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Special Education
¿Û¿Û´«Ã½â€™s Special Education (Learning Behavior Specialist I) program prepares you for the State of Illinois Professional Educator’s License in Special Education, qualifying you to teach students with diverse learning needs from birth to age 21. Plus, you’ll earn an English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement, giving you the skills to support English Language Learners in any classroom setting.
As the first university in Illinois to embed the ESL endorsement into early childhood, elementary, middle school, and special education degrees, ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ ensures you graduate with a competitive edge. With English Language Learners being one of the fastest-growing student populations in Illinois, this additional certification makes you an even more valuable asset to school districts.
The Department of Education is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Experiential Learning
You will participate in classroom field experiences your first year, then gain additional field experiences your sophomore and junior years. These prepare you for the senior year student teaching experience. ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ faculty and your supervising teachers are valuable mentors throughout the process. By the time you graduate, your experiences include:
- Professional development and licensure in special education (LBS I).
- 100+ hours in classroom settings for the ESL endorsement.
- 600+ hours of real classroom experience.
- Hands-on training with Smart Boards, virtual reality, and 3D printing.
- The opportunity to collaborate on research with faculty who have taught on six continents, published over 30 books, and led at state and national levels.
Program Details
Career Opportunities
Every special education graduate from ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ has achieved a 100% pass rate on Illinois licensure tests, including the national edTPA portfolio evaluation. That means you’ll graduate fully prepared to step into the classroom or continue your education in graduate school. Whether you’re looking to launch your teaching career right away or explore advanced studies in curriculum and instruction or other fields, you’ll have the skills, credentials, and confidence to take the next step.