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The Special Education Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement programs are available for those students who wish to pursue endorsement in special education and do not meet the MS degree admission requirements, or hold a provisional license in special education and wish to complete licensure requirements.

The ¹ÏÉñÍø Special Education Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Program meets Virginia Department of Education certification and endorsement requirements for any one or more of the following areas:Ìýearly childhood special education;Ìýspecial education: general curriculum K-12Ìý(mild disabilities);Ìýspecial education: adapted curriculum K-12Ìý(severe disabilities); andÌývisual impairments.

Graduates find employment as special education teachers within the continuum of services provided for children with special needs, administrative staff members in public and private schools, educational therapists, and psycho-educational diagnosticians. Graduates from this program may also serve as key members of child study teams and are prepared to address the educational, emotional, and physical needs of students with disabilities.

Note that the Virginia Department of Education has providedÌýgrant fundsÌýfor eligible individuals seeking endorsement inÌýspecial education: general curriculumÌýK-12;Ìýspecial education: adapted curriculumÌýK-12; andÌývisual impairmentÌý±Ê°ù±ð°­-12.

Entrance Requirements

Regular admittance requires:

1. completion of an undergraduate degree in the arts or sciences;
2. admission to ¹ÏÉñÍø as aÌýnon-degree seeking graduate student;
3. cumulative GPA of 2.80 for all college credit courses taken in the baccalaureate degree program from a regionally-accredited institution or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution;
4. passingÌýPraxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests or equivalent assessments scores; and
5. submission of an application for admittance into theÌýDarden College of Education & Professional Studies Teacher Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Program

Provisional admittance requires:

1. completion of an undergraduate degree in the arts or sciences;
2. admission to ¹ÏÉñÍø as aÌýnon-degree seeking graduate student;
3. cumulative GPA of 2.50-2.79 for all college credit courses taken in the baccalaureate degree program from a regionally-accredited institution or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution;
4. passingÌýPraxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests or equivalent assessment scores;Ìýand
5. submission of an application for admittance into theÌýDarden College of Education & Professional Studies Teacher Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Program

Additional requirements:

Students admitted to the special education program are expected to be able to complete the essential abilities outlined in theÌýTechnical StandardsÌýdocument and to exhibit the dispositions noted in theÌý. All individuals seeking admission into any Teacher Education Program at ¹ÏÉñÍø, upon enrolling/registering for their first education class, are required to purchase LiveText, the web-based portfolio assessment system approved by the ¹ÏÉñÍø Teacher Education Council. In addition, any student taking a course in which the instructor requires LiveText will be required to purchase this system. This must be purchased either from the ¹ÏÉñÍø bookstore orÌý. More information onÌýLiveText at ¹ÏÉñÍø.

Traditionally, students admitted to the University as non-degree seeking are not eligible for financial aid. However, Students enrolled in a teacher preparation program, such as the Special Education Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Program, may be eligible to apply for financial aid if the student is enrolled in at least six credit hours. More information regarding financial aid eligibility is located on theÌýOffice of Finance Website, Licensure only link.