Elementary Education PK4 BS / Special Education MS

Major: Elementary Education, PK-4 and Special Education
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 228.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Five years)

 

About the Program

The BS/MS in Teacher Education with Elementary Education and MS in Special Education offers a flexible, innovative curriculum with a unique emphasis on creative problem solving and the application of the latest technologies to learning. This accelerated degree program allows candidates to pursue a BS in Education with Pennsylvania initial state teacher certification and continue for a fifth graduate year to complete the MS in Special Education which would allow them to also obtain special education certification.

The BS/MS in Teacher Education and Special Education track prepares students academically and practically for careers in PK–12 teaching or other educational settings, including capabilities to:

  • Demonstrate professional ethics and independent and creative academic best practices that exhibit outstanding leadership, organizational, cross cultural, inter-personal and advocacy skills including the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external groups.
  • Understand the changing role of teachers in increasingly diverse societies
  • Demonstrate a strong academic background in all subject areas that meet PDE requirements including literacy, language and STEM areas
  • Demonstrate the ability to create and maintain a positive and democratic classroom climate for students
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of child development in their ability to develop and implement learning opportunities that are unique to every child
  • Develop creative academic leadership skills with a global perspective on current educational issues, knowledge of best pedagogical practices, tools to effectively integrate technology in curriculum, assessment and instruction, and a strong academic background in all subject areas that meet PDE content requirements.
  • Develop competencies to become reflective practitioners who are lifelong learners, who base their practice on theory, research, and developmentally appropriate pedagogy by analyzing, implementing, and evaluating existing and new instructional strategies and practices in a variety of educational institutions/organizations.

The BS program requires that candidates have a B average (3.0 GPA) in content courses needed for teacher certification in addition to the grade of B or better in each EDEX, EDLT, EDPO, EDUC, ESTM and MTED courses throughout their time in the program. These requirements must be satisfied for Drexel to recommend the candidates for teacher certification upon graduation and/or be considered to have completed the program. Clearances and field placement applications must be submitted before participating in coursework with classroom-based field components. 

Additional Information

More information is available at the School of Education's website.

Admission Requirements

Same as BS in Elementary Education, BSMS application must be submitted during Sophomore year before 120 credits have been completed with cumulative 3.0 GPA to gain acceptance into BS/MS program. Continuation as a BS/MS student in Special Education program requires maintaining minimum term and cumulative 3.0 GPA.

Degree Requirements

General Education/Content Requirements
BIO 100Applied Cells, Genetics & Physiology3.0
or BIO 161 General Biology I
BIO 101Applied Biological Diversity, Ecology & Evolution3.0
or BIO 162 General Biology II
CHEM 111General Chemistry I4.0
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement *1.0
COM 111Principles of Communication3.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics4.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
ENVS 260Environmental Science and Society3.0
HIST 275History of Pennsylvania3.0
MUSC 130Introduction to Music3.0
MATH 101Introduction to Analysis I4.0
or MATH 171 Introduction to Analysis A
MATH 102Introduction to Analysis II4.0
or MATH 172 Introduction to Analysis B
MATH 107Probability and Statistics for Liberal Arts3.0
or MATH 173 Introduction to Analysis C
NFS 100Nutrition, Foods, and Health2.0
NFS 101Introduction to Nutrition & Food1.0
PHYS 151Applied Physics3.0
PSY 101General Psychology I3.0
PSY 320 [WI] Educational Psychology3.0
PSY 330Cognitive Psychology3.0
SOC 335Sociology of Education3.0
UNIV T101The Drexel Experience *1.0
English (Literature) elective: Select course between ENGL 200 - ENGL 3603.0
Free electives11.0
Pedagogy Requirements
EDEX 142Special Education Foundations: Referral and Assessment3.0
EDEX 344Inclusive Practices3.0
EDEX 368 [WI] Literacy and Content Skill Development PK-123.0
EDLT 325Design for Learning with Digital Media3.0
EDPO 312Educational Policy, Law & Advocacy3.0
EDUC 101Foundations in Education I: A Historical and Philosophical Perspective3.0
EDUC 106First Year Seminar: A Case of Schools and Cities1.0
EDUC 107First Year Seminar: Exploring Pedagogies1.0
EDUC 108First Year Seminar: Designing Learning Spaces 1.0
EDUC 205Sophomore Pedagogy Seminar1.0
EDUC 210Early Language Development3.0
EDUC 216Diversity and Today's Teacher3.0
EDUC 222Development in Early Childhood Education 3.0
EDUC 236Early Literacy I3.0
EDUC 305 [WI] Junior Pedagogy Seminar1.0
EDUC 306Assessment of Young Children I3.0
EDUC 308Creating a Positive Classroom Climate3.0
EDUC 314Science Teaching Methods3.0
EDUC 316Teaching in Urban Contexts 3.0
EDUC 324Current Research in Curriculum & Instruction3.0
EDUC 326 [WI] Language Arts Processes3.0
EDUC 335Engaging the Learner3.0
EDUC 336Early Literacy II3.0
EDUC 338Expressive Arts for PK-43.0
EDUC 355Social Studies Teaching Methods3.0
EDUC 365Foundations in Instructing English Language Learners3.0
EDUC 405Senior Pedagogy Seminar1.0
EDUC 411Family and Community Partnerships3.0
ESTM 342Teaching Engineering Concepts to Children3.0
MTED 417Mathematics Methods and Content: Early Childhood3.0
MTED 418Mathematics Methods and Content3.0
Student Teaching Experience
EDUC 409 [WI] Teaching Practicum9.0
EDUC 410 [WI] Student Teaching9.0
MS in Special Education
Core Courses
EDEX 536Special Education Law and Process3.0
EDEX 543Emotional and Behavioral Support of Individuals with Disabilities 3.0
EDEX 549Teaching Individuals with High Incident Disabilities3.0
EDEX 550Teaching Individuals with Low Incident Disabilities3.0
EDEX 552Integrating Technology for Learning & Achievement3.0
EDEX 555Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder3.0
EDEX 578Special Education Practicum PK-123.0
EDEX 588Implementing Academic Interventions in Inclusive Educational Environments3.0
Concentration Options
Students obtaining an initial certification must complete the following concentration:
Initial Certification Concentration24.0
Special Education Student Teaching Seminar
Fundamentals of Special Education
Inclusive Practices
Literacy and Content Skill Development PK-12
Teaching STEAM in an Inclusive Environment PK-12
Adolescent Learners
Typical and Atypical Development in Early Childhood Education
Professional Elective
Students not obtaining an initial certification must complete one of the following Capstone options
Capstone Research Sequence9.0-10.5
Capstone Research
Masters Capstone I
Practitioner Capstone Course II
Students not obtaining an initial certification must also complete one of the following concentrations:
Concentration Options
Select one of the following options:12.0
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Characteristics & Methods: Autism
Characteristics & Methods: High Functioning Autism
Communication & Language Interventions: Autism Spectrum Disorders
Behavior & Sensory Support: Autism Spectrum Disorders
Special Education Law and Process
Family, School and Community Engagement in Special Education
Special Education Advocacy
Special Education Dispute Resolution and Skills Training
School Law & Policy in Special Education
Custom-Designed Concentration
A custom-designed concentration will consist of 4 professional elective courses that will be selected in consultation with the Program Director and/or Advisor.
*

COOP 101, CIVC 101 and  UNIV T101 are not required for Education transfer students. Instead, these 3.0 credits are replaced with free electives.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4+1, 1 co-op (Accelerated program completed in 5 years)*

Students complete undergraduate requirements in four years, then convert to graduate status in the fifth and final year.

Program of Study for students not obtaining an initial certification. 

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COM 1113.0BIO 100 or 1613.0EDEX 1423.0VACATION
EDUC 1013.0CIVC 101*1.0EDUC 1081.0 
EDUC 1061.0EDUC 1071.0EDUC 2103.0 
ENGL 1013.0EDUC 2223.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
UNIV T1011.0MATH 101 or 1714.0MATH 102 or 1724.0 
(UG) Free Elective3.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0PSY 1013.0 
 14 15 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 1114.0BIO 101 or 1613.0EDUC 2363.0EDPO 3123.0
EDEX 3443.0COOP 101**1.0EDUC 3051.0EDUC 3063.0
EDUC 2051.0EDUC 2163.0EDUC 3083.0EDUC 3353.0
EDUC 3653.0EDUC 3163.0EDUC 3143.0EDUC 3383.0
MATH 107 or 1733.0NFS 1002.0EDUC 3263.0MUSC 1303.0
 NFS 1011.0PSY 3203.0 
 PSY 3303.0  
 14 16 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCEEDEX 3683.0EDLT 3253.0
EDUC 3363.0MTED 4173.0ENVS 2603.0EDUC 3243.0
  ESTM 3423.0EDUC 3553.0
  PHYS 1513.0HIST 2753.0
  English (Literature) Elective: ENGL 200 - ENGL 3603.0MTED 4183.0
  EDEX 5523.0 
 3 3 18 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
EDUC 4051.0EDUC 4109.0ECON 2014.0Student classified as Graduate Student
EDUC 4099.0(UG) Free Elective3.0SOC 3353.0EDU 7803.0
EDUC 4113.0 (UG) Free Electives5.0(GR) Concentration Courses9.0
EDEX 5753.0 EDEX 5503.0 
 16 12 15 12
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
EDEX 5363.0EDEX 5433.0EDEX 5883.0 
EDEX 5493.0EDEX 5553.0EDUP 7813.0 
EDEX 5783.0EDU 7813.0(GR) Concentration Course3.0 
 9 9 9 
Total Credits 228
*

Students must receive Department permission to pursue the NCOP option. Students will work directly with their advisor to establish a unique plan of study.

**

COOP 101, CIVC 101 and  UNIV T101 are not required for Education transfer students. Instead, these 3.0 credits are replaced with free electives.