduates. The special requirements for ESOL endorsement through infusion are as follows:
Successful completion of:
- FLE 4317 and FLE 4316 with a minimum grade of 70% or better on part one and part two of the ESOL Comprehensive Exam administered in the two ESOL courses;
- A 20-hour early ESOL field experience in FLE 4317 ;
- A late ESOL field experience where students plan, implement, and evaluate lessons for one or more ESOL students over a 10 days; and
- An ESOL binder, containing all ESOL-related assignments taken in the College of Education and an ESOL-performance Standards Checklist that documents the completion of the necessary number of standards.
The special education requirements for the Reading Endorsement through infusion are as follows:
- Completion of specialized courses with a grade of C or S;
- Completion of RED 4724 , RED 4312 , and LAE 4311 with a grade of C;
- A 60 hour field experience with a grade of S where students demonstrate application of all reading competencies, and
- A Reading Endorsement binder containing the Demonstration of Accomplishment Documentation Form and supporting artifacts.
Students are required to meet University and College of Education entrance requirements prior to enrollment in the Department. Upon admission, students affiliate with the campus on which they wish to take their program of studies. Students may not register for courses on other campuses without permission. For the Tampa campus, students are assigned to cohorts. All courses are taken with the assigned cohort. The program sequence includes four semesters of part-time field experience and one semester of full-time internship. All part-time field experiences must be successfully completed as a member of a cohort concurrently enrolled in linked specified courses in designated local schools. Final internships are assigned only to designated school districts where partnerships exist. Field experiences begin during the first semester of a student’s enrollment with increasing involvement throughout the program. Students are responsible for providing transportation to their field-experience sites. Cohorts are seated in the fall semester of each year.
Students must complete General Education and the General Knowledge Test before admission to a teacher preparation program (see http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=1000-1099/1004/Sections/1004.04.html).
State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites
Students wishing to transfer to USF should complete an A.A. degree at a Florida College System institution. Some courses required for the major may also meet General Education requirements thereby transferring maximum hours to the university.
If a student wishes to transfer without an A.A. degree and has fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the student must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements.
Transfer students are also required to comply with the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university.
Students should complete the following prerequisite courses at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at a Florida College System institution, they must be completed before the degree is granted.
Unless stated otherwise, a grade of C- is the minimum acceptable grade in prerequisite courses.
- EDF X005 Introduction to Education - 3 credit hours
A minimum of 6 semester hours with an international or diversity focus is required. Eligible courses will be determined by the community college or university where the student is currently earning the Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree. Foreign language courses may be used to meet this requirement.
FOR EDUCATION MAJORS: General education courses will be determined by the college or university where the student currently is earning the Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree, and will be published in the institution’s existing catalog and delineated in the Statewide Course Numbering System.
Major Core (66 Credit Hours)
Professional Education Core (27 Credit Hours)
Exceptional Student Education Core (39 Credit Hours)
Students seeking the B.S. degree with certification in Exceptional Student Education are required to take the following courses:
GPA Requirements
Once admitted, students must maintain a 2.5 overall GPA and earn a 2.5 in all upper-level coursework in the major including Core and Specialization courses.
Grading Requirement
Students must complete all required courses with a grade of C- or better and successfully complete program key assessments in order to progress to the next semester.
Course Grade Requirement
Students must earn a C- or higher in all upper-level courses in the major.
Research Opportunities
Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914 course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of Undergraduate Research is able to assist with further inquiries.
Internship Opportunities
All students will enroll in multiple clinical experiences throughout the program which will provide them with the opportunity to engage in the practice of teaching.
Other Information
Please be advised that program and/or course requirements are subject to change, per state legislative mandates, Florida State Department of Education program approval standards, and accreditation criteria.