Special Education Major

Program Director: Jaylia Prussing

Degree Types: Bachelor of Science (default) or Bachelor of Arts (alternative)

Program Outcomes

University of Mary students who complete the major in Special Education meet eligibility requirements for the North Dakota Intellectual Disabilities endorsement for K-12 schools. The University of Mary’s coordinated course of study meets the state guideline which requires the special educator to attain a general education teaching major as well as a major in special education. In today’s K-12 schools, students with disabilities are served by general education teachers, special education teachers, and other school personnel.

In order to support and coordinate service to students with disabilities, the special educator must be competent in: characteristics of disabilities, federal and state special education law, collaboration and consultation, general school curriculum, behavior support, assessment, family school relations, and applied  research and writing.

Special education majors will have knowledge and skills that meet the Common Core of Knowledge and Skills, the Individualized Education Curricula, the Developmental Disabilities Curricula of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and the endorsement standards for the state of North Dakota.

Special education majors develop personal and professional skills and attitudes that prepare them for a variety of career options supporting people with disabilities in schools, human service agencies, adult education, community-home support, and administration.

There are additional academic policies which apply to all education majors. Please review those policies on the Department of Education  page.