Special Education, A.A.
Associate in Arts Degree – 62 Credit Hours
Curriculum Code 1280
To teach in Illinois public schools, individuals must be certified by the State of Illinois after completion of a baccalaureate degree. Students interested in special education as a transfer major must carefully choose their courses while consulting the requirements of the intended transfer school and an academic advisor. Students are encouraged to complete the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree prior to transfer. Students should be aware that admission to the junior year of special education may be competitive and that each four-year college has specific requirements for admission including a basic skills test and a minimum grade point average. These course recommendations are intended for students who are undecided about a transfer school. Students who have selected a transfer school should consult the catalog of that school and an academic advisor for requirements appropriate to the first two years of study. College catalogs and transfer guides for many four-year colleges are available in the Academic Advising Center.
Required General Education Core Curriculum—38 credit hours as follows:
Communications—9 credit hours
Mathematics—3 credit hours
Select three hours from
| MTH-120 | General Education Mathematics | 3 |
| - | | |
| MTH-121 | Math for Teachers I | 3 |
| - | and | |
| MTH-122 | Math for Teachers II | 3 |
| - | | |
| MTH-139 | Probability and Statistics | 4 |
| MTH-143 | Finite Mathematics | 4 |
| MTH-145 | Calculus for Business & Social Scien | 4 |
| MTH-150 | Calculus I/Analytic Geometry | 5 |
MTH-122: Recommended
Math requirements vary at four-year institutions.
Physical and Life Sciences—8 credit hours
Choose four credit hours from
Choose four credit hours from
Each of the Physical and Life Science courses shown above has a one-hour laboratory component included within the course structure and contact hours, with the exception of PHY-106/ PHY-107 and PHY-110/ PHY-111.
Humanities and Fine Arts—9 credit hours
Choose three credit hours from
Choose three credit hours from
Choose an additional three credit hours from any of the courses above.
Recommended that students choose a Non-Western or Third World Cultures course and a literature course.
Foreign Language Requirement: Some universities have a foreign language requirement. Generally, four years of a single foreign language in high school or four semesters of language in college will fulfill this requirement. It is recommended that students complete the entire foreign language sequence at one institution.
Social and Behavioral Sciences—9 credit hours
Additional Degree Requirement—3 credit hours
Required Course
| PSY-104 | Life-Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
Area of Concentration/Major Field—9 credit hours
Required Courses
| EDU-100 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| EDU-103 | Observation/Clinical Experience | 3 |
| EDU-111 | Intro to the Exceptional Child | 3 |
Electives—12 credit hours
Students should consult the catalog of the intended transfer school to choose the most appropriate courses for this major. Electives may include additional courses needed for teacher certification.
The program(s) of study listed above is a model for students who are undecided about a transfer institution and uncertain about specific course requirements.
Students who already know their intended transfer institution should refer to that school’s catalog. In any case, students are strongly encouraged to work with a Moraine Valley academic advisor for specific course selection advice and transfer planning support.