The Special Education Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement programs are available for those students who wish to pursue endorsement in special education and do not meet the MS degree admission requirements, or hold a provisional license in special education and wish to complete licensure requirements.
The ODU Special Education Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Program meets Virginia Department of Education certification and endorsement requirements for any one or more of the following areas: early childhood special education; special education: general curriculum K-12 (mild disabilities); special education: adapted curriculum K-12 (severe disabilities); and visual impairments.
Graduates find employment as special education teachers within the continuum of services provided for children with special needs, administrative staff members in public and private schools, educational therapists, and psycho-educational diagnosticians. Graduates from this program may also serve as key members of child study teams and are prepared to address the educational, emotional, and physical needs of students with disabilities.
Note that the Virginia Department of Education has provided grant funds for eligible individuals seeking endorsement in special education: general curriculum K-12; special education: adapted curriculum K-12; and visual impairment PreK-12.
Entrance Requirements
Regular admittance requires:
- completion of an undergraduate degree in the arts or sciences;
- admission to Old Dominion University as a non-degree seeking graduate student;
- cumulative GPA of 2.80 for all college credit courses taken in the baccalaureate degree program from a regionally-accredited institution or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution;
- passing Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests or equivalent assessments scores; and
- submission of an application for admittance into the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies Teacher Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Program
Provisional admittance requires:
- completion of an undergraduate degree in the arts or sciences;
- admission to Old Dominion University as a non-degree seeking graduate student;
- cumulative GPA of 2.50-2.79 for all college credit courses taken in the baccalaureate degree program from a regionally-accredited institution or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution;
- passing Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests or equivalent assessment scores; and
- submission of an application for admittance into the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies Teacher Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Program
Additional requirements:
Students admitted to the special education program are expected to be able to complete the essential abilities outlined in the Technical Standards document and to exhibit the dispositions noted in the Teacher Dispositions statement. All individuals seeking admission into any Teacher Education Program at Old Dominion University, upon enrolling/registering for their first education class, are required to purchase LiveText, the web-based portfolio assessment system approved by the ODU Teacher Education Council. In addition, any student taking a course in which the instructor requires LiveText will be required to purchase this system. This must be purchased either from the ODU bookstore or http://www.livetext.com/. More information on LiveText at ODU.
Traditionally, students admitted to the University as non-degree seeking are not eligible for financial aid. However, Students enrolled in a teacher preparation program, such as the Special Education Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Program, may be eligible to apply for financial aid if the student is enrolled in at least six credit hours. More information regarding financial aid eligibility is located on the Office of Finance Website, Licensure only link.
Continuance Requirements
- completion of the Pre-Task Rating Form upon acceptance;
- successful completion of all courses required for licensure in an endorsement area(s); and
- maintenance of a GPA of 3.0 with a B- or better in all course work, and B or better in all practicum coursework.
Exit Requirements
- completion of the Post Task Rating Form when notified by program;
- passing scores on the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) [exception: endorsement in early childhood special education and/or special education: adapted curriculum does not require the RVE] and Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA), prior to internship/student teaching;
- completion of all requirements for the program including Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training, Emergency First Aid, CPR & AED Certification or Training, Dyslexia Awareness Training, and Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools in Virginia training; and
- passing scores on the Special Education Exit Exam.
When all program requirements have been met, the Graduate Program Director will provide a Verification of Course Work (VDOE Form DA 035) to the student.
Please be aware that if you do not complete an approved endorsement program, you will be subject to a transcript review by the Virginia Department of Education upon your request for licensure.
Teacher Candidate Internship
All Darden College of Education & Professional Studies teacher education programs provide opportunities to work with teachers and students in classrooms outside the University setting. These early field experiences (practica) and internships (student teaching) complement prospective students' studies of their teaching disciplines and of the teaching/learning process.
