Program Requirements

Students enrolled in the Certificate in Special Education program must meet and maintain the following requirements during their program. 

1. Certificate Prerequisite Requirements
   SEED 561: Issues in Special Education must be the first course taken before or with other special education courses.
2. TB Test
   Students must submit documentation of tuberculosis (TB) test clearance administered or the TB Risk Assessment Questionnaire three months prior to starting credential coursework.
   
3. Certificate of Clearance
   For California residents — Students must obtain a Certificate of Clearance through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
4. Fieldwork Requirement
   The following special education courses have fieldwork requirements that must be met by students:
   
   • SEED 562: 10 hours
   • SEED 563: 10 hours
   • SEED 564: 10 hours
   • SEED 580: 10 hours

   
   For California residents — The School of Education will place students taking special education courses in California. The following two steps must be completed every semester:

   1. Complete a Fieldwork Application.
   2. After being notified by email of the assigned placement, contact the principal and cooperating teacher to set up fieldwork schedule.

   
   For non-California residents — The School of Education will not place students taking special education courses outside of California. The following three steps must be completed every semester:

   1. Complete a Fieldwork Application.
   2. Request a Special Education Field Placement Letter from the School of Education (specialeducation@biola.edu).
   3. Contact schools in local area, and find a placement that meets the course fieldwork requirement. This should be a classroom that has at least two documented second language learner and at least one identified student with special needs.
5. Applying for Institution-Sponsored Special Education Certificate
   Students who have passed four of the five Special Education courses (12 credits) eligible for the Special Education Certificate with a “B-” can apply for the certificate by submitting the Special Education Certificate Checklist Form.
   
6. Folding certificate coursework into a master’s degree
   Students can fold Special Education Certificate courses passed with a “B-” or higher into a master’s degree by submitting a Change of Program Request for the Master of Science in Special Education; Masters of Arts in Teaching, Special Education; or Masters of Arts in Education, Special Education. Upon approval, students will need to complete the remaining master’s degree courses.
   
7. Applying certificate coursework toward a Special Education Credential
   Students who are interested in applying their Special Education Certificate coursework toward earning a Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction (Mild/Moderate) Credential can do so by filling out a Change of Program Form to switch into the Special Education (Mild/Moderate) Credential; Masters of Arts in Teaching, Special Education (Mild/Moderate) Credential; or Masters of Arts in Education, Special Education (Mild/Moderate) Credential programs. Upon approval, students will need to complete:
   
   • The credential prerequisite requirement (three options)
   • The remaining credential courses
   • Other credential requirements (e.g. Basic Skills Requirement)
   • Master's degree requirements