Southern Oregon University offers three Special Education licensure programs and two specialty programs.
Licensure Programs
The Special Education Licensure Program (69 credits) is for candidates seeking to teach students with exceptionalities kindergarten through high school. When completed, the Special
Education Licensure Program results in a Master of Education degree and recommendation to TSPC for an Oregon teaching license with a Special Education endorsement. The Special Education
Licensure Program is a full‐year, full‐time program, beginning in the summer pre‐session and ending in the following spring term.
Candidates seeking admission to the Special Education Licensure Program must have at least a 3.0 GPA and pass a basic skills exam (e.g. NES‐EAS, CBEST or PPST). They must also have taken
Foundation of Special Education and Mathematics for Elementary Teachers courses and have documented experience working with children, preferably children with exceptionalities.
Candidates must pass “Protecting Student and Civil Rights in the Educational Environment” examination prior to the end of the summer term, and the National Evaluation Series (NES)
examination in special education for completion of the program. Preliminary Licensure candidates must complete an Education Teacher Performance Assessment (EdTPA) in accordance with
Teacher Standards and Practices Commission requirements.
The Special Education Added Endorsement Program is for candidates who hold, or are eligible to hold, an Oregon teaching license and wish to add the special education endorsement to that
license. The Special Education Added Endorsement Program is comprised of 39 credits of coursework and related field experiences.
The 45 credit Special Education Added Endorsement+Master Degree Program offers the special education endorsement and a master degree in education by completing the added
endorsement program plus SPED 519: Action Research in Special Education and one 3‐credit elective related to special education. Courses for both the Added Endorsement and Added
Endorsement+Master Degree programs are delivered in a hybrid format (online and weekend face‐to‐face sessions) during the fall, winter and spring terms; summer courses are offered
online. Recommendation for the endorsement requires completion of a work sample and passing the National Evaluation Series (NES) examination in special education in accordance with the
Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. Candidates applying to the Special Education Added Endorsement and Added Endorsement+Master Degree programs do so through the Master’s in
Education (MEd) application process.
Specialty Programs
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Specialist Program is designed for special educators and speech language pathologists holding a communication disorders endorsement to add the ASD
Specialist designation to their Oregon teaching license. The complete program of study is 18 credits, plus a professional portfolio. Courses in the ASD Program are also available to other
educators wishing to gain knowledge and skills about ASD. Individual courses may be taken to upgrade skills and knowledge. Courses are delivered in hybrid format: Courses meet four times
during the term on Saturdays.
The ABA‐ASD Program is a collaborative 45‐credit graduate program between Southern Oregon University (SOU) and Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) leading to the Master’s Degree in
Education (MEd) with emphases in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program is designed to meet the growing demand for well‐qualified
professionals who provide services for families and individuals with ASD and other social/emotional conditions needing intensive behavioral interventions. The curriculum is
comprised of OIT’s 27 credit BCBA® course sequence and 18 credits of SOU’s ASD course sequence. Upon completion, graduates will receive a Master’s Degree in Education from SOU and
a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from OIT. With the Graduate Certification in ABA and requisite supervised practicum, graduates will meet eligibility requirements to take the
national exam to become a certified behavior analyst. NOTE: Courses listed below with “ABA” prefixes are offered by Oregon Institute of Technology; “SPED” prefix courses are offered by
Southern Oregon University. NOTE: This program does not require or lead to an Oregon teaching license.
