x

Education, Special

Download PDF

Academic Programs

Education, Special - Associate in Arts (690)

(690) Associate in Arts

Teachers must be certified by the state of Illinois to teach in Illinois public schools. Community college students interested in earning a bachelor's degree in special education are strongly encouraged to complete an Associate in Arts degree prior to transfer. Since University admission is competitive, completion of required coursework alone does not guarantee admission. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is required for admission to most programs, as is passage of the Illinois Basic Skills (reading, writing, grammar, and math) test (information available at www.icts.nesinc.com).

Information regarding Illinois Standards for Professional Preparation and Certification is available on the Illinois State Board of Education Website at www.isbe.net>.

Students who have already chosen the university to which they plan to transfer should consult that institution's catalog or department advisor and an SVCC academic advisor in planning their program. This program is designed for those who plan to teach exceptional children in the pre-school, elementary, intermediate, or secondary levels. Special education certificate endorsements include Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS 1), teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired and teacher of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Individualized articulation sheets for some universities are available in the advising office.

Criminal History Check Policy

Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law also prohibits the employment of a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include first degree murder; any Class X felony; juvenile pimping; soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and/or conviction occurred inside or outside the state of Illinois.

All students entering the initial observation course must first submit to a criminal background check (CBC). You will be notified by the College of the fees, date, time and location of the finger printing process. In addition, students listed on the Illinois Sex Offenders Registry, Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Registry and the National Sex Offenders Registry will be denied entrance into these programs.

If any of the above returns with an incident "hit", you will be notified and need to see a designated counselor who will review your results and review how it might affect your ability to participate in these programs. An adverse decision may be appealed through the institutional academic appeal process.

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College
Academic Advising, 815/835-6354;
Janis Jones, Assistant Professor of Education, 815/835-6410.


Suggested Program



First Semester - Sem/Hrs: 17

  • Fine Arts 3 Semester hour(s)

  • EDU 101 - Introduction to Education 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 105 - Preparing for Careers in Education 1 Semester hour(s)
  • ENG 101 - Composition I 3 Semester hour(s)
  • FYE 101 - First Year Experience 1 Semester hour(s)
  • MAT 110 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I 3 Semester hour(s)
  • PSY 103 - Introduction to Psychology 3 Semester hour(s)

Second Semester - Sem/Hrs: 15

  • Fine Arts/Humanities 3 Semester hour(s)

  • EDU 102 - Computer Education for Teachers 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ENG 103 - Composition II 3 Semester hour(s)
  • MAT 111 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II 3 Semester hour(s)
  • PSY 200 - Human Growth and Development 3 Semester hour(s)
  • or

  • PSY 214 - Child Psychology 3 Semester hour(s)

Third Semester - Sem/Hrs: 17-18

  • Personal Development 2 Semester hour(s)
  • *Physical Science 3-4 Semester hour(s)
  • **Humanities 3 Semester hour(s)

  • EDU 220 - Students with Disabilities in School 3 Semester hour(s)
  • HIS 221 - American History to 1865 3 Semester hour(s)
  • or

  • HIS 222 - American History Since 1865 3 Semester hour(s)
  • SPE 131 - Introduction to Oral Communication 3 Semester hour(s)

Fourth Semester - Sem/Hrs: 14-15

  • *Life Science 3-4 Semester hour(s)
  • **Electives 4 Semester hour(s)
  • ***Social & Behavioral Sciences 3 Semester hour(s)

  • EDU 275 - Educational Psychology 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 278 - Clinical Experience in Special Education 1 Semester hour(s)

Total Credits: 64


Footnotes

*One lab science required.

**Recommended Electives include EDU 224, PED 220, and other special education courses as available. (HSV 130 and 131 are recommended for students interested in the deaf and hard of hearing option.)

***Non-Western Culture course may be required.
Choose from GEO 122, GOV 261, PHL 104, SOC 115, 116


<\div>

Follow this link for career information.