Integrated Elementary and Special Education B.A.Sc.

Successful completion of the Bachelors of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) degree from the Integrated Elementary and Special Education (IESE) program prepares students to teach in the areas of K-6 elementary education and K-12 special education in the areas of learning disabilities, emotional behavior disorders, autism spectrum, developmental cognitive delay, and other health impairments within the mild to moderate range. This multi-categorical special education license is called Academic and Behavioral Strategist (ABS). The major meets Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board licensure requirements for teaching Elementary Education (K -Grade 6) and Special Education: Academic Behavioral Strategist (K-Grade 12) in Minnesota. The major also provides a good foundation for programs leading to licensure as an elementary principal or school counselor, employment in public and private schools, as well as correctional settings, human service agencies, hospital-based settings, and private practice.

An effective teacher should possess a broad background in liberal and professional education. This professional program focuses on the structure of the various disciplines: the child as learner, the learning environment, diverse learners, teaching strategies in both elementary and special education clinical experience settings. All students complete a common core of courses in elementary and special education with emphasis in theory and teaching strategies in literacy and language arts, math, social studies, science, classroom and behavior management, assessment, and academic intervention.

Elementary and special education licensure requirements are established by the state of Minnesota and guided by national standards. Those requirements change periodically. For this reason, all IESE majors should maintain contact with their advisor as they advance through the program.

Students should utilize a What-if APAS Report as the official tool to see all requirements for degree completion. Due to the complexity of the admission to the block process, students are strongly encouraged to meet with their assigned academic advisor on a regular basis to establish a plan for program completion.