Education (Postbaccalaureate Option—Initial License: Special Education)

Coordinator:  Dr. Cathy Shea            
Email: soeinfo [at] ius [dot] edu
Campus Office: HH 0010                  
Telephone:  812-941-2466                             
Fax: 812- 941-2667               

 Program Description

This option is for graduate students with an Indiana emergency permit for Special Education but without an initial standard teaching license. The program leads to an Indiana all-grade teaching license in Mild Intervention, but does not result in a degree.

The described requirements for the initial license option are undergoing approval processes as the Bulletin goes to print.  Needed processes are anticipated to be completed by Fall semester of 2011.  Until the approval processes are completed, the program requirements as described in the 2009-2011 Bulletin are in effect. 

General Requirements

Candidates are responsible for keeping abreast of program changes and completing needed courses and other requirements for renewing their emergency permits.

Only courses identified by the program faculty as needed for the license satisfy renewal stipulations for an Indiana Emergency Permit. Candidates failing to fulfill prescribed requirements are subject to nonrenewal and potential job loss. Acceptance into the Special Education Program does not mean acceptance into any other School of Education degree or license program. Some courses are offered only annually and not in summer sessions. Candidates are responsible for adjusting their personal schedules to complete requirements. To qualify for an Indiana Mild Intervention teaching license, students must meet all program requirements, successfully pass through summative decision points, satisfy state-prescribed standardized tests, hold CPR-Heimlich certification, and complete license application processes.

 Program Expectations

Candidates must meet 10 performance goals. (See “Bachelor of Science in Special Education” for the 10 goals.)

Performance Level Requirement

Candidates will progress through a series of summative decision points. At each point, candidates’ performance will be assessed and their acceptance, continuation, or completion of the program judged. Continuation status may be reevaluated at points other than summative decision points if significant difficulties are noted. Information about multiple and continuous assessment of performance can be found on the program’s web site.

Good Standing in the Program

Good standing in the program requires satisfying the following conditions:

1. Meet GPA requirements listed in the following section.
2. Earn program status ratings of “admit” or “continue with” or “continue without conditions.”
3. Remain in good standing for Graduate Studies and the program.
4. Meet the School of Education’s expectations for dispositions (see beginning pages of the “School of Education” portion of this Bulletin).

Candidates will not be in good standing if they fail to meet conditions 1-4 or exhibit a pattern or a single substantial incidence of unprofessional behavior or negative disposition. Candidates not in good standing may be required to complete remedial activities and/or be denied admittance into additional course work within the School of Education.

Faculty recommendation,  passage of state-mandated tests, CPR-Heimlich certification (Indiana only), are all needed to apply for an Indiana all-grade (K-12) license in Mild Intervention or a Kentucky Learning and Behavior Disorders license.

 Admission Requirements

Acceptance without conditions requires candidates to:

1. Apply and be accepted for Graduate Studies.
2. Submit an approved plan for program completion.
3. Have an Indiana Emergency Permit for Mild Intervention
4. Submit original transcripts for course work applicable to the program;
5. Have an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or better;  and
6. Have Praxis I (PPST: Pre-professional Skills Test) scores of at least 176 in Reading, 175 in Mathematics, and 172 in Writing.

 Course Requirements

Program faculty will judge applicability of previous course work to program requirements. Age of courses and relevant teaching experience will be evaluated.  No course with a grade lower than B (graduate course) or B– (undergraduate course) or Satisfactory (courses graded S/F) in the specialty area will be accepted.

Note: A limited number of courses completed for the post-baccalaureate program will be considered for inclusion in the Masters Degree in Elementary or Secondary Education. Candidates will be held to the master’s degree requirements in effect at the time of admission to that program