The special education major at USI provides you with opportunities for interdisciplinary courses. If you are interested in working with individuals with special needs, then this degree will be a good fit for you. You will have opportunities for practicum experiences at both the elementary and secondary levels. Through volunteer work and clinical experiences you will learn more about which age groups suits you best. In addition, courses are designed to enable you to use recommended practices and evidence based practices.
You’ll find mentoring provided by college faculty, field-based teachers and site coordinators. USI special education faculty will be especially helpful to you as you navigate through this program as they are all former special education teachers. Classes are limited to 28 or less which will give you more opportunities for collaboration and co-teaching practice.
Students begin their journey taking their core courses, and apply for admission to the Teacher Education program after completing necessary program requirements.
To apply to the University of Southern Indiana (USI) for undergraduate enrollment:
Once USI has processed your application, transcript(s) and scores (if needed), a decision will be made by Undergraduate Admissions and you will receive a notification.
Upon acceptance to USI, you'll receive detailed information about next steps, including orientation, registration and housing.
The field of special education is growing and teacher candidates at USI typically find employment within the first year after graduation. Because the program prepares teachers to serve children with special needs in a P-12 setting, you’ll have a wide variety of options when you graduate. Because USI encourages students to specialize in an additional content area, we recommend students acquire a content area minor as well.
*income information provided by O*NET Online. Occupation opportunities vary by region and experience.
The University of Southern Indiana is committed to making college accessible to those wishing to further their education by providing numerous scholarships, grants, and financial aid options to assist students in managing tuition expenses.
The University of Southern Indiana offers programs that lead to educator licensure in 20 areas. The cluster of all educator licensure programs is referred to as the Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) and is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
The Dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education has primary responsibility for the EPP and oversees functions that cut across 10 departments and two colleges, with the Teacher Education Department as the hub. Click here to learn more.
Requirements for licensure and certification vary by profession and by state. USI has reviewed the educational requirements for each state and licensing agency to determine if the academic program here at USI meets the educational requirements to be eligible for licensure/certification in each state or not. Please note that some states may have additional requirements for licensure, such as residency requirements, additional non-academic certifications, etc. that USI cannot determine. We encourage you to check with your state's licensing agency for all requirements needed to obtain licensure.
