Department of Special Education
Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree
The Division of Special Education offers undergraduate programs in Special Education 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 must meet University admissions requirements as well as specific COEHS admissions criteria. Listed below are the criteria for admission into the College of Education and Human Services at the upper division: 1. 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 College or SUS school satisfies General Education and Gordon Rule requirements. 2. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 or better in all college level course work taken at UNF as well as from all previously attended institutions. 3. Passing scores (no exemptions) on all four parts of the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) or corresponding component of the National Teachers Examination series. Transfer students meeting the above requirements but without CLAST scores are admitted and are permitted to earn up to 13 semester hours of upper level college of education course work prior to having successfully passed all four parts of the CLAST exam or corresponding component of the National Teachers Exam. Transfer students who have not passed all four parts of the CLAST exam but have earned 13 semester hours of upper level education course work will be blocked from registering for additional classes until satisfactory scores on all four parts of the CLAST exam are presented. 4. 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. Additional information regarding admission and admission by exceptions is available from the Office of
Academic Advising, (904) 620-2530.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Education degree are as follows: 1. Completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours, of which up to 60 semester hours are taken at the upper-level. 2. Completion of the last 30 upper-level semester hours in the degree program in residence at UNF. 3. Completion of all field experience requirements. 4. Courses with a grade of D or F will not be applied toward the completion of degree requirements. 5. 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.
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. These programs have also received approval from the national Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). 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).
The University of North Florida is
accredited by the Commission on Colleges
of the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools to award baccalaureate,
masters, and doctorate degrees. Contact
the Commission on Colleges at 1866
Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia
30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for
questions about the accreditation of the
University of North Florida.
Individual contact to the Commission
on Colleges about the University of
North Florida accreditation status
should occur only if there is evidence
that appears to support significant
noncompliance with a requirement or
standard. All other inquiries should be
directed to Shawn Brayton who serves as
the university SACS liaison.
For further information about courses, refer to the University of North Florida's catalog.
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