Severe Special Needs Licensure Major
Education, BA
The licensure program in Severe Special Needs, All Levels, when combined with the liberal studies major, leads toward initial licensure as a public school teacher with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and, subsequently, with other states that negotiate through the Interstate Agreement. The liberal arts major helps prepare the student in subjects that they will teach, including English, history, mathematics, science, government, and geography.
Coursework for the Severe Disabilities program provides practitioners with age-appropriate strategies for education students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. The program focuses on current issues in special education, best practices for assessment, cultural and linguistic issues, classroom and behavioral adaptations, integration of new technologies and collaboration with families and service providers. In their last year of study, the student enters the Senior year experience in Education which consists of two intensive field experiences: pre-practicum and practicum (student teaching).
This program has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Students earn an initial teaching license in Severe Special Needs, All Levels, issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The license qualifies for reciprocity with states that participate in the Interstate Agreement and endorse similar licensure. This allows Bay Path University education graduates to teach in states other than Massachusetts, pending meeting specific requirements of the state.
Degree requirements for the Severe Special Needs Licensure major are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Core | ||
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| BUS 204 | Financial Wellness | 1 |
| ENG 114 | Critical Reading and Response | 3 |
| ENG 124 | Research and Writing in the Disciplines | 3 |
| ENG 134 | Literary Genres | 3 |
| Humanities Electives | 6 | |
| MAT 161 | Numbers and Operations | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology I | 3 |
| PSY 205 | Child Development | 3 |
| Science Electives (lab required) | 7 | |
| WEL 100 | Empowered as Learners and Leaders | 3 |
| or WEL 220 | Empowered as Learners and Leaders | |
| WEL 350 | Strategies for Career and Personal Growth | 2 |
| Major Requirements | ||
| EDU 250 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| EDU 300 | Reading and Early Literacy | 3 |
| EDU 323 | Reading and Language Arts for Elementary School | 3 |
| EDU 348 | Reading and Language for English Language Learners | 3 |
| EDU 441S | Severe Disabilities, All Levels Pre -Practicum | 1 |
| EDU 490 | Pre-Practicum Seminar | 1 |
| EDU 495 | Practicum Seminar | 1 |
| EDU 496 | Severe Disabilities, All Levels Practicum | 12 |
| ENG 210 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| HIS 114 | The United States to 1877 | 3 |
| HIS 115 | The United States Since 1877 | 3 |
| HIS 202 | Global History to 1500 | 3 |
| MAT 162 | Functions and Algebra | 3 |
| MAT 163 | Geometry and Statistics | 3 |
| SPE 510 | Managing Challenging Behaviors | 3 |
| SPE 515 | Foundations for Promoting Inclusive Schools | 3 |
| SPE 531 | Teaching and Assessing Students with Severe Disabilities | 3 |
| General Electives | ||
| General Electives | 26 | |
| Total Credits Required | 120 | |
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Students must choose one course from the following list: ECO 211 Macroeconomics, ECO 212 Microeconomics, ECO 240 Economics.