Special Education and Early Childhood Special Education

The Dual Special Education, Early Childhood Special Education degree option is designed for educators with professional interest in both special education and early childhood/early childhood special education.

Department Name: Department of Early and Special Education
Official Degree Name: Dual Special Education, Early Childhood Special Education
Degree Type: Bachelor of Arts
Type of Idaho Teaching Certification: 1) Exceptional Child Generalist (K-12), and 2) Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE: Pre-K-3)
Note for Students with Out-of-State Home Addresses: If considering an academic program that leads to a professional license or certification in your state, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in your home state BEFORE beginning the academic program located outside your state, or upon changing states. Visit the Professional Licensure Disclosures website for more information.

Individuals working in or studying early childhood education may be eligible for grants or scholarships through Idaho STARS. Learn more here:

Scholarship Available!

**Do you already have an undergraduate degree and are looking for a graduate option to earn your teaching certification? Check out our Master In Teaching (MIT) programs. Most programs can be completed within a year and will earn both a master’s degree and teaching certification.

What can I do with this degree?

This degree leads to recommendation in certification for two Idaho teaching certificates: 1) Exceptional Child Generalist (K-12), and 2) Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE: Pre-K-3)

Degree Requirements and Advising Resources

Program Prerequisites

To apply to the Teacher Education program, you must have the following three things completed:

All lower division courses, including the 200-level pre-professional Teacher Education courses, must be either complete or in progress
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 3.0 or higher GPA in all Teacher Education courses
A passing score of 150 or higher on the Core Academic Skills for Educators: Math Praxis test, which is test #5733

Note: On September 1, 2019, the Core Academic Skills for Educators: Math Praxis test number will change to #5733 (previously #5732).

After Admission

Once admitted to the Teacher Education program, you complete the upper division Teacher Education courses. During the Teacher Education year, you must also complete the required Praxis 2 tests in order to apply to the Professional Year.

Praxis Tests

The required Praxis 2 tests are:

Praxis 2: Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test #5001
Praxis 2: Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood test #5691
Praxis 2: Special Education Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications test #5543

Application Deadlines

Program Admissions

The deadline to apply to the Teacher Education program is either the first Friday in February if you apply in the spring and the third Friday in September if you apply in the fall.

The admission process includes an interview which is scheduled after the application deadline.

Professional Year

The deadline to apply for Professional Year is also either the first Friday in February if you apply in the fall or the third Friday in September if you apply in the spring.

After admission to Professional Year, you complete two semesters of student teaching. One semester is in an Early Childhood setting and the other semester is in a Special Education classroom setting.

Click here for more information about Teacher Education applications.

Pathway to Proficiency – An Advising Roadmap

Download printable Advising Roadmap Dual SPED/ECSE (PDF)

Advising roadmap infographic - full description on page — Advising Roadmap for Dual Special Education/Early Childhood Special Education BA (select image to view larger)

To apply to the Teacher Education program, you must have the following three things completed:

All lower division courses, including the 200-level pre-professional Teacher Education courses, must be either complete or in progress
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 3.0 or higher GPA in all Teacher Education courses
A passing score of 150 or higher on the Core Academic Skills for Educators: Math Praxis test, which is test #5733.

Note: On September 1, 2019, the Core Academic Skills for Educators: Math Praxis test number will change to #5733 (previously #5732).

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply to the Teacher Education program is either the first Friday in February if you apply in the spring and the third Friday in September if you apply in the fall.

The admission process includes an interview which is scheduled after the application deadline.

After Admission to the Program

For this major, the required Praxis 2 tests are:

Praxis 2 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test #5001
Praxis 2: Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood test #5691
Praxis 2: Special Education Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications #5543

Applying to Professional Year

The deadline to apply for Professional Year is also either the first Friday in February if you apply in the fall or the third Friday in September if you apply in the spring.

After admission to Professional Year, you complete two semesters of student teaching. One semester is in an Early Childhood Special Education settingc and the other semester is in a Special Education classroom setting.

Pathway to Proficiency – An Advising Checklist

Download Printable Advising Checklist Dual SPED/ECSE (PDF)

Visual Advising Guide - Full description on page — Advising Checklist for Dual Special Education / Early Childhood Special Education BA (select image to view larger)

Courses required for entrance into program

All of the following courses are required for graduation and entrance into the teacher program.

FW ENGL 101 – Introduction to College Writing (3 credits)
FW ENGL 102 – Intro to College Writing and Research (3 credits)
UF 100 – Foundations of Intellectual Life (3 credits)
UF 200 – Foundations of Ethics and Diversity (3 credits)
MATH 157 – Structure of Arithmetic for Teachers (4 credits)
FM MATH 257 (prerequisite: MATH 157) – Geometry and Measurement for Teachers (4 credits)
FN Natural, Physical, & Applied Scienc, Science course with lab (4 credits)
FN Natural, Physical, & Applied Science, Science course (must be in a second field; lab optional) (3-4 credits)
FA Arts Course (3 credits)
FH Humanities Course (3-4 credits)
FC COMM 101 – Foundations of Oral Communication (3 credits)
FH Humanities Course (3-4 credits)
FS HIST 111/112 – United States History I or II (3 credits)
ED-LLC 200 (lab included) – Cultural Diversity in the School
FS ED-CIFS 201 – Foundations of Education (3 credits)
ED-ESP 221 ( fall only) – Foundations of Professional Practice (3 credits)
ED-ESP 223 (spring only) – Child Growth and Development (3 credits)
ED-ESP 250 – Exceptionality in Schools (3 credits)
ED-ESP 255 (spring only) – Educational and Assistive Technology (3 credits)
ED-ESP 260 (fall only) – Special Education Policies and Procedures (3 credits)

Courses that may be taken prior to admission to program

ED-LLC 300 – Foundations: Linguistics, Acquisition, Pedagogy (3 credits)
ED-LLC 340 (field experience included) – Idaho Comprehensive Literacy (4 credits)

Courses that require admission to the program

ED-ESP 321 (fall only) – Family and Community Relations (3 credits)
ED-ESP 322 (lab included; fall only) – Inclusive Methods: ECE/ECSE (3 credits)
ED-ESP 327 (spring only; co-requisite: ED-ESP 328) – EI/ECSE Assessment (3 credits)
ED-ESP 328 (lab included; spring only; co-requisite: ED-ESP 327) – Intervention Methods: ECE\/ECSE (3 credits)
ED-ESP 329 or ED-ESP 345 (spring only) – Behavior Support in Early Childhood or Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (3 credits)
ED-ESP 330 (spring only) – Diagnostic Assessment in Special Education (3 credits)
ED-ESP 332 (field work included; fall only) – Language Arts for Students with Disabilities
ED-ESP 333 (field work included; spring only) – Mathematics for Students with Disabilities
ED-ESP 358 (fall only) – Students with Severe Disabilities
ED-ESP 460 (fall only) – Special Education at the Secondary Level

Courses require admission to the Professional Year

Professional Year A – Early Childhood Special Education Teaching

You will be at a preschool program the equivalent of four days a week.

ED-LLC 442 – Integrated Disciplinary Language Arts in the Social Sciences
(3 credits)
FF ED-ESP 470 – Teaching and Reflection (1 credit)
ED-ESP 463 – Teaching Experience in Preschool Programs (8 credits)

Professional Year B – Special Education Student Teaching

You will be in the school all day, M-F.

ED-ESP 467 – Teaching Experience in Special Education (12 credits)

Costs and Scholarships

Boise State provides an affordable, quality education to improve your future. Scholarship opportunities are available for residents and nonresidents, making it even more affordable to attain a quality education.

The College of Education also offers a range of scholarship opportunities.

The Cost and Value of a Boise State Education

Learn More

Have questions or need more information? Contact us or explore related degrees and careers.