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Special Education Elementary Education

Special Education

Licensure

Teach Students with Mild to Intense Special Needs

At Taylor, we believe that every person is born in the image of God, worthy of living a fulfilling life. That changes how we interact with each other and how we treat people, regardless of their ability level. With this focus on teaching special education, our students are able to be witnesses of Christ—showing His love not just in words, but in action—through one-on-one and group interaction with these students.

Taylor University offers two tracks for Special Education: Mild-Moderate and Intense Intervention. These programs prepare and equip future educators to teach students with mild to intense special needs.

Get on track for these careers

  • Special Education Teacher
  • Early Intervention Specialist
  • Special Education Advocate
  • Dietitian
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Transition and Vocational Coordinator
  • Director of Special Education
  • Tutor
  • School Psychologist
  • School Counselor

Mild-Moderate P-12 Licensure

If you aspire to develop a broad array of instructional strategies and/or have a heart for interacting with students with disabilities, adding a mild-moderate intervention P-12 Special Education licensure will prepare you with a range of teaching methods. This mild intervention program prepares you for a teaching license in working with students with high incidence disabilities (disabilities that are more prevalent than others). These may include:

  • Specific learning disabilities
  • Emotional or behavioral disorders
  • Intellectual disabilities
  • Communication disorders
  • Physical and sensory needs (that affect educational opportunities)
  • Autism spectrum disorders

Intense P-12 Licensure

If you seek to deepen your special education program with a broader range of instructional strategies, adding an intense intervention P-12 Special Education licensure to your mild intervention licensure will prepare you to meet the needs of students with low incidence disabilities (disabilities that are less prevalent than others). These may include:

  • Visual impairment
  • Hearing loss
  • Deaf-blindness
  • Significant cognitive impairment
  • Autism
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Orthopedic impairments
  • Multiple disabilities
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Launching into Your Classroom

Education majors spend a full semester of their senior year teaching real students locally or internationally. Each Education student teaches at two different schools, preparing you to manage your own classroom after graduation.

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Special Preparation for Your Career

Taylor students begin practicing Mild Intervention and Intense Intervention in the classroom during their freshman year and continue through their student-teaching placements senior year. Upon graduation and passing certification exams, you will be licensed by the State of Indiana to teach students in both general education and special education settings. The license can transfer to almost anywhere in the United States and makes you highly marketable as a teaching professional. With a national shortage of special education teachers and the federal mandate for public school systems to provide services, there is a real need for qualified, compassionate special education teachers.

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Bring Special Olympics to Campus

Work as a referee, team host, scorekeeper, timekeeper, or skill session volunteer at Taylor’s annual Special Olympics basketball tournament, hosted in the Kesler Student Activities Center. Interact and make friends with people of all ages with special needs, learning their unique perspective on life and encouraging them to enjoy the game and play their best.

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Pre-Art Therapy Degree Options

Concentrations

After completing the Introduction to Pre-Art Therapy class, Pre-Art Therapy majors can choose a concentration in studio or counseling. This specialization allows students to be more competitive for graduate programs.

Autism Studies & Intervention

Add an Autism Studies and Intervention minor to your degree with a few additional classes. Talk to your Admissions Counselor for more information.

Karissa Crisenberry
Class of 2020
"Being able to work with a great number of teachers and learning from them was a great blessing. It was an opportunity to see a variety of teaching styles, learn my strengths and weaknesses, and put what I learned in my classes all into practice."

Special Education Curriculum & Degree Options

Special Education is a licensure that can be added to an Elementary Education degree:

Students interested in course descriptions and academic policies can check out our Undergraduate Catalog.

Liberal Arts Foundational Core

A Taylor liberal arts education will prepare you to live and work in a fast-changing world. It also goes a step further: laying a strong spiritual foundation that cultivates wisdom. You’ll become a well-versed individual, equipped with critical thinking skills, a lifelong love of learning, and an appreciation for God’s creation.

View Foundational Core Curriculum.

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Take it to the Hoop will take place on February 4, in the Kesler Student Activities Center from 8 am to 6 pm. The public is welcome to attend and admission is free. 

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Taylor University among 32 Educator Prep Providers Recognized by Council of the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

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The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced that Taylor University is one of 32 providers from 16 states, Puerto Rico, and Jordan to receive recognition for their leadership and commitment to continuous improvement.

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The Unified Robotics State Competition gave the unique opportunity to serve the community as well as gain more hands-on experience in their specified career field.

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