Teaching Major in Exceptional Needs: Deaf Education (BA/BS)
Ball State's teaching major in exceptional needs: deaf/hard of hearing—the only one in Indiana—is designed to train you to work with students who are deaf/hard of hearing.
Coursework includes American Sign Language, deaf culture, and methods and techniques used to teach students who are deaf/hard of hearing, K-12. You will also complete coursework that leads to a license in mild interventions, K-6.
In addition to rigorous academics, our program emphasizes real-world field experience at the Indiana School for the Deaf, local schools, and community agencies. The program culminates in a student teaching experience in two different settings.
100 credits
Decision Point 1 Courses -- must be taken prior to Decision Point 2 courses
| SPCE 201 | Introduction to Students With Exceptional Needs | 3 |
| SPCE 266 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| COMM 210 | Fundamentals of Public Communication | 3 |
| SPCE 271 | Introduction to Mild Interventions | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Decision Point 2 Courses -- must be completed prior to Decision Point 3 courses
| SPCE 361 | Mild Intervention Practicum-Elementary | 3 |
| SPCE 375 | Assessment in Special Education, Including Response to Intervention | 3 |
| SPCE 456 | Language Methods for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students | 3 |
| SPCE 458 | Teaching Reading Across the Content Areas for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students | 3 |
| EDFO 420 | Social, Historical, and Philosophical Foundations of Education | 3 |
| SPCE 402 | Legal and Procedural Foundations of Special Education | 3 |
| SPCE 376 | Teaching Methods in Mild Interventions K-6 | 3 |
| SNLN 251 | American Sign Language 1 | 3 |
| SNLN 252 | American Sign Language 2 | 3 |
| SNLN 253 | American Sign Language 3 | 3 |
| SNLN 254 | American Sign Language 4 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 33 |
SPCE 361 and SPCE 376 are corequisite courses, meaning they are required to be taken concurrently.
Decision Point 3 Courses
| SPCE 466 | Student Teaching: Deaf and Hard of Hearing | 1 TO 12 |
| SPCE 489 | Student Teaching: Mild Disabilities | 1 TO 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Other Professional Education Courses -- can be taken outside of the Decision Point sequence
| EDPS 250 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| EDRD 430 | Literacy Assessment and Intervention in Elementary Schools | 3 |
| SPCE 400 | Mathematics Interventions for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPCE 240 | Introduction to Sign Systems, Educational Environments, and Services | 3 |
| SPCE 246 | Speech Development and Technology for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals | 3 |
| SPCE 321 | Educational and Rehabilitation Strategies for Deaf and Hard of Hearing | 3 |
| SPCE 454 | Introduction to Language Acquisition for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals | 3 |
| EDRD 300 | Reading and Language Instruction in the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 24 |
Other Required Courses
| BIO 102 | Biological Concepts for Teachers | 3 |
| MATH 100 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers 1 | 3 |
| MATH 207 | Mathematics for the Teacher of the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| MUSE 265 | Basic Music for Classroom Teachers | 3 |
| PHYC 101 | Physical Science Concepts for Teachers | 3 |
| FIN 101 | Personal Finance for Fiscal Wellness | 1 |
| SPCE 309 | Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis for Special Education | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 19 |
Total Credit Hours: 100