Undergraduate Special Education Program
GVSU's Special Education program prepares you to teach:
- All subjects, grades PK-3 and/or grades 3-6.
- Special education in grades K-12
- Special education programs for children and adults with disabilities up to age 26
In Fall 2021, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) established new teacher certification structures.
- If you began the Special Education program in Fall 2021 or later, please refer to the current Special Education Program (for students beginning Fall 2021 or later).
- If you began your Special Education program before Fall 2021, please refer to the Elementary Special Education Program.
Students in Special Education complete the PCKET major and the Special Education major. Completing both majors certifies the student to teach all Elementary subjects, Special Education endorsement areas Kindergarten through 12th grade, and Special Education programs for adults with disabilities up to age 26. This major offers courses that meet the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education teacher preparation.
You will select two of the following endorsement areas for your program:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cognitive Impairment
- Emotional Impairment
- Learning Disabilities
To earn Elementary Teacher Certification (needed for Special Education), all GVSU students must complete the Special Education major through the College of Education and Community Innovation, and the PCKET (Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching) major through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This double major program offers courses that meet Michigan Department of Education Standards for the Preparation of Teachers of Lower and/or Upper Elementary Education.
In the PCKET major, students learn content and pedagogy to teach multiple subjects in the elementary curriculum: English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, and health and physical education. PCKET faculty engage students in discipline-specific teaching and learning, research and scholarly activities, experiences in area classrooms and the community, and study abroad programs.
Select two of the following:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cognitive Impairment
- Emotional Impairment
- Learning Disabilities