Bachelor's in Special Education - General Curriculum

Prepare to make a lasting difference in the lives of students with diverse learning needs through UNC Greensboro’s Bachelor’s in Special Education: General Curriculum. This hands-on program combines evidence-based coursework with extensive classroom experience, preparing participants to support students with mild to moderate disabilities in public and private K–12 settings. Guided by expert faculty and immersed in real classrooms from the start of their studies, students will graduate ready to create engaging, accessible learning environments and earn North Carolina teaching licensure.

Note: The Departments of Teacher Education & Higher Education and Specialized Education Services offer a dual licensure concentration in elementary education and special education. Students completing this program are eligible for initial licensure in Elementary Education K–6 and Special Education: General Curriculum K–12. The Dual Licensure Concentration provides undergraduate teacher candidates clinical and field-based experiences across educational settings. Throughout their course of study, students apply their knowledge and skills in classrooms to be prepared for a career in education. The program culminates in a student teaching placement in an inclusive educational context.

bachelor’s in Special Education Program Distinctions

Students in the Bachelor’s in Special Education program will complete four clinical field experiences, culminating in a semester-long student teaching placement, allowing them to build confidence and practical skills well before graduation.

Students work closely with experienced faculty who provide individualized guidance throughout coursework, field experiences, and preparation for licensure and employment.

The Special Education program holds accreditations and affiliations from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and courses address educator standards from the International Society for Transforming Education (ISTE), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards (NCPTS).

The Special Education Student Experience

Special Education students learn about trends and issues in the field of special education, characteristics and needs of students with mild to moderate disabilities, specialized teaching methods, strategies for collaboration with parents/caregivers and colleagues, high-leverage practices, positive behavioral supports, and technology applications that support students’ learning and behavior.

School of Education students have access to two unique resources – the Michel Family Teaching Resources Center (TRC) and the Student Educator Learning Factory (SELF) Design Studio. The TRC is a model school library media center that offers a large collection of picture books, young adult fiction, nonfiction, board books, kits, and manipulatives. The TRC also offers professional resources that can be useful in creating lesson plans and study guides for North Carolina teacher exams. The SELF Design Studio is a dynamic makerspace where students engage in hands-on learning and creative exploration. You will find 3D printers, robotics, art supplies, and circuitry kits in the SELF Design Center.

Be sure to meet with your academic advisor each semester for more details pertaining to your program of study.

Requirements for Admission to the Special Education Program

The 120-semester-hour licensure program in special education follows the admission guidelines of the School of Education teacher programs including: (a) a minimum passing score established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction on the Professional Assessment for Beginning Teachers (Praxis I); (b) recommendations from the Departments of Specialized Education Services and Teacher Education and Higher Education; and (c) completion of at least 12 semester credit hours at UNC Greensboro.

Additional departmental requirements include (a) a grade of C or better in either TED 250 or SES 250 and (b) completion of all courses needed to fulfill the UNC Greensboro general education requirements (GEC).

School of Education Academic Support Hub

Special Education majors have access to the School of Education’s Academic Support Hub services. The Hub provides no-cost tutoring and licensure exam preparation to our undergraduate students.

Services include:

• Praxis Core Preparation
• Praxis Math CKT Preparation
• Pearson Reading Exam Preparation
• American Sign Language Lab

UNCG School of Education Scholarships

Each year, the School of Education awards over $1 million in scholarships and graduate assistantships to students.

The Spartan Education Scholars program includes scholarships of up to $28,000. Scholarship funds for tuition are distributed incrementally, with $4,500 distributed in the first year, $5,500 distributed in the second year, and $9,000 distributed in each of the last two years, as long as eligibility requirements are maintained. Participation is open to incoming freshmen (first-year students), current UNCG students, and transfer students majoring in Elementary Education, Deaf Education, Middle Grades Education, Special Education, and Dual (Elementary and Special) Education.

The Haggai Academy is a scholarship program that provides scholarships of up to $8,000 per year, as well as a wide range of additional enrichment opportunities, for non-traditional students (24 years of age or older) pursuing an undergraduate degree in teacher preparation.

After Graduating with a bachelor’s in Special Education

Upon graduation, students are eligible for North Carolina K–12 Special Education: General Curriculum licensure and are prepared for careers as special education teachers, interventionists, and other school-based professionals.

The U.S. Department of Education requires that all higher education institutions advise students as to whether their curriculum provides them with the eligibility to apply for a professional license and/or certification in the state for which they plan to practice. As such, please review UNC Greensboro’s status by state for the initial teaching license in Special Education: General Curriculum. You should note whether the program either “meets”, “does not meet”, or if there “has not been a determination” of the program’s status in the state for which you plan to practice. You should contact the program’s contact at jibost@uncg.edu with any questions regarding this data. Licensure Reciprocity Information