Elementary Special Education, BSED
Program Quick Facts
Credits
120
Start Terms
Fall
|Spring
|Summer
Available
On Campus
|Online
Tuition
$8,956.50
estimated cost per semester
Celebrate student achievements
There’s a huge demand – and a lifetime of rewards – for talented, empathetic, specialized teachers of students with special needs.
At DSU, we know that special needs educators do more than develop detailed, individualized plans and track the progress of each student. They understand children and understand how a disability can affect cognitive, social, and emotional function; they are able to employ strategies to help children manage their behavior and gain social skills. Special education teachers celebrate successes small and large - and those moments are etched in a teacher's heart.
Our dual degree in elementary and special education offers you the confidence, tools, and skills essential to educate students of every ability. As this dual degree prepares you to be an elementary classroom teacher and a special education teacher, the techniques you learn will help all learners in your care within a regular education classroom or special education setting.
Online or on-campus courses
The elementary special education bachelor’s coursework is offered 100% online or on campus. Whether you are a traditional student or a working professional aspiring to become a teacher, this flexible program allows you to complete the coursework for your degree how it works best for you – remote, in-person, or hybrid, and as a full-time or part-time student.
DSU's Director of Field Services will arrange your in-school student teaching requirements.
Curriculum and experience highlights
Outside the classroom, student clubs and activities like the Teachers of Tomorrow Club can complement your coursework.
DSU's heritage means teacher training is in our DNA
Our close-knit, hands-on courses are led by faculty with years of classroom experience. You'll get real-world advice and plenty of support as you find yourself on the “other side of the desk” for the first time.
Outstanding field experiences are a hallmark of our program. Prior to your student teaching residency, you'll get plenty of practicum experience. After, you'll undertake a semester-long student teaching residency in public schools as your capstone experience.
To give you greater breadth in teaching, special education student teaching takes place at two different levels (elementary, middle, and/or high school). The elementary education portion of student teaching is at the elementary or middle school level.
Placement Rates
DSU’s programs in the College of Education & Human Performance have 100% placement rates. While many of our graduates are employed in the state of South Dakota, there are graduates working across the U.S.
TEACH Grant eligible
DSU's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Special Education is eligible for the federal TEACH Grant (up to $4,000 a year) for students who meet the academic requirements and are completing course work to begin a career in teaching. Students will need to complete a four-year teaching appointment with a school or educational service agency that serves low-income students. Learn more about the TEACH Grant.
Smart classrooms, smart kids
DSU’s focus on tech is a game-changer in the classroom.
Our graduates know how and when to use tech to enhance learning. The schools who employ them know DSU-trained first-year teachers are prepared for anything.
All education graduates earn a K-12 Educational Technology Endorsement built into their degree. It’s another DSU advantage: not only can you seamlessly integrate technology into any classroom, but you’re also qualified to teach computer classes at elementary, middle, and high school levels.
An online elementary special education degree is versatile, giving you a number of options for teaching upon graduation.
“The relationships that DSU staff have built with me have encouraged me to go out and build those types of relationships with my own students. ”
Madeline Hegg, Elementary Education (BSE) ’24
Faculty
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Licensure Information
Dakota State University’s Educator Preparation Programs are approved by the South Dakota State Board of Education and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Graduates who successfully complete a teacher certification program are eligible for recommendation for an initial South Dakota teaching license and are encouraged to apply upon graduation.
Students who live or plan to live outside South Dakota must contact the appropriate licensing board in their state before beginning a program. Licensure requirements vary by state, and DSU cannot guarantee certification outside South Dakota. Students can explore DSU program availability by location and find state licensing contacts through the U.S. Department of Education.
For more information, contact the Director of Field Services for the College of Education and Human Performance at collegeofeducation@dsu.edu or 605-256-5177.
