Department of Exceptional, Deaf, and Interpreter Education
The undergraduate program in Special Education prepares teachers with competencies necessary to produce achievement gains and desirable behavior changes in students with disabilities. Successful completion of the courses of study prepares the student for the certification exams in exceptional student education. Exceptional, Deaf, and Interpreter Education also offers a concentration in deaf studies. Deaf studies is a five-year program in which students complete certification in deaf education at the master’s degree level. Students may also prepare for a B.S.E. degree in ASL/English Interpreting. Students seeking to complete the B.S.E. in ASL/English Interpreting students must complete their first two years of interpreting at an accredited and approved ASL/English Interpreting program usually culminating in an A.S. degree and transfer to UNF for their final two years.
All courses have field assignments. Students are expected to be proficient in the use of the computer for word processing and Internet access.
The program is blocked sequentially with some courses being offered once a year only; therefore, students are requested and encouraged to enter in the fall term. Before beginning course work, students must consult an advisor in the Office of Academic Advising.
The state of Florida mandates certification requirements for teachers. Students should see their advisors frequently to obtain appropriate advisement for current certification requirements. All students enrolled in College of Education and Human Services courses that require a field or clinical component are taught at a school site or require the student to complete work at a school are mandated by state law to be fingerprinted and cleared prior to being permitted on elementary and secondary school campuses. Students should be aware that noncompliance with fingerprinting requirements will result in the inability to complete course requirements. Contact the Office of Educational Field Experiences for information regarding fingerprinting procedures.
