Special Education Minor

The Special Education Minor provides undergraduate students with coursework on instructional practices to support the achievement of students with special education needs.

There are  substantial changes in process with the Special Education Minor. These changes will allow greater flexibility for students with respect to scheduling, and allow the SPLED minor to accept a greater number of interested students. Please note, the process of formal approval for the requested changes to the SPLED minor may take a substantial period of time. While the proposed changes are under review, we will submit petitions on an individual basis for the use of selected special education and disability-related  courses to count towards the minor, so that students can continue to participate in the SPLED minor while the changes are under review.

Please email the SPLED Minor Advisor at DBM2@PSU.EDU to request additional information.  Please put "SPLED Minor" in your subject line.

Requirements for the Minor

A total of 18 credits in identified classes are required for the minor. Please contact Dr. David McNaughton at DBM2@PSU.EDU for information on appropriate coursework.

Also, please note the pre-requisite requirements for SPLED 400 - these pre-requisite classes ( a) EDPSY 014 AND  b) EDPSY 010 or relevant child development course such as HD FS 229, or HD FS 239) are not formally counted for the minor, but they are needed to take SPLED 400 ( a key class in the SPLED minor).

Requesting Admission

Before you begin to schedule Special Education Minor coursework you should:

• Email Dr. David McNaughton at DBM2@PSU.EDU to obtain appropriate information on coursework.

• Dr. McNaughton will provide you with additional information regarding the Special Education Minor application procedures that are appropriate for you.
• You should also ask to placed in the SPLED Minor ANGEL group so that you can receive up to date information on the SPLED minor.

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FAQ: What does the SPLED minor "mean"?

Completion of the SPLED minor is evidence to an employer that you have taken additional coursework to help prepare you to work with students with disabilities. Like all teacher certification candidates, students starting as juniors in fall of 2011 will address (in SPLED 400 and 403a/b) the key competencies identified by PDE for all teacher candidates.

As a SPLED minor, your transcript also will show additional preparation in the areas of:

* the use of assistive technology to aid in reading, writing, and communication activities;
* teaching valued skills to students with autism;
* supporting speech and language development for students with disabilities;
* and other areas related to working with children with disabilities (depending on your course selections).

Completion of the SPLED minor does not result in special education certification, although the coursework you take to complete the minor may reduce the number of classes that you need to obtain special education certification. Special education certification in Pennsylvania is designed to ensure that children with disabilities receive expert instruction that will assist them in achieving valued outcomes in school and in their adult life. As such, high quality special education certification programs require a minimum of 40 credits of special education coursework. High quality programs also include multiple practicum experiences in which the candidate demonstrates the ability to prepare and deliver instruction for students with a variety of disabilities, including students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and severe cognitive challenges.

Typically at least some of the classes taken in the minor might be used to reduce the number of classes required for special education certification. The decision as to how classes taken towards completion of the minor would impact the courses needed for special education certification is up to the program granting special education certification. We believe that the SPLED minor provides valuable coursework for those teacher certification candidates who are interested in additional information on how they can support the educational progress of students with disabilities in their general education classroom.