Teacher with students in classroom settings

Bachelor of Science in Education in Special Education K-12 Online

Prepare to support students with special needs and earn your teaching license. Develop effective specialized learning methods for a range of students at all grade levels.

Next Apply Date: 2/24/25
Next Class Start Date: 3/10/25
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 2/24/25
Next Class Start Date: 3/10/25

Program Overview

Nurture exceptional students with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Special Education K-12

Gain specialized pedagogical knowledge and earn your teaching license with our 100% online Bachelor of Science in Education in Special Education K-12 program. The practices you learn in this CAEP-accredited special education program will aid you in accommodating the needs of a range of students with different learning needs.

This affordable and convenient online program imparts effective strategies for supporting the families of special education students, as well as evidence-based practices for delivering culturally appropriate learning opportunities for exceptional learners. Developed for working adults, this flexible program allows you to transfer up to 90 credit hours, so you can speed up your time to completion.

In addition to providing a fuller understanding of the characteristics and needs of special learners, this program will help you develop methods for collaboration between families and schools. The B.S. in Education – Special Education K-12 at A-State is distinguished from other regional special education programs by its affordable tuition rate and the opportunity to earn your degree online.

You must be a resident of Arkansas willing to work in Arkansas to apply to this program.

This program requires Live Text.

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Prepare for a broad range of professional roles, including:

  • Special Education Teacher
  • Elementary Special Education Teacher
  • Special Education Consultant
  • Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Prepare for a broad range of professional roles, including:+
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Elementary Special Education Teacher
  • Special Education Consultant
  • Early Childhood Special Education Teacher

Educators completing this program gain expertise in the following areas:

  • Understanding the needs and characteristics of exceptional learners
  • Developing effective learning experiences for a range of exceptional learners
  • Utilizing strategies for collaboration between families and schools in developing and delivering culturally appropriate learning opportunities for students with special needs
  • Applying evidence-based practices in special education
Educators completing this program gain expertise in the following areas:+
  • Understanding the needs and characteristics of exceptional learners
  • Developing effective learning experiences for a range of exceptional learners
  • Utilizing strategies for collaboration between families and schools in developing and delivering culturally appropriate learning opportunities for students with special needs
  • Applying evidence-based practices in special education

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of undergraduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online undergraduate programs.

Per Credit Tuition: $282
Transfer Credits: Up to 90 hours
Credit Hours 120

Accreditation

Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Tuition

A-State’s online tuition can fit your budget

A-State’s online programs are affordable and convenient. You may also qualify for financial aid. Learn more.

The Bachelor of Science in Education – Special Education K-12 online program offers the same low, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $282
Per Course: $846

Transfer your credits for lower tuition

Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.

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90
Transfer Credits: 0
Your Estimated Tuition: $Your Estimated Tuition:
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Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student's A-State record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.

You may be closer to Graduation than you think!

A-State-approved credit for prior learning recognizes your previous accomplishments, reducing your tuition costs and time to graduation.

Calendar

Find the start date that works for you

Our B.S. in Education – Special Education K-12 online program is flexible and convenient—featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates per year.

Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.

View full calendar  + 

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 11/13/2512/16/2412/18/241/9/251/10/252/28/25
Spring 23/10/252/24/252/28/253/6/253/7/255/2/25

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 2/24/25
Start Class 3/10/25

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Apply Now

Admissions

Check the requirements for this bachelor's degree

Arkansas State University has a streamlined admission process that makes it easy for you to enroll in the B.S. in Education – Special Education K-12 online program. Enrollment specialists are available to walk you through the admission process, so you will be able to complete your application quickly.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • 2.0 GPA for transferring credits
View all admission requirements +

Admission into the B.S.E. involves both admission to Arkansas State University and into the Teacher Education program. There are several paths to be admitted to the B.S.E. in Special Education K-12 degree:

  • If you have successfully completed an associate's degree, you would be admitted if you have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.7 on previous college coursework. Once you are admitted to the university, you will work with an academic advisor to complete the teacher education application and corresponding documentation, along with scheduling a departmental interview.

    Note: You will need to have completed the following courses with a grade of ‘C' or better:
    • ELSE 3223 Introduction to Teaching in Special Education;
    • ENG 1003 Composition I;
    • ENG 1013 Composition II;
    • MATH 1023 College Algebra; (or MATH 1043 Quantitative Reasoning as allowed by degree program);
    • COMS 1203 Oral Communication or Speech Proficiency (as specified by the department) and;
    • TE 2003 Introduction to Education.
  • If you have 13 or more transferrable college credit hours but do not have an associate degree, you would be admitted if you have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0 on previous college coursework. In order to gain admission into the Teacher Education program, you will need to have completed the following courses with a grade of ‘C' or better:
    • ELSE 3223 Introduction to Teaching in Special Education;
    • ENG 1003 Composition I;
    • ENG 1013 Composition II;
    • MATH 1023 College Algebra; (or MATH 1043 Quantitative Reasoning as allowed by degree program);
    • COMS 1203 Oral Communication or Speech Proficiency (as specified by the department) and;
    • TE 2003 Introduction to Education.

Note: Once you have completed at least 30 hours, you will be eligible to apply to the teacher education program.

  • If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been out of high school for five years or more, you would be admitted if you:
    • Have a high school diploma or state-approved equivalent
    • Have completed 12 or fewer earned college hours
    • Have never enrolled as a student at A-State
  • If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been in high school within the last 5 years, you would be admitted if you have one of the following:
    • 3.0 cumulative high school grad point average (or GED test score equivalent), OR
    • 19 minimum ACT super score or minimum 990 combined SAT super score, OR
    • Class rank in the top 20% of your graduating class
    Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.
    1. When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
    2. Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
    3. Submit all official college transcripts.
    4. Submit official high school transcripts (if applicable).
    5. Submit official ACT/ SAT test scores (if applicable).

Note: If you have 0-12 transferrable college hours, test scores will still need to be submitted for reporting purposes to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE); however, they are not needed for an admission decision. Accuplacer test scores are an acceptable alternative to ACT/SAT scores. If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096 and we’ll be happy to help answer questions.

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467

Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

Courses

Preview the curriculum of this online special education bachelor’s

To earn your B.S. in Education – Special Education K-12, you need to complete 120 credit hours of coursework. The program includes 67 hours of professional education requirements, 38 credit hours of general education courses, 12 credit hours of additional requirements and 3 credit hours of licensure requirements. Students can finish faster by transferring previously earned credit hours. Freshmen students are required to take a 3-hour Making Connections course. Transfer credit hours will be evaluated during the admission process.

Note: General Education Requirements, License Requirement and Major Requirements Group 3 may be taken during any term of the year. Students may only start the first of their courses in Major Requirements Group 1 and Group 2 in the Spring 1 (January) or Fall 1 (August) term annually.

Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

Expand All
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Instruction specific to teaching children with disabilities; skills for the identification and remediation of educational, psychological and social needs of learners with disabilities and/or gifted; discusses the special education process, impact of state and federal special education laws and policies. This course will include the preparation work necessary for formal admission to the teacher education program. This includes: completion of Career Awareness Inventory, application for admission to the teacher education program with required documentation and scheduling/ completing the department virtual interview.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Vital procedures in special education, covering IEP development, progress monitoring, Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), parent communication, discipline methods, and legal implications.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to exceptional students, with the major focus on serving these individuals in regular education classroom environments. Must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Must have passed writing portion of PRAXIS 1.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Evidence-based teaching strategies for teaching students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to the basics of autism spectrum disorders, covering historical perspectives, current definitions, characteristics and methodology. Emphasis will be placed on incidence and prevalence of trends, evidence based practices, and assessment and progress monitoring.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Models, theories, philosophies, and research methods for evidence-based practices in special education.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Collection and use of academic and behavioral data for special education purposes and application of assessment results.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Survey of the causes, problems, and characteristics of emotional and behavior disorders in children and adolescents, and best practices for teachers.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The special education classification process, and laws and cases impacting special education.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Strategies for developing culturally appropriate family-professional partnerships to benefit children with special needs.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Field-based experience designed to provide teacher candidates with the opportunity to apply knowledge gained through coursework in an elementary special education setting (K-6) that entails 30 hours of on-site practicum work.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Identification of skill deficiencies, modification of curriculum, designing and implementation of instructional strategies for learners evidencing disabilities in reading and language arts. Restricted to Special Education K-12 majors.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Effective K-12 math instructional and assessment strategies for exceptional learners. Restricted to Special Education K-12 majors.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Field-based experience designed to provide teacher candidates with the opportunity to apply knowledge gained through coursework in a secondary special education setting (7-12) that entails 30 hours of on-site practicum work.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Overview of special education inclusive practices, focusing on co-teaching models. It equips students to create an inclusive environment. Students explore challenges faced by exceptional learners and study legal, practical, and attitudinal aspects of coteaching.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Development, implementation, and evaluation of the impact of positive behavior support at an individual level, including functional behavior assessment and behavior support in various settings.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Transition planning, self-determination, and collaboration for students with disabilities in academic, vocational, and community settings. Emphasis is on evidence-based practices, including assessment, instructional strategies, and post-school outcome predictors.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Skills for effective teaching, emphasizing informed instructional decisions to nurture student learning and behavior in a secure environment. It emphasizes multicultural competence, fostering awareness of cultural biases, and encourages appropriate management strategies.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Performance-based residency designed to build upon the pre-service teacher residents' prior knowledge, and further develop pedagogical knowledge, skills, content, and application of accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 12
Performance-based residency designed to build upon the pre-service teacher residents' prior knowledge, and further develop pedagogical knowledge, skills, content, and application of accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities.

Students must take the following:

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles, problems, and practices in the development of positive health behavior.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Sets, logic, and numbers with emphasis on the axiomatic development of the real numbers. Prerequisite, with a C or better in MATH 1023 or MATH 1043.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Mathematical systems, continued development of real numbers, specifically rational numbers, geometry, and measurement with applications. Prerequisite, C or better in MATH 2113.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study of the important scientific, principles of individual human behavior from biological, cognitive, social, and behavioral perspectives.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An advanced survey of Arkansas history from prehistoric times to the present with an emphasis on political, economic, and social/cultural themes. Required of BSE Social Science majors.

Students must complete 38 credit hours of General Education courses from the following categories.

First-year course (3 hours)
UC 1013

Communication Requirement (6 hours)
ENG 1003
ENG 1013

Mathematics Requirement (3 hours)
Students must take MATH 1023 or MATH 1043.

Arts and Humanities Requirement (6 hours)
At least one course must be selected from MUS 2503, THEA 2503, or ART 2503, and at least one course must be selected from ENG 2003, ENG 2013, or PHIL 1103.

Social Sciences Requirement (9 hours)
Students must complete POSC 2103 and, at least one course must be selected from HIST 2763 or HIST 2773, and one course must be selected from HIST 1013 or HIST 1023.

Life Science Requirement (4 hours)
Students must take either BIO 1003 with BIO 1001 lab or BIO 2103 with BIO 2101 lab.

Physical Sciences Requirement (4 hours)
Students must complete CHEM 1043 with CHEM 1041 lab.

Departmental (3 hours)
COMS 1203

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to visual art for all students regardless of background or experience. Students learn how to develop cognitive and experiential responses to works of art. This course is for non-art majors and does not meet general education requirements for any degree in Art. Fall, Spring, Summer.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Laboratory, must be taken with BIO 1003. There will be a fee when purchasing the LabKit. Please visit the tuition and fees page for pricing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The major characteristics and processes of life emphasizing the human organism. Promotes understanding of diversity and unity among living organisms with focus on ecological interactions and responsibilities of people within their social and natural environment. Lecture three hours per week. Special course fees may apply. Must be taken with BIO 1001.
Duration: Varies weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Two hours per week. It is recommended this course be taken concurrently with BIO 2103. Special course fee: $10.00. Fall, Spring, Summer.
Duration: Varies weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, chlamydiae, molds, yeasts, and protozoans as they relate to human health. Lecture three hours per week. Special course fees may apply. Fall, Spring, Summer.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Special course fees apply. Prerequisite or co-requisite of CHEM 1043. Fall only.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to selected fundamental concepts including dimensional analysis, mole concept, atomic and molecular structure, nomenclature, chemical reactions, thermochemistry, intermolecular interactions, gases, mixtures, kinetics, equilibrium and acid base chemistry. Fall only.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The theory and practice of communication in interpersonal, small groups, and public speaking contexts, emphasizing proficiency in message organization, delivery, and critical thinking.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study and practice of fundamentals of written communication, including principles of grammar, punctuation, spelling, organization, and careful analytical reading. Prerequisite, with grade of C or better, for ENG 1013.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Continues the practice of ENG 1003 to develop further the skills learned in that course. Based on reading and discussion of various types of writing, the students’ essays will provide practice in different kinds of rhetorical development, including research and documentation.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from early civilizations through the Renaissance.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from the Renaissance to the present.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
WORLD HISTORY. The pre-modern world, with emphasis on the economic, political, and cultural processes that shaped societies before the rise of global interdependence.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
WORLD HISTORY. The modern world, with emphasis on the economic, political, and cultural processes that have increased global interdependence.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
United States history. Social, economic, and political developments from Columbus to the end of Reconstruction.
Duration: Varies Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The social, economic and political developments Social, economic, and political developments from Reconstruction to the present. Fall, Spring, Summer.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations and inequalities, matrices, and miscellaneous topics. No credit given if taken following MATH 1054.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Quantitative Reasoning Quantitative reasoning as the approach to understanding relationships using mathematical and algebraic methodologies. Contemporary topics will be used to identify, analyze, generalize, and communicate quantitative relationships.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an introduction to music for the listener who has had no formal training or experience. By exploring the history of Western Art music, learners will begin to connect the development of music with the changing of society and culture.
Duration: Varies Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic problems of philosophy based upon readings in the works of selected leading philosophers. A prerequisite for upper level philosophy. Fall, Spring.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
American politics. The constitution, government, and politics of the United States.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Provides students with an appreciation of how various artistic elements combine to produce theatrical productions. Fall, Spring, Summer.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Required course for all first semester freshmen. Course content is centered around the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful ASU student, including academic performance, problem solving, critical thinking, self-management and group building skills, university policies and other relevant issues.

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