Undergraduate Degree
In pursuing a bachelor's degree in special education (SPED), there are two initial licensure options based on a non-categorical model: the SPED general curriculum (SPED-GC) license and the SPED adapted curriculum (SPED-AC) license. The GC license prepares teachers to work with children with mild/moderate disabilities who are pursuing a high school diploma and are in the general education curriculum. The AC license prepares teachers to work with children with significant cognitive disabilities who are not pursuing a regular high school diploma and whose education is based in an extension of the general curriculum and an adapted curriculum. You may also add-on either license while pursuing your primary degree in special education. Please click on the information below for course information regarding your specific licensure goals.
Adapted Curriculum
SPED-AC-Program Planning/Course Sequence Chart
SPED-AC-Required Course Checksheet
General Curriculum
SPED-GC-Program Planning/Course Sequence Chart
SPED-GC-Required Course Checksheet
Graduate Degree
To pursure a special education graduate/master's degree at ECU, students must have a special education teaching licensure. Apply to the graduate school as a degree-seeking graduate student. For more information, reference the ECU Application and Course Registration page.
Master's Program Options
- High-Incidence Options
- Mental Retardation (MR)
- Learning Disabilities (LD)
- Behavioral-Emotional Disabilities (BED) - Low-Incidence Disabilities (LID)/Severe-Profound (SPH)
Certification/Licensure
To pursue special education certification-only or licensure-only, apply to the ECU graduate school as a non-degree seeking graduate student. "Non-degree" means that you have already earned a bachelor’s degree and are not currently enrolled in a master’s program. For more information, reference the ECU Application and Course Registration page.
Special education certification/Licensure Options
- Assistive Technology Certificate
- Autism
- SPED-AC
- SPED-GC
