Prepare to teach children with disabilities
Our Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Bachelor of Science Degree prepares you to teach students in grades K-12 with mild to moderate disabilities and take the state certification test for this area.
You take most of your classes with elementary education majors and are prepared to teach general curriculum. You also earn Reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsements, making you a valuable job candidate to school systems.
A job in Demand
Since 2010, Florida's State Board of Education has designated Exceptional Student Education as a critical shortage area, requiring school districts to factor this into their teacher salary schedules. Choosing the ESE degree gives you more options during the length of your career:
- Flexibility to teach any grade level (K-12) in a variety of settings
- Smaller class sizes
- Better preparation for any classroom
This academic program prepares you for the following careers. All job data is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2023 Employment
6,950
2033
7,760
Percent Change
12
Projected Job Openings
570
Special Education Teachers, Middle School
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2023 Employment
1,790
2033
2,000
Percent Change
12
Projected Job Openings
150
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2023 Employment
8,580
2033
9,580
Percent Change
12
Projected Job Openings
700
A quality education degree
- We offer quality school-based experiences every term, supervised by experienced educators.
- Curriculum is infused with ESOL and Reading , which means graduates are exempt from the 300-hour ESOL Pinellas County training requirement.
Features that fit you
- Degrees are affordable with scholarship opportunities.
- Classes are offered face-to-face, online and blended.
- We offer full and part-time programs.
Exceptional Student Education (K-12) with Infused ESOL & Reading Endorsements Bachelor of Science
ESEDR-BS
Effective Beginning Catalog Term: Fall 2022 (610)
The requirements shown below are valid beginning Fall 2022 (610), and may not reflect degree requirements for current students. Current students should visit My SPC and view My Learning Plan to see specific degree requirements for their effective term.
Program Summary
This teacher preparation program combines college coursework related to the content of Exceptional Student Education, the pedagogy of teaching and practical, school-based experiences to prepare you for professional certification to teach in an Exceptional Student Education classroom, grades K-12. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education (grades K-12) and will be endorsed in both Reading and ESOL.
Graduation Requirements
GPA: A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher is required for graduation.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY (6 credits): Six credits with an international or diversity focus. This requirement may have been satisfied in the first 60 semester hours.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: If you have not completed two consecutive years of the same foreign language in high school or 8 credits in college, you will need to complete 8 credits of foreign language before completing the B.S. program.
CIVIC LITERACY: As per Florida Rule 6A-10.04213, baccalaureate degree students entering a Florida College System (FCS) or State University System (SUS) institution in the 2021-2022 academic school year and thereafter must demonstrate competency through successful completion of a civic literacy course AND by achieving a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE).
Completing all program requirements, including ESOL, demonstrating competency in the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPS) at the pre-professional level, passing all sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) and passing the final internship are conditions of graduation. Students who have questions concerning catalog year requirements should consult the appropriate SPC College catalog or an academic advisor.
Academic Pathways
The Academic Pathway is a tool for students that lists the following items:- the recommended order in which to take the program courses
- suggested course when more than one option exists
- which semester each course is typically offered
- if the course has a prerequisite
- courses that may lead to a certificate (if offered in the program)
Please verify the Academic Pathway lists your correct starting semester.
Program Leadership Information
Florida CIP Code
1101310011 - EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT ED (K-12)
Federal CIP Code
13.1001 - Special Education and Teaching, General.
EARN YOUR A.A. AND BACHELOR'S DEGREES AT SPC
SPC's Education A.A. transfer plan transfers to our Exceptional Student Education Bachelor of Science Degree.
Preparing you for teacher certification
SPC graduates who earn the Exceptional Student Education B.S. Degree can start the steps to apply for your Florida Professional Certificate. These graduates can be certified by the state to teach ESE classes and are prepared to pass the Elementary Education K-6 certification test. As a result, the majority of out ESE graduates enter their teaching careers with multiple certifications and endorsements, which gives them an edge over candidates with certification in ESE only.
