Department of Teaching Specialties

Chairperson: Professor Calhoun; Professors: Algozzine, Antonak, Wood; Associate Professors: Anderson, Cooke, Roberts, F. Spooner, Test, White; Assistant Professors: Beattie, Edwards, Greenland, Rickelman, Whaley; Clinical Assistant Professors: Marr, W. Wood

The faculty of the Department of Teaching Specialties is committed to the following ideals: Education is a lifelong learning process; individuals with special learning needs are entitled to quality education at all age levels; and specialized teaching can and should be provided in all educational environments. The faculty supports the College's broad missions of teaching, research and service and is committed to the preparation of high quality professionals prepared to assume a role in the education profession. Therefore, students in the areas of Reading Education, Special Education, English as a Second Language, and Adult Education will be prepared for effective service in public and private schools, the workplace, and other educational environments.

The Department of Teaching Specialties offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts and the Master of Education degrees with undergraduate and graduate teaching certification. (See the Graduate Section of this Catalog regarding the graduate programs.)

The undergraduate teacher education program offered by the Department provides the first crucial step in career development to become teachers at grades K12: Special Education: Mental Handicaps. The Department offers coursework and clinical experiences to prepare students to identify learner needs, design curricula, develop instructional materials, and use effective teaching practices.

BACHELOR OF ARTS

The Special Education: Mental Handicaps major B.A. degree in Education includes the following requirements:
  1. General Studies Component. The general education component meets the general education requirements of the University and of state and national teacher accreditation organizations. General studies include exposure to science, mathematics, literature, social science, and creative arts. Courses that emphasize writing and an international/cross-cultural perspective are part of the general studies component.
  2. Second Academic Concentration. Greater depth in understanding a basic academic discipline or inter-disciplinary major is provided by a 24-hour course sequence in one of several content areas relevant to teaching K-12 students with mental handicaps.
  3. Professional and Pedagogical Studies. The professional education component addresses the professional competencies required of all teachers and the specialized competencies required of teachers of students with mental handicaps in grades K-12. This component provides for the development of knowledge and skill in understanding the role of the teacher and schools in our society, learning and development, the special needs of learners with disabilities, assessment, instructional planning and methodology, curriculum, health and safety, and technology. A series of field experiences in the special education major leads to the full-time student teaching semester at the end of the program.
Contact the Department of Teaching Specialties for a suggested schedule for completion of the major in Special Education: Mental Handicaps.

THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION SEQUENCE

Admission. Students should obtain an application for formal admission to the teacher education program in the Department of Teaching Specialties before the end of the sophomore year. To be admitted to the professional education program the student must meet the following criteria:
  1. Scores of at least 643 and 646 respectively on Core Battery I & II of the National Teachers Examination (NTE).
  2. Proficiency in oral and written communication demonstrated through completion of appropriate general education courses.
  3. Grade of C or better in EDUC 2100 and SPED 2100. (A weighted scale will be employed for each course: C = 1 point; B = 2 pts.; A = 3 pts.)
  4. Minimum GPA of 2.50 for at least 30 credits of general education and overall. (A weighted scale will be used, so that students with higher GPAs will be viewed more favorably. For example, GPA = 2.5-3.0 = 1 point; 3.01-3.5 = 2 pts.; 3.51 and above = 3 pts.)
  5. Documented volunteer experiences with individuals with disabilities.
  6. Approval of the Special Education Admissions Board which interviews the most highly rated applicants regarding their interest in and suitability for teaching.
  7. Approval of the Chairperson of the Department of Teaching Specialties.
Junior Year Transfer and Irregular Certification. Students should follow the procedures outlined above and apply for admission to the professional education sequence during their first semester of enrollment at UNC Charlotte.

Retention in Professional Education Sequence. Retention in the teacher education program is contingent upon the student's maintenance of the following criteria:

  1. A GPA of 2.75 or better: overall and in professional and pedagogical studies.
  2. A grade of C or better in all professional education courses and the area of specialization.
Admission to Student Teaching. Following are criteria for admission to student teaching. A student must have:
  1. The recommendation of his/her adviser.
  2. Completed prerequisite general studies, professional studies and area of specialization requirements.
  3. A GPA of 2.75 or above: overall; and in the area of specialization.
  4. Senior status with grades of C or above in all courses required for certification.
[COLLEGE OF EDUCATION]