Special Education (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Credential

Student Program Pathways

Undergraduate Students

You can get a head start by taking special education courses in your concentration that will waive special education credential courses at the graduate level. The Special Education concentration can be taken as a part of the B.A. in Liberal Studies, Multidisciplinary, the B.A. in Liberal Studies, Elementary Education, or through the undergraduate Certificate in Special Education.

• The concentration or certificate requires four courses.
• The remaining four courses are completed at the graduate level, along with student teaching or teaching under an intern credential. See Special Education (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Credential program requirements for additional requirements.

Graduate Students

Biola University’s Special Education (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Credential program is fully online and can be completed in three to four semesters at the graduate level. You may begin the program in either the fall, spring or summer semester. The Special Education (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Credential program is a non-degree program unless pursued simultaneously with the M.A. in Teaching, M.A. in Education, and M.S. in Special Education programs.

Special Education Credential Prerequisite Requirement

Graduate students must meet the prerequisite requirement by one of the three following options:

1. Hold a California Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential
2. Two online graduate courses that can be taken concurrently with Special Education Credential courses:
   • SEED 518 (3 credits)
   • SEED 530 (3 credits; 30 hours of fieldwork; accommodation will be provided for full time teachers and special education instructional aides)
3. The following in-person graduate or undergraduate coursework:
   • SEED 519 (2 credits; 15 hours of fieldwork) or LEDU 301
   • SEED 526 (3 credits) or LEDU 330
   • SEED 541 (3 credits; 20 hours of fieldwork) or LEDU 341
   • SEED 520 or SEED 525 (3 credits; 35 hours of fieldwork or 10 hours for full-time teachers), or LEDU 420/425

Special Education Coursework

Fieldwork

Listed below are the courses that require fieldwork hours. Biola will arrange placements for you.

Student Teaching or Teaching Under An Intern Credential

At Biola, there are two ways to earn your special education credential at the graduate level.

1. Traditional Track
   The traditional track involves successful completion of prerequisites, online coursework, fieldwork and a student teaching assignment during the final semester of the program. All fieldwork and student teaching placements will be in WASC-accredited public schools. You will be assigned a Biola supervisor. See Special Education (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Credential program requirements for more details.
   
   Details:
   • Student teaching is the final course in Biola's Special Education (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Credential program. If you complete this requirement through the traditional student teaching route, you will enroll in SEED 584 and SEED 585 during your 16-week placement in a single classroom. You will be assigned a master teacher and a Biola supervisor.
     • SEED 584: Student Teaching in Special Education (6)
     • SEED 585: Student Teaching in Special Education (6)

   You may student teach in either public or non-public schools (but not private schools) in California. Biola will find the student teaching placement for you

2. Intern Track
   The intern track involves successful completion of prerequisites and additional requirements followed by completion of online coursework while you are employed as a full-time special education teacher under our intern credential. See the Special Education (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Credential program requirements for more details.
   
   Details:
   • Instead of student teaching your final semester of the Special Education (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Credential program, you can teach under an intern credential if you are eligible. Each semester you teach under the intern credential, you will enroll in the intern support seminars. By the end of the program, you will need to have taken all four seminar courses (12 total credits). Student teaching (SEED 584/585) will not be required in the intern credential track.
     • SEED 611: Intern Support Seminar I (3)
     • SEED 612: Intern Support Seminar II (3)
     • SEED 613: Intern Support Seminar III (3)
     • SEED 614: Intern Support Seminar IV (3)
       

   You have the option to transition from traditional to the intern track at any time if qualifications are met.

View our other teaching credential programs.