Nova Southeastern University Undergraduate Programs
B.S. Exceptional Student Education – ESOL
Fort Lauderdale, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
USD 33,510
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Scholarships
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Introduction
Learn to Educate Students Who Face Additional Challenges
Students with exceptional needs require teachers who understand best practices amid the spectrum of challenges these students face every day. Exceptional learners range from children with autism, visual or hearing impairments, intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, as well as other health impairments. In 2017-2018 in the U.S., 13.7 percent of all students fell into this category. At Nova Southeastern University, our Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education will thoroughly prepare you with the skills to excel in teaching exceptional students. We also will lay the foundation for you to pursue a professional teaching certificate in Florida.
In addition to learning to teach students with multiple disabilities—within the general inclusive classroom or in an exceptional student education setting—you will learn how to teach English as a second language (ESOL). These skills will give you an educational edge in the ability to promote equity, cultural awareness, and social responsibility in diverse educational settings.
Why Should You Major in Exceptional Student Education at NSU?
- Enjoy convenient and flexible course delivery options: online or on-campus.
- Be prepared to sit for state certification exams.
- Refine your skills on NSU’s main campus, which is home to an award-winning college preparatory school and our leading center for early childhood education and young learners with autism.
- Choose from 20 degrees and 80 concentrations in our fully accredited, comprehensive programs.
- Become part of a network of more than 65,000 alumni, 250 school superintendents, and 30 college and university presidents.
- Position yourself for an abundance of job opportunities. As of the 2020-21 school year, 45 states and Washington, D.C., reported shortages of special education teachers, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
General Education Requirements (30 credits)
Students are required to complete 30 credit hours as part of the General Education Program. For specific course requirements, refer to the "General Education Program" section in the Academic Resources and Procedures segment of the catalog.
Program Requirements (3 credits)
- First-Year Experience
Education Major Courses (72 credits)
Teacher candidates in the state-approved program in the exceptional student education major must also keep track of field experiences within the courses. A supervised field experience occurs in ESED 4550.
- Education Pre-enrollment Seminar
- Cross Cultural Studies
- Integrating Instructional Technology in the Classroom
- Survey of TESOL for Teachers
- Survey of Exceptional Student Education
- Educational Psychology
- Practices of Instruction
- Educational Assessment
- Introduction to Language Development and Speech Disabilities
- Families, Professionals, and Exceptionality
- Foundations of Learning Disabilities
- Classroom Management for Typical and Atypical Learners in the Multicultural Classroom
- Methods of Teaching Language Arts Through Children’s Literature in the Elementary School
- Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School
- Methods of Teaching Literacy in the Elementary School
- Simulation Experience-Diversity and Ethics (3 credits)
- Classroom Procedures for the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled
- Reading Assessment I
- Methods and Materials for Teaching Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) Learners
- Methods of Teaching Reading Across the Elementary Curriculum
- Second Language Learning
- Exceptional Student Education Internship Seminar
Experiential Learning/Internships
During your undergraduate studies, you’ll have a number of mentorship opportunities and both simulated and real-world classroom experiences, which prepare you for the classrooms of tomorrow.
The field experiences will provide you with an opportunity to perform the duties of a teacher within the classroom setting. The purpose of these experiences is to allow teacher candidates to demonstrate their understanding of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and subject area competencies. A minimum of 10 field experience hours are required through education coursework and are to be completed throughout the exceptional student education program.
The clinical practice (internship) is the culminating real-world classroom experience; a 12 week, full-time school placement providing for hands-on experience in lesson planning, instructional delivery, student assessment, and parent/teacher interactions. Teacher candidates (interns) are matched with a school and certified teacher that will compliment your NSU supervisory and faculty team. The internship is designed to expand responsibilities each week as you become an integral member of the school community and teaching team. Your assigned mentor teacher will guide you along weekly as you assume full responsibility for the classroom, and upon successful completion of the internship, you will emerge as a highly qualified educator.
Career Opportunities
Enrich Your Edge With Real-Life Experience
At NSU, your professors are eager to share the wisdom they have gained after spending years in the classroom. Our curriculum is focused on helping you achieve professional greatness. With field experiences and a final internship, you will be ready to jump right into a full-time classroom environment.
Average Starting Salary
The salary range in Florida for special education teacher salaries in May 2019 was between $64,040 and $86,430, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Shark Destinations
You’ll find NSU education alumni at school districts all around the country, including Broward County Public Schools and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (the sixth-largest in the nation), Palm Beach County Public Schools, Pinellas County Public Schools, the Archdiocese of Miami, and Exceed Preparatory Academy. Our alumni serve as teachers for K-12 students or support the future of other educators in administrative roles.