Undergraduate Degree Program Undergraduate students in the ESE program complete a Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A.E.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree*  in Exceptional Student Education that is designed to prepare students to work with individuals with mild to moderate learning and behavioral disabilities.  Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to apply for a Florida teaching certificate in Exceptional Student Education with an ESOL endorsement.  ESE certification applies to grades K-12.  Individuals certified in ESE are also eligible to teach in classrooms for students with learning disabilities, mental handicaps, and emotional/behavioral disorders.

Masters Degree Program The Department of Exceptional Student Education offers a Master of Education program with two tracks. One track is for experienced special educators with a bachelor’s degree in special education or closely related field. This track is appropriate for individuals who wish to earn a master’s degree while expanding their knowledge of the field. In this track, students register for courses covering topics designed to broaden teachers’ knowledge of ESE strategies and promote professional development. Students also select an area of concentration in which they can pursue more focused study or pursue an additional endorsement (e.g., the Pre-Kindergarten Disability endorsement, or an endorsement in Gifted Education). Students in this track culminate their experience with a field project or by working with a faculty member to design and conduct a master’s thesis.
A second master’s degree track is available for people new to ESE and affords the opportunity to earn the degree while gaining initial ESE teaching preparation. Students who pursue this track will learn the skills and knowledge needed to become an effective teacher in special education, and will exit with the master’s degree, Florida teaching certification in ESE, and an endorsement in ESOL. Because this track results in initial preparation in ESE, coursework is paired with field experiences so that students will gain the opportunity to link their subject knowledge to sound pedagogy and practice. The culminating activity for students in this track is a full-time teaching internship during which students gain valuable hands-on experience and contact with school district personnel. (NOTE: Teachers with Florida teaching certification in elementary or secondary education but no previous degree in special education take this master’s track.)