Special Education: Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree

The Department of Exceptional, Deaf, and Interpreter Education offers undergraduate programs in Special Education to prepare teachers with competencies necessary to produce achievement gains and desirable behavior changes in students with disabilities. Successful completion of the courses of study will result in certification in Exceptional Student Education. This ESOL endorsed track prepares teacher candidates to work with children with mild disabilities in grade K-12. Deaf Studies provides teacher candidates with a foundation in special education and deaf culture. This program is designed to be a five-year program that leads to a Master's degree in Deaf Education. The program is sequential in nature with some courses offered only once a year; therefore, students are requested and encouraged to enter in the fall term. Before beginning course work, students must consult an advisor in the College's Office of Academic Advising.

 

 Admission to the Program

Those entering the College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) must meet University admissions requirements as well as specific COEHS admissions criteria. Students who have not satisfactorily completed 60 semester hours of college credit but meet University admissions standards are admitted as Lower Division students (freshmen or sophomores). Students who have completed 60 semester hours or more of college credit and meet COEHS admissions criteria are admitted directly into the COEHS as Upper Division students (juniors or seniors). Listed below are the criteria for admission into the College of Education and Human Services at the upper division:

  • Satisfactory completion of 60 semester hours of credit from UNF or other regionally accredited institution(s). An Associate in Arts Degree (AA) from one of Florida's 28 Community Colleges or 10 SUS schools satisfies General Education and Gordon Rule requirements.
  • A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 in all college level course work taken at UNF and all previously attended institutions.
  • Passing scores (no exceptions) on all four parts of the General Knowledge Exam as one component of the Florida Teacher Certification Exams.
  • Three COEHS prerequisite courses, which are: EDF1005 Introduction to the Teaching Profession (formerly Intro to Education), EDF 2085 Introduction to Diversity for Educators (formerly Teaching Diverse Populations) and EME 2040 Introduction to Technology for Educators (formerly Introduction to Educational Technologies).

 Students not meeting the minimum admissions requirements for the College of Education and Human Services may apply for admission under the College's Exceptions Policy.

 

 Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Education degree are as follows:

  • Completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours, of which up to 60 semester hours are taken at the upper-level.
  • Completion of the last 30 upper-level semester hours in the degree program in residence at UNF.
  • Completion of all field experience requirements.
  • Courses with a grade of D or F will not be applied toward the completion of degree requirements.
  • In order to progress toward a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree, students are required to maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. 6. Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree shall have attained an overall grade point average of 2.5.
  • A minimum of 48 semester hours taken in residence at UNF.

 

 Teaching Certification

Students who complete undergraduate teacher education programs in the College of Education and Human Services and who are eligible for certification endorsement shall meet academic and field experience requirements for a State of Florida teaching certificate in their specializations. All of the certification programs in Special Education have been approved by the Florida Department of Education.  The preparation program in deaf education is approved by the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED). The College of Education and Human Services is accredited by the National Council on Accreditation in Teacher Education (NCATE).