Special Education, Unified Special Education K-12 & Elementary/Middle, Comprehensive Major

Special Education, Unified Special Education K-12 & Elementary/Middle, Comprehensive Major (B.S.)

The following is a sample degree plan, based on the 2024-2025 catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.

To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core.  LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work.  Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements.  Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.

Application to Major = Fall of Second Year

FRIST YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
LE Option: Knowledge 1 (LE-K1L) Natural Sciences with Lab4
LE Option: Knowledge 4 (LE-K4) Fine Arts3
LE Option: Skills 1 (LE-S1) Written and Oral Communication - May be a language3
SEIP 200Introduction to Diverse Learners (LE-R3, must complete prior to application to program)3
LE Option: Responsibility 2 (LE-R2) Global Perspectives and LE Option: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities - HIST or ENGL course recommended - May fulfill multiple LE outcomes to reduce credits to degree. Other courses may be selected.3
TOTAL16
SECOND SEMESTER
Must complete Math requirement prior to application to program (LE-S2):
MATH 201
MATH 202
Number and Operations I
and Number and Operations II
4
or
Finite Mathematics with Applications (4 credits)
or
Algebra for Calculus (4 credits)
LE Option: Responsibility 1 (LE-R1, DDIV) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity with Design for Diversity and LE Option: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities - RELS 100 recommended - This course fulfills multiple LE outcomes to reduce credits to degree. Other courses may be selected.3
SEIP 208School Experiences in Special & Inclusive Education (Must complete prior to application to program)3
GEOG 178Planet Earth: Conservation of the Environment (LE-K1 and LE-I1, required for licensure)3
OR
GEOL 204Understanding Earth's Environment3
Must complete Writing requirement prior to application to program (LE-S1):
Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (5 credits)
or
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (5 credits)
or
Accelerated Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (2 credits)
or
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing for Transfer Students (2 credits)
TOTAL15-18
SECOND YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER - Apply for admission to Special Education & Inclusive Practices Program (minimum 30 earned credits)
CSD 257Normal Communication Development (Complete after SEIP 208; Offered Fall, Spring, & Summer)3
SEIP 219Introduction to Developmental Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders3
PSYC 260Educational Psychology (LE-K2)3
ES 385Social Foundations: Human Relations (LE-R1 DDIV, LE-SL)3
SEIP 340Introduction to Mild Disabilities3
TOTAL15
SECOND SEMESTER
SEIP 306Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers3
UEM 324Language and Cultural Diversity3
UEM 301Inclusive Early Literacy & Reading3
SEIP 331Special Education Policies, Procedures, and Planning3
UEC 322Play and Sensory Pedagogy3
TOTAL15
THIRD YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
SEIP 431Reading/Writing Remediation, Assessment, and Diagnosis for Students with Mild Disabilities (Must be taken with SEIP 404; may not be taken with SEIP 418/SEIP 439)3
SEIP 401Assessment of Students with Disabilities3
SEIP 404Pre-Student Teaching Experience with Individuals with Disabilities (Must be taken with SEIP 431; may not be taken with SEIP 418/SEIP 439 )3
UEC 424Inclusive Numeracy and Math: 0-83
LE Option: Knowledge 2 (LE-K2) Social Sciences3
TOTAL15
SECOND SEMESTER
UEM 407Inclusive Education Practicum (LE-I1, LE-S3)1
UEM 436Inclusive Math Content, Instruction, and Interventions Grades 4-93
UEC 425Integrated Curriculum and Inquiry3
UEM 433Inclusive Literacy Methods in Grades 4-93
UEM 438Inclusive Science and Social Studies Methods Grades 4-93
TOTAL13
FOURTH YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
SEIP 458Advanced Behavior Interventions and Assessment for Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities3
SEIP 419Advanced Interventions in Developmental Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders3
SEIP 439Secondary Methods3
SEIP 418Career Education and Transition3
SEIP 402Collaboration for Student Success3
TOTAL15
SECOND SEMESTER
UEM 470Student Teaching in Inclusive Education K-95
SEIP 470Student Teaching in Special Education K-125
SEIP 476Professional Practices in Special Education2
TOTAL12

 Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs) 

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices.  The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study AbroadIntercultural Immersion, student teaching, and/or  Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire. Students wishing to complete a study abroad experience or national exchange program should plan to complete this prior applying to the program unless they intend on participating in the Special Education in Scotland program.

 

Liberal Education (LE) Core Guidance

Liberal Education Core (LE Core) 

The LE Core comprises 17 learning experiences across 11 learning outcomes. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the LE Core. 

  • K1 – Natural Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K2 – Social Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K3 – Humanities; two experiences. 

  • K4 – Fine Arts; one experience. 

  • S1 – Written and Oral Communication; two experiences (one experience must satisfy the University writing requirement). 

  • S2 – Mathematics; one experience (must satisfy the University math competency requirement). 

  • S3 – Creativity; one experience (can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • R1 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; two experiences (one experience must meet the UW System Design for Diversity (DD) requirement). 

  • R2 – Global Perspectives; one experience. 

  • R3 – Civic and Environmental Issues; one experience. 

  • I1 – Integration; two experiences (one experience can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • SL—Service Learning; 30 hours 

Additional LE Core Information 

  • Most LE Core learning experiences are course based, and many courses meet more than one learning outcome (e.g., K3 and R2 or K1 and R3). 

  • Some learning experiences can also be met outside of a traditional course (e.g., undergraduate research (S3), study abroad (I1)). 

  • S1 – An English placement score that fulfills the University writing requirement fulfills one S1 experience. 

  • S1 – A foreign Language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 102 level satisfies one S1 experience. 

  • S1, R2 – A foreign language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 202 level satisfies one experience in S1 and the R2 experience. 

  • S2 – A math placement score that qualifies the student to enter Math 111, 112, 113 or 114 fulfills the S2 experience. 

  • S3 – Completion of two credits from any approved music ensemble fulfills the S3 experience. 

  • I1 – Any semester long study abroad program can fulfill one I1 experience.