General Course Requirements
All special education majors must complete the General Course Requirements for candidates seeking licensure in elementary or secondary education. In most cases, the courses satisfy to Metro State’s General Studies requirements. These courses prepare candidates to pass the elementary content exam required of all special education candidates prior to student teaching. The special education content test must also be passed prior to recommendation for licensure.
Degree Seeking Undergraduate Candidates Special Education Core
The special education curriculum is organized into sequences of course work that provide candidates with guidance in program planning. They are comprised of course clusters that candidates may take in any order; however, candidates may not select courses from a higher numbered sequence until the courses in the previous sequence are successfully taken.
Education Concentrations
Degree seeking candidates majoring in Special Education must choose an Elementary Education or Secondary Education concentration. The education concentration will allow the candidate to obtain content and experience in the regular education environment. The courses for each concentration are as follows:
Special Education Post-Baccalaureate Program
The Metro State post-baccalaureate licensure program in Special Education provides candidates with a case-based curriculum designed to prepare candidates to meet the needs of children and adolescents with mild to severe disabilities. This professional education sequence for a special education generalist provides content that emphasizes developing effective decision-making in diverse contexts.
Candidates who are interested in the program are required to have a baccalaureate degree. Candidates who do not have a baccalaureate degree should pursue the Special Education undergraduate major. All candidates who enroll in the post-baccalaureate licensure program for Special Education Generalist must take an educational psychology prerequisite course (PSY 1800 or EDS 3200 or the equivalent) and a mathematics content course (MTH 1610 or the equivalent) Candidates must see their special education advisors at least twice a year for information regarding program planning.
Colorado Accelerated Special Education Licensure (CASEL) Program:
The Colorado Accelerated Special Education Licensure (CASEL) Program is a Teacher in Residence program that provides an alternative pathway to K-12 licensure as special education generalist. Courses required for this program are the same as those required for the post-baccalaureate licensure program for special education generalist.
To enroll in the CASEL program, candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, meet the Colorado Department of Education requirements for undergraduate coursework in general studies for elementary education licensure, pass the Elementary Education content test and secure a special education teaching position with one of the participating metro-area school districts.
The CASEL program requires participation in a two-week orientation before the beginning of school in year 1, weekly classes for four semesters, a three-week practicum during the summer between years 1 and 2, completion of a professional portfolio including a Teacher Work Sample and 100 hours of coaching and mentoring each year. In the event that candidates seek to transfer from the CASEL program to the Metro State on-campus post-baccalaureate program, they must submit a petition to the special education faculty, but there is no guarantee that the program transfer will be approved.
CASEL candidates who complete a total of 48 credit hours during the two years of the program, demonstrate proficiency on the Performance-Based Standards for Colorado Special Education Generalist, achieve a passing score on the PLACE Special Education content exam during the second year of the program and complete their district’s induction program will be recommended by their district for a Special Education Generalist license from the Colorado Department of Education.
The CASEL program is administered through the Metro South Extended Campus office at 5660 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Suite 100. Call (303) 721-1313 for more information about the program.
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