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Special Education Minor

A program for education majors that prepares you you to serve the needs of all students and qualify for Illinois licensure in special education

There is a nationwide shortage of special education teachers, at a time when students with different academic, behavioral, and social needs are often overlooked or fall behind. Adding a special education minor to your education major can help you address this important need in the field.

Our Commitment to You

Upon graduation with an education degree with a minor in special education from Loyola, you will possess the following knowledge, skills, and professional values necessary to serve the needs of all types of students and teach in special education.

Knowledge

You'll develop a deep understanding of both content and pedagogy to provide developmentally appropriate instruction to all students, with an emphasis on teaching in a special education classroom.

Skills

With the foundational knowledge from your Loyola education, you will utilize theories, data, and research practices when making decisions in your classroom, for your students, and when assessing the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

Professional Values

As a Loyola-trained educator, you'll emphasize the importance of each of your students as an individual. You'll have high expectations for your students and values the experiences of diverse students. And you'll have the tools and training to address societal issues like inequitable resources and institutional barriers to success for all.

Program Faculty

Our dedicated Teaching and Learning Faculty are experts in their fields who will support students throughout each stage of the program.

Curriculum

This minor is open only to Education majors. Grades of "C-" or lower are not counted toward fulfillment of minor requirements.

Required Courses

Learning Behavioral Specialist I (LBSI) Requirements (39 credit hours)

  • TLSC 120: Learning and Developmental Theory into Practice (1 credit hour)
  • TLSC 140: Teaching, Learning and Leading for Social Justice (1 credit hour)
  • TLSC 150: Developing Constructive Learning Environments (1 credit hour)
  • TLSC 160: Analyzing Culturally-Responsive Classroom Instruction (1 credit hour)
  • TLSC 221: Individualizing Instruction and Assessment for Diverse Students (2 credit hours)
  • TLSC 222: Authentic Assessment and Instruction for Bilingual Learners (2 credit hours)
  • TLSC 260: Typical and Atypical Development (2 credit hours)
  • TLSC 261: Significant Disabilities and Life Planning (2 credit hours; candidates are required to complete Inclusion Observation Project)
  • TLSC 310: Language and Literacy for Diverse Students (2 credit hours)
  • TLSC 320: Using Classroom Data to Advance Student Achievement (2 credit hours)
  • TLSC 330: Literacy in Specific Contexts (2 credit hours)
  • TLSC 340: Teaching and Learning in an Area/Specialization (2 credit hours) 
  • TLSC 350: Teaching and Learning with a Global Framework (4 credit hours; candidates are required to include Universal Design for Learning (UDL) within instructions lesson or unit plan)
  • CIEP M31/478: Behavior Intervention (3 credit hours)
  • TLSC 380: TLLSC Internship: Student Teaching (12 credit hours; candidate's placement must be in an inclusion setting)

Learning Behavior Specialist I Exam (#290) - Loyola recommends that students take the test after Sequence 7 in the undergraduate education curriculum.

Admission Requirements

Visit Undergraduate Admission to start your online application today.

Contact

  • For program structure and academics related questions, contact: Adam Kennedy, Program Chair

Tuition, Financial Aid and Scholarships

The School of Education and Loyola's Financial Aid Office are committed to helping students secure the necessary financial resources to make their education at Loyola affordable. You can learn more on the Financial Assistance page.

Our Commitment to You

Upon graduation with an education degree with a minor in special education from Loyola, you will possess the following knowledge, skills, and professional values necessary to serve the needs of all types of students and teach in special education.

Curriculum

This minor is open only to Education majors. Grades of "C-" or lower are not counted toward fulfillment of minor requirements.

Admission Requirements

Visit Undergraduate Admission to start your online application today.

Contact

  • For program structure and academics related questions, contact: Adam Kennedy, Program Chair

Tuition, Financial Aid and Scholarships

The School of Education and Loyola's Financial Aid Office are committed to helping students secure the necessary financial resources to make their education at Loyola affordable. You can learn more on the Financial Assistance page.