To be admitted to teacher education in special education, students must have a minimum NIU GPA of 3.00 and must have successfully completed the ICTS Test of Basic Skills. To remain a major in special education, students must earn a grade of C or better in TLSE 240, ETR 434, TLSE 375, TLSE 420, TLSE 435, TLSE 440, TLSE 445, TLSE 452, TLSE 454, and TLSE 455. In addition, students must earn a grade of S in the clinical courses TLSE 260, TLSE 466, TLSE 467, and TLSE 468. Early clinical experiences in special education must equal a minimum of 100 contact hours. Students who do not meet these requirements must retake the course(s). Students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75.
Students are expected to meet all university and College of Education standards for retention. They also must meet the standards set forth in the Council for Exceptional Children Code of Ethics and Standards for Professional Practice for Special Educators.
Check departmental information for any additional requirements.
Certification Requirements
Students who major in special education in the learning behavior specialist I emphasis or the vision impairments emphasis are required to meet the Illinois certification requirements including 29-41 semester hours of general education classes which must include 3 semester hours of cultural diversity course work. Transfer students with an A.A. or A.S. degree also must meet these requirements for teacher certification. Students who successfully complete the program requirements will have completed all required ISBE and NCATE standards for teacher certification.
Emphasis 1. Learning Behavior Specialist I
To be admitted to teacher education in Emphasis 1, Learning Behavior Specialist I, individuals who have earned the Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) in Special Education must provide evidence of passing the Illinois Test of Basic Skills and have a minimum transfer GPA of 3.00, including grades of C or better in A.A.T. professional special education courses. The A.A.T. must include courses in Language Development and Introduction to Foundations of Reading. Students transferring to NIU with an A.A.T. in Special Education, who intend to pursue the Learning Behavior Specialist I program, must contact the undergraduate academic adviser no later than one year prior to admission to NIU. Failure to do so may result in a delay of registration for the initial block sequence of courses leading to the LBS I teaching certificate.
This emphasis leads to Illinois teacher certification as a learning behavior specialist I.
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