A UGA Degree Closer to Home
The University of Georgia offers bachelor's degree programs in several areas of study at the Griffin campus. These are upper-division programs open to transfer students or those seeking a second bachelor’s degree.
Special Education
The Special Education major prepares students for teaching careers to work with individuals in the area of mild disabilities (e.g. learning disabilities) in kindergarten through high school. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students may be recommended to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for a clear renewable teaching certificate in Special Education General Curriculum (K-12). The state also requires passing appropriate Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) tests. Career opportunities include teaching in public or private schools and educational consultancy.
The Special Education major falls under the Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education in the College of Education at the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Following the General Curriculum K-12 Consult-Model, the program of study consists of 63 semester hours of required courses, including 10 hours of practicum in special education and 15 hours of student teaching. An additional 6 hours of major electives is also required which does not include the one-hour P.E. requirement.
The required major courses consists of the following:
- Typical/ Atypical Language Development (CMSD 3025)
- Reading Instruction in Elementary School (LLED 3420)
- Teaching Reading in Middle School (LLED 3520)
- Introduction to Assessing Individuals with Disabilities (SPED 3030)
- Introduction to Individuals with Special Needs (SPED 3040) (4 hours)
- Classroom and Behavior Management for Individuals with Disabilities (SPED 3050)
- Instructing Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (SPED 4010)
- Instructing Children with Autism (SPED 4010)
- Literacy Instruction for Individuals with Mild Disabilities (SPED 4100)
- Advanced Instructional Methods for Individuals with Mild Disabilities (SPED 4000) (4 hours)
- Collaboration Among Families and Professionals (SPED 5400)
- Practicum in Special Education (SPED 4440A & SPED 4440B, 3 hours each) (SPED 4440C, 4 hours)
- Student Teaching Seminar (SPED 5450)
Student Teaching in Special Education (SPED 5460) (15 hours)
Admissions Requirements
The admissions requirements for the program at the Griffin campus include the University of Georgia admissions requirements as well as a 2.8 overall and cumulative grade point average, completion of 60 pre-major service hours, and a passing score on GACE (Georgia Basic Skills Assessment Section 8). Other prerequisites include the special education degree program application, a four-page essay on service-learning experience and philosophy of teaching, and three letters of recommendation.
For additional information about the program, including application requirements, advising or scheduling of classes, please contact Clemene Ramsey, program coordinator, by email (clemene@uga.edu) or by phone (770-412-4022).
The special education program welcomed its first students in spring 2009. Clemene Ramsey, who oversees the program and teaches the majority of classes, has over 30 years experience in the field as an educator, curriculum coordinator, special education director, and consultant.
Professional Organizations include the Council for Exceptional Children, the Division for Learning Disabilities within the CEC and the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities.
Other useful links for Special Education majors:
- Courses in Special Education
(Online Bulletin) - GACE Special Education General
Curriculum Test Design and Framework - Georgia Professional Standards
Commission (Special GA Requirements)
Schedule of Classes
The Registrar's Office in Athens maintains and updates the schedule of classes for all UGA campuses and also provides information on registration, final exam and academic calendar dates, as well as payment deadlines that apply to all UGA campuses. To view class schedules for the Griffin Campus in PDF format, scroll towards the end of the document for the semester selected and make sure the heading at the top of the page reads UGA-Griffin Campus.
