Learning & Behavior Specialist II
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Auditory/Oral Specialist
We encourage you to visit campus, see our facilities and meet with a representative from the Special Education Department. Campus Information Sessions, including a walking tour of campus and a residence hall tour, are given Monday through Friday and on most Saturdays from August through May when classes are in session.
Make your reservation with the Office of Admissions by
or calling (309) 438-2513. If you would like to meet with a representative from our department while you are here, please specify this when you speak with the Admissions Office.
If you want to be a special educator, come to Illinois State University. Our department offers hands-on training, with about 1,000 hours of fieldwork and student teaching experience in our Professional Development Partnerships. Under the direction of caring faculty, students learn by doing and work directly with children with special needs in schools and community agencies.
We are the first choice for special education in Illinois and the leading teacher preparation program in the state. One out of every seven educators in our state is a graduate of Illinois State and we are the second-largest preparer of teachers in the nation.
As an undergraduate student, you can specialize in Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Low Vision and Blindness or Learning and Behavior.
Two full-time professional advisors are here to meet with you to discuss curriculum, plans of study, teacher education and graduation requirements to help you maximize your time here at Illinois State and achieve your academic goals.
Student teaching is the culminating experience for students in the Special Education Program. Teacher candidates entering student teaching must be individually recommended by faculty to enter this capstone semester after successfully completing sequentially designed coursework and clinical experiences. Prior to entering student teaching, teacher candidates are expected to have:
Teacher candidates will take part in a full semester experience, comprised of two separate experiences, one at the elementary and one at the secondary level. Teacher candidates are required to demonstrate competency in those planning, assessment and instructional tasks required of effective special educators while steadily increasing their classroom responsibilities. Successful teacher candidates will take over the total responsibilities of their cooperating teacher for a period of several weeks in each placement. Students earn a total of fourteen semester hours for the experience, seven in each placement.
The student teaching semester is a time when teacher candidates are expected to apply their knowledge and skills to bring about student learning, and polish their skills as reflective, developing professional educators. The transition from learner to teacher-and-lifelong-learner takes place here.
Students are encouraged to become involved in student and professional organizations.
