2022-2023 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Special Education, B.S.


The major in special education provides the student with a general education curriculum solidly grounded in the liberal arts and provides professional preparation leading to certification for grades K-12 in mild-moderate disabilities (cross-categorical), and an add-on elementary education certification (grades 1-6).

Program Approval

Students must apply for program approval during the second semester of their sophomore year, upon completing 45 hours. Transfer students apply for program approval in their second semester at Fontbonne University. Program approval is based upon the following criteria:

  • Completion of EDU 269   without conditions (or a transferred course equivalent);
  • Qualifying scores on the Missouri General Education Assessment;
  • Satisfactory completion of the program’s approved dispositional assessment
  • Successful performance of the essential functions of a major in the Education/Special Education Department
  • A cumulative, blended GPA of 3.00* for all professional coursework from all colleges/universities attended;
  • A cumulative, blended GPA of 2.75* from all colleges/universities attended;
  • Transfer students who have completed Introduction to Classroom Teaching (or equivalent) at another institution must complete a required zero-hour course: EDU 301 Teacher Education at Fontbonne University  

*Content/professional courses must be graded courses; pass/fail grades are not accepted 

Program Approval with Conditions

This designation is available on a one-time only, one-semester basis, and indicates that the student is deficient in one or more of the above categories. The student may continue to major in a certification program with conditions once, for one semester only. Students who do not eradicate all deficiencies will not be allowed to continue in a certification program, will not be admitted into the teacher certification, and therefore, will not be allowed to student teach. 

Rejection for Program Approval

Students who show little or no capability to successfully complete requirements for a certification program in the department will be rejected for program approval, will not be allowed to enroll for additional education coursework in that major, and will be referred for career counseling pursuant to a change of major. A General Studies major with an emphasis in education (which does not lead to certification), could be an option for such students.

Learning Outcomes


Graduates of the program will be able to:

  • The teacher candidate will show competence in the nine standards required of teachers in the State of Missouri.
  • The teacher candidate will model effective verbal, nonverbal, written, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.  
  • The teacher candidate will demonstrate higher order and critical thinking skills as a reflective practitioner who continually assesses the effects of choices and actions on others.  This reflective practitioner actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally and utilizes the assessment and professional growth to generate more learning for more students.  

General Education Requirements


General education requirements are presented in the General Education  section in this catalog. A course that meets a general education requirement may also meet a course requirement in the major or a course requirement in another discipline.

While students must complete a full general education sequence, the following specific general education courses must be chosen to meet the requirements for this major:

Courses Required in the Major


Courses Required in Other Disciplines


  • Students must select one course in Health or Nutrition and Wellness.
  • Students must select one course in mathematics in addition to the general education requirement. Students must complete MTH 104  and MTH 106 , unless transferring an approved mathematics course from another Institution. Students transferring a mathematics course will complete MTH 102 .

Graduation Requirement


Students must complete one course in religion.