Dual Certification
General and Special Education
The dual certification program provides students with a unique opportunity to receive an undergraduate degree in both general and special education. This degree provides students with the knowledge and experience to become leading teachers. Through competency-focused coursework, the dual certification program will prepare students to be certified in K-12 special education and general education (i.e., preK-4, middle level, or secondary). The program can be completed in four years of full-time study. Program coursework contains fieldwork, allowing students to apply material learned in class to their field placements. Students conclude the program by participating in a student teaching placement with a host teacher and Duquesne University mentor.
Course Requirements
The requirements for the Special Education Grades K-12 certificate must include all course and field competencies. There must be nine (9) credits/270 hours dedicated to special education classwork and three (3) credits/90 hours to meet English learners’ requirements.
To meet these competencies, we redesigned or created three special education courses and fields, and designed the stage 4 field placement. These are below:
- LTSP 203: Foundations of Inclusive Practices in Special Education - 3 credits
- LTSP 293: Inclusive Field Experience Stage 1 - 0 credits
- LTSP 216: Foundations of Assessment for Dual Certification PK-4, Middle, & Secondary & Special Education – 3 credits
- LTSP 296: Classroom Assessment Field Experience for Dual Majors Stage 2 - 0 credits
- LTSP 356: Instructional Methods in Special Education - 3 credits
- LTSP 396: Classroom Instructional Methods for Dual Majors Field Experience Stage 3 - 0 credits
- LTSP 490: Practicum in Special Education for Dual Certification Field Experience Stage 4 - 12 credits (6 credits special education classroom; 6 credits general education classroom)
- LTEL 201: Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners - 3 credits
Total Program Credits to Complete Degree
- Early Childhood (Pre-K-4) and K-12 Special Education = 130 credits
- Middle Level and K-12 Special Education
- English Language Arts B.S.Ed. = 131 credits
- Math B.S.Ed. = 137 credits
- Math and English Language Arts B.S.Ed. = 142 credits
- Science B.S.Ed. = 135 credits
- Secondary Education, English and K-12 Special Education
- Secondary English B.S.Ed. = 133 credits
- Secondary English B.S.Ed. English, B.A. = 127 credits
- Secondary Education, Mathematics and K-12 Special Education:
- Secondary Mathematics B.S.Ed. = 127 credits
- Secondary Mathematics B.S.Ed. (Algebra with Calculus) = 127 credits
- Secondary Mathematics, B.S.Ed. (Calculus) = 127 credits
- Secondary Mathematics, B.S.Ed., Mathematics, B.A. = 136 credits
- Secondary Mathematics, B.S.Ed., Mathematics, B.S. = 147 credits
- Secondary Education, Social Studies and K-12 Special Education:
- Secondary Social Studies, B.S.Ed. = 130 credits
- Secondary Social Studies, B.S.Ed., History, B.A. = 136 credits
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to meet competencies to obtain content and special education certificates.
- Students will demonstrate the required skills and competencies in classroom environments
to meet the needs of all learners. - Students will be able to translate theory and adapt pedagogy to serve the needs of
all
learners.