The Exceptional Education B.S. provides students a community-embedded teacher preparation program that culminates in certification in Exceptional Education K-12 with Reading and ESOL endorsements. The Exceptional Education program is appropriate for students interested in employment in K-12 settings working with students with disabilities. Exceptional Education is a critical shortage area and students may be eligible for funding under the TEACH grant. Information can be found at https://finaid.ucf.edu/grants/teachgrant.html.
This Exceptional Student Education (B.S.) program has potential ties to professional licensure or certification in the field. For more information on how this program may prepare you in that regard, please visit https://apq.ucf.edu/files/Licensure-Disclosure-CCIE-Exceptional-Ed-BS-June2020.pdf
General Education Program (GEP) (36 Credit Hours)
Communication Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Cultural & Historical Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
- General Education Program course from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1 chosen to meet Gordon Rule requirement Credit Hours: 3
- General Education Program course: Prefer a second course from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1 Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- THE 2000 - Theatre Survey Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- PHI 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- MUL 2010 - Enjoyment of Music Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Mathematical Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- MAC 1105C - College Algebra Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
- MGF 1106 - Finite Mathematics Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- STA 2014 - Principles of Statistics Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Social Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- POS 2041 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- PSY 2012 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Science Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- PSC 1121 - Physical Science Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- BSC 1005 - Biological Principles Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Common Program Prerequisites (CPP) (9 Credit Hours)
A grade of “C” (2.0) or better is required.
- Students will take two content or disability-specific electives of choice.
- EDF 2005 - Introduction to the Teaching Profession Credit Hours: 3
Core Requirements: Basic Level (12 Credit Hours)
1 Courses taken at Florida College System institutions may substitute for select courses in Other Program Requirements with the permission of the department.
A grade of “C” (2.0) or better is required.
- EDF 2130 - Child and Adolescent Development for Educators Credit Hours: 3 1
- EDF 2720 - Children in Schools: Legal, Ethical and Safety Concerns Credit Hours: 3 1
- Electives with advisor approval Credit Hours: 6
Core Requirements: Advanced Level (63 Credit Hours)
- Exceptional Education majors take a variety of courses related to children, adolescents, and adults with special needs, and their learning, development, and family environment. Students majoring in Exceptional Education take a series of core and specialization courses to prepare them to teach in the schools and to demonstrate the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAP). Early and continuous field experiences are provided to enhance the Exceptional Education major’s program and to integrate theory and practice in actual school settings. Throughout the Exceptional Education program, students document and reflect upon their accomplishments in a Professional Portfolio, which is continuously reviewed by faculty.
- Please note: It is strongly recommended to take the Professional Education Test (PEd) portion of the FTCE during Semester II
- A grade of “C” (2.0) or better is required.
Semester I (15 Credit Hours)
- EDG 4410 - Teaching Strategies and Classroom Management Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 4070 - Teaching Exceptional Students Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 4601 - Introduction to Behavior Management Credit Hours: 3
- RED 3012 - Basic Foundations of Reading Credit Hours: 3
- TSL 4080 - Theory and Practice of Teaching ESOL Students in Schools Credit Hours: 3
Semester II (15 Credit Hours)
- RED 4519 - Diagnostic and Corrective Reading Strategies Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 3243 - Techniques for Exceptional Adolescents-Adults Credit Hours: 3
- LAE 4314 - Language Arts in the Elementary School Credit Hours: 3
- MAE 3310 OR MAE 3366
- EDF 4467 - Learning Theory and Assessment Credit Hours: 3
Methods Content Area Course I- Select one from:
Elementary Content Area Course:
- MAE 3310 - Elementary Mathematics for Teaching I Credit Hours: 3
or - Secondary Content Area Course:
- MAE 4360 - Mathematics Instructional Analysis Credit Hours: 4
Semester III (6 Credit Hours)
Please note: It is strongly recommended to take the Professional Education Test (PEd) and the Exceptional Education Subject Area Exam portions of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) after completion of Semester I and II, but prior to Semester III and IV.
Students must apply and be approved for either Internship I or the Practicum in Exceptional Student Education. Deadline dates and placement application are available through the Office of Clinical & Field Experiences at https://ccie.ucf.edu/clinicalexp/. A fee may be required as part of the placement application process.
At least 50% of all specialization courses must be completed with a letter grade of “C” (2.0) or better before registering for Internship I or the Practicum in Exceptional Student Education. However, a minimum GPA of 2.5 is required in the education core/professional, specialization and overall for admission into Internship I or the Practicum in Exceptional Student Education.
- EEX 3221 - Assessment of Exceptional Students Credit Hours: 3
- RED 4942 - Practicum for Assessment and Instruction of Reading Credit Hours: 3
Semester IV (15 Credit Hours)
Students must apply and be approved for Internship II. Deadline dates and placement application are available through the Office of Clinical & Field Experiences at https://ccie.ucf.edu/clinicalexp/. A fee may be required as part of the placement application process.
All methods courses and at least 80% of all specialization courses must be completed with a letter grade of “C” (2.0) or better before registering for Internship II. However, a minimum GPA of 2.5 is required in the education core/ professional, specialization and overall for admission into Internship II.
A passing score on all applicable sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (General Knowledge Test, Professional Education Test, and Subject Area Examination for Exceptional Student Education K-12) is strongly recommended before entry into student teaching (EEX 4941 Internship II).
Satisfactory completion of Internship II requires the student to demonstrate proficiency in all 12 Florida Educator Accomplished Practices at the pre-professional level in accordance with State Board of Education Rule 6A-5.065.
- Students will participate in a field experience by enrolling in either EEX 3942 Internship I or EEX 3830 Practicum in Exceptional Student Education. Advisor approval required.
- EEX 3942 - Internship I Exceptional Education Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 3830 - Practicum in Exceptional Student Education Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 3241 - Methods for Academic Skills for Exceptional Students Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 4763 - Technology for Classroom Teachers of Students with Special Needs Credit Hours: 3
- TSL 4240 - Issues in Second Language Acquisition Credit Hours: 3
Methods content area course II- Select one course from the Elementary OR Secondary Content Area:
Elementary Content Area Courses (3 Credit Hours)
- MAE 3311 is a preferred Elementary Content Area course.
- SCE 3310 - Teaching Science in Elementary School Credit Hours: 3
- or
- SSE 3312 - Teaching Social Science in the Elementary School Credit Hours: 3
- or
- LAE 3414 - Literature for Children Credit Hours: 3
- or
- MAE 3311 - Elementary Mathematics for Teaching II Credit Hours: 3
Secondary Content Area Courses (3 Credit Hours)
- SCE 4360 - Science Instructional Analysis Credit Hours: 4
- or
- SSE 4361 - Social Science Instructional Analysis Credit Hours: 3
- or
- LAE 4361 - Literacy Strategies in a Digital Age for Middle and High School Credit Hours: 3
- or
- LAE 4464 - Survey of Adolescent Literature Credit Hours: 3
Semester V (12 Credit Hours)
*To enroll in this course, you must be registered for EEX 4941 Internship II.
- EEX 4066 - Curriculum, Theory and Instructional Strategies for Students with Special Needs Credit Hours: 3 1
- EEX 4941 - Internship Credit Hours: 9
Restricted Electives
Capstone Requirements
Electives
Foreign Language Requirements
Admissions
- State University System foreign language admission requirement: two years in high school or one year of college instruction in a single foreign language. (This requirement applies to those students admitted to the University without the required two units of foreign language in high school.)
Graduation
Additional Requirements
Required Minors
Departmental Exit Requirements
- Achieve a minimum overall 2.5 GPA within the major.
- Achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA in the education core coursework
- Achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA in the specialization coursework
- Achieve a minimum overall 2.5 GPA
- You must upload key assignments using the Via by Watermark platform. Key assignments are then assessed by faculty to provide evidence of candidate proficiency in all Florida Educator Accomplished Practices. All teacher education candidates, Lifelong Learning majors, and Early Childhood Development and Education majors (all ECDE tracks) are required to complete all Via requirements in order to be cleared for graduation. See https://ccie.ucf.edu/explore-via/
- Complete ESOL standards assessment tracking requirements in Via for the ESOL endorsement
- Pass all applicable sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination. See http://www.fldoe.org for test dates and test sites. Effective January 1, 2015, only examination results earned by educators within 10 years prior to the date of application for a new Florida Educator’s Certificate with the Florida Department of Education may be acceptable for certification eligibility requirements (SBE Rule 6A-4.002)
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 UCF GPA
- 48 semester hours of upper division credit completed
- 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120
Additional Information
Honors In Major
Related Programs
Certificates
Related Minors
Advising Notes
Transfer Notes
Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses
Program Academic Learning Compacts
- Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
Plan of Study
Freshman Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)
- EME 2040 - Introduction to Technology for Educators Credit Hours: 3
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- MAC 1105C - College Algebra Credit Hours: 3
- MGF 1106 - Finite Mathematics Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- MUL 2010 - Enjoyment of Music Credit Hours: 3
- THE 2000 - Theatre Survey Credit Hours: 3
- PHI 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)
- EDF 2130 - Child and Adolescent Development for Educators Credit Hours: 3
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
- PSY 2012 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
- PSC 1121 - Physical Science Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Summer (3 Credit Hours)
- POS 2041 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- BSC 1005 - Biological Principles Credit Hours: 3
- EDF 2005 - Introduction to the Teaching Profession Credit Hours: 3
- SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3
- GEP B1 Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 3 & Elective (Prefer course from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1) Credit Hours: 3
- STA 2014 - Principles of Statistics Credit Hours: 3
- EDF 2085 - Introduction to Diversity for Educators Credit Hours: 3
- EDF 2720 - Children in Schools: Legal, Ethical and Safety Concerns Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- EDG 4410 - Teaching Strategies and Classroom Management Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 4070 - Teaching Exceptional Students Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 4601 - Introduction to Behavior Management Credit Hours: 3
- RED 3012 - Basic Foundations of Reading Credit Hours: 3
- TSL 4080 - Theory and Practice of Teaching ESOL Students in Schools Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- RED 4519 - Diagnostic and Corrective Reading Strategies Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 3243 - Techniques for Exceptional Adolescents-Adults Credit Hours: 3
- LAE 4314 - Language Arts in the Elementary School Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 4763 - Technology for Classroom Teachers of Students with Special Needs Credit Hours: 3
Methods Content Area Course I - Select one from:
Elementary Content Area Course
- MAE 3310 - Elementary Mathematics for Teaching I Credit Hours: 3
or - Secondary Content Area Course
- MAE 4360 - Mathematics Instructional Analysis Credit Hours: 4
Junior Year - Summer (6 Credit Hours)
- EEX 3221 - Assessment of Exceptional Students Credit Hours: 3
- EDF 4467 - Learning Theory and Assessment Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- EEX 3942 - Internship I Exceptional Education Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 3241 - Methods for Academic Skills for Exceptional Students Credit Hours: 3
- TSL 4240 - Issues in Second Language Acquisition Credit Hours: 3
- RED 4942 - Practicum for Assessment and Instruction of Reading Credit Hours: 3
Methods content area course II- Select one course from the Elementary OR Secondary Content Area:
Elementary Content Area Courses (3 Credit Hours)
- MAE 3311 is a preferred Elementary Content Area course.
- SCE 3310 - Teaching Science in Elementary School Credit Hours: 3
- or
- SSE 3312 - Teaching Social Science in the Elementary School Credit Hours: 3
- or
- LAE 3414 - Literature for Children Credit Hours: 3
- or
- MAE 3311 - Elementary Mathematics for Teaching II Credit Hours: 3
Secondary Content Area Courses (3 Credit Hours)
- SCE 4360 - Science Instructional Analysis Credit Hours: 4
- or
- SSE 4361 - Social Science Instructional Analysis Credit Hours: 3
- or
- LAE 4361 - Literacy Strategies in a Digital Age for Middle and High School Credit Hours: 3
- or
- LAE 4464 - Survey of Adolescent Literature Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)
- EEX 4066 - Curriculum, Theory and Instructional Strategies for Students with Special Needs Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 4941 - Internship Credit Hours: 9
