Special Education Approval Courses

Roosevelt University offers the sequence of courses needed for state approval in special education under the LBSI classification for students completing a State of Illinois teacher certification program in early childhood, elementary and secondary education or for teachers holding a Type 03, 04, or 09 Illinois teaching certificate. 

By taking three additional courses (11 sem. hrs.), you may earn an approval to teach children with exceptional learning needs within the LBSI spectrum.  Please note that this approval only applies to the teaching of students within the grade range of your initial certificate.  This additional training will not only allow you to teach children with exceptional needs in self contained, resource, and inclusion settings, but will also make you more employable as a general education classroom teacher in a district that utilizes a model of inclusion for students with disabilities. 

You must apply for the LBS I special education approval through the Regional Office of Education where you register your certificate.

Teachers who already have a type 03, 04, or 09 certificate may also add a special education approval by taking the courses described below.

Each methods course comes with an expectation of field hours.  Observation hours may be completed in special education settings at the school where you currently work or may be waived with evidence of teaching experience in classrooms with students who have exceptional learning needs.  Please Note:  If you are seeking the emergency certificate in special education, supervised field experiences are now required.

The LBS I approval is valid for three years from issuance.  The teacher must pass the LBS I content test within the three years for the approval to change to a permanent endorsement. 

Like all other programs in teacher preparation, the special education program at Roosevelt University is built on a foundation of devotion to social justice and global responsibility, respect for knowledge and learning for all children, and passion for the educator’s craft.  Grounded in the belief that all children can learn, the special education program values specialized knowledge and understanding of children who require a different approach to learning.  In the ever increasingly diverse and challenging world of classrooms today, this additional training could assist all teachers in helping every child, with and without disabilities, reach their full potential.

The required courses focus on collaborative training and problem solving, assessment, and teaching strategies that include behavioral interventions and curriculum adaptations that maximize the learning of all students.  Approval courses are designed for persons who already have teacher certification credentials in the State of Illinois or those students completing a teacher certification program in early childhood, elementary, or secondary education.

Eligibility and Admission Requirements

The program is available to current graduate level students who:

• have a 2.7 gpa or higher
• hold an Illinois teaching certification or are enrolled in a teacher certification program at Roosevelt University

The program is also available to current teachers who want to add the special education approval to their current Type 03, Type 04, or Type 09 certificate and to special education teachers prepared prior to LBS1 who now have a limited designation on their Type 10 certificate.

Special Education Approval Course Requirements

Students wishing to add a special education approval on an existing certificate need to enroll in the following courses in addition to the SPED 419 - Survey of Exceptional Children course required of all teachers for initial certification in the State of Illinois:

• SPED 440– Assessment in Special Education (3 sem. Hrs.)

PLUS

(One of two courses that focus on moderate to severe disabilities and stress functional curriculum, transition planning and self determination)

• SPED 442– Characteristics and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities:  Focus on Cognition (4 sem hrs.)

OR

• SPED 445– Characteristics and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities:  Focus Physical Disabilities and Other Health Impairments (4 sem. Hrs.)

AND

(One of two courses that focus on mild to moderate disabilities and focus on inclusion, adaptation and modification of lessons, and the functional analysis of behavior)

• SPED 443– Characteristics and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities:  Focus Behavior Problems (4 sem. Hrs.)

OR

• SPED 446– Characteristics and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities:  Focus Perception and Other Specific Learning Disabilities (4 sem. Hrs.)

All courses are offered at both the Chicago and Schaumburg campuses at convenient night time hours and in one-week intensive format during summer session.

Questions?

For further information, in Chicago, please contact Ligia Amarei at lamarei@roosevelt.edu; in Schaumburg, Alice Busan at abusan@roosevelt.edu.