Major in Special Education with Discipline-Specific Honors

Application Timeline/Process

Application to the discipline-specific honors program must be made toward the end of the semester in which the last prerequisite course is taken (see below).

Admission and Continuation Requirements

• Cumulative GPA of 3.5 after completing or transferring at least 15 credit hours into Union
• Minimum GPA of 3.5 in all required education courses for the major
• Prerequisite courses: EDU 150 and SE 230

Program Requirements

Candidates are required to complete the following as honors contract courses:

• SE 331 (Characteristics and Needs of Exceptional Children I) (3 hours)
• SE 332 (Characteristics and Needs of Exceptional Children II) (3 hours)
• Choose two courses from the list below according to research interest:

  SE 311 (Mathematics for Special Populations) (4 hours)

  SE 305 (Literacy for Special Populations) (4 hours)

  SE 310 (Meeting the Needs of Severe and Profound Populations) (3 hours)

  SE 312 (Seminar in Literacy for SPED) (1 hour)

  SE 405 (Educational Assessment of Exceptional Children) (3 hours)

  EDU 440 (Internship I) (4 hours)

  EDU 441 (Internship II) for completion of the honors project

Transfer students must complete at least one semester at Union prior to application, including at least one course in the education major.

Honors Contract

Honors contract coursework will consist of learning activities tailored to the honors student’s particular learning needs. Specifically, students are expected to research the literature and gain a deep understanding of at least two theories of learning (e.g., developmental theory, psychosocial theory, behaviorism, cognitive theory, constructivism, motivation theory), analyze and evaluate each, and apply the theories to practice within lesson plans, the unit plan, and the honors project. The honors project constitutes a scholarly action research project whereas students apply and then compare/contrast the chosen theories as they relate to practice. The honors project will be completed as an expansion of the Teacher Work Sample, a current requirement of all students during the year-long internship. However, honors students are expected to synthesize current requirements with the scholarly research project.

Students in their junior and senior year must satisfy Honors colloquium requirements as determined and published by the directors of the Honors Community.