Q: How long will my program take?

A: That depends on which specialization you are.  Program: the CSAT major (in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, to be completed before starting in the College of Education and Community Innovation) and the Special Education Major (completed in the College of Education and Community Innovation). The CSAT major is 44 or 46 credits, and the Special Ed. major is 66 or 72/75 credits, depending on which endorsement you pursue. These, in addition to the General Education and B.A./B.S. cognate requirements, will take full-time students at least 10 semesters, usually with 15 credits per semester; some semesters you may take 16 credits.

How long it takes you to complete both majors will depend on several factors:

• Whether you start the program with courses that either count towards the major or satisfy Gen. Ed. Requirements.
  • Transfer students and those who change their majors may need additional time to complete all requirements. An advisor in the CLAS Advising Center can help you determine which courses you have already taken will satisfy major and/ or General Education requirements.
• How closely you follow the suggested pattern of coursework.
  • Note that several courses have prerequisites, which in turn have their own prerequisites, so it's important to get started on these sequences early and complete them in the right order. See the Sheet displaying prerequisites for courses in the CSAT major.
• Which endorsements you choose.
  • Cognitive Impairment (CI) and Emotional Impairment (EI) are both undergraduate endorsements, while Early Childhood (ZS) and Learning Disabilities (LD) are graduate endorsements are part of Master's programs, which require two additional courses and a master's thesis.

Q: What will I be certified to teach if I complete the CSAT major at Grand Valley?

A: The CSAT major leads to certification in combination with other majors or minors. Grand Valley currently offers endorsements in either Special Education (teacher candidates choose two of the following: Cognitive Impairment, Emotional Impairment, Learning Disabilities, or Early Childhood Education) or Spanish Elementary Education. 

Q: When do I apply to the College of Education and Community Innovation (CECI)?

A: Teacher candidates in the CSAT/Special Ed. Program can only begin their field experiences in the Fall semester. The application deadline for Fall is February 1. Before applying, you should have all CSAT coursework completed, as well as the 4/5 Education and Psychology courses (ED 315; PSY 301, 304, 310/326) in the Special Ed. Major that are required for admission to the CECI.