General Course Requirements
All special education majors must complete the General Course Requirements for candidates seeking licensure in early childhood, elementary, linguistically diverse or secondary education. In most cases, the courses satisfy Metro State’s General Studies requirements. These courses prepare candidates to pass the elementary content exam required of all special education candidates prior to completion of 4000-level courses. 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 Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Linguistically Diverse 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
Metro State’s 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, leading to a Special Education Generalist license, provides content that emphasizes developing effective decision-making in diverse contexts. Candidates who do not have a baccalaureate degree should pursue the Special Education undergraduate major. All candidates who enroll in the postbaccalaureate licensure program for Special Education Generalist must have an education psychology and math content prerequisite course. Candidates must see their special education advisors at least twice a year for information regarding program planning. All students must pass the Praxis or PLACE Elementary Content test before enrolling in 4000 level courses. The PLACE Generalist test must be passed prior to state licensure.
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 one, weekly classes for four semesters, a four-week practicum during the summer between years one and two, 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 45 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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