Special Education Licensure Programs

There are new changes to Special Education Licensure Programs.  Please see various licensure areas for additional information.

There is a new Summer Course rotation detailing course changes for Special Education Licensure. Please see the attached document.

The Department of Professional Education at Bemidji State University offers two special education licensure programs (EBD & SLD). These programs provide in-service teachers with a broad base of knowledge about disabilities and programming strategies to use with students with disabilities. As a foundation for the program, BSU emphasizes performance-based standards for teacher preparation established by the Minnesota Board of Teaching and the Council for Exceptional Children.

NOTE: Course enrollment for all classes is capped and prerequisite courses will be enforced. Students are advised to register early for graduate special education courses to reduce the risk that a course will be filled.

10 Credit Limit: Students taking graduate-level course work without being enrolled in a graduate program (i.e. MS in Special Education) must note that only 10 credits may transfer into a graduate program.

Requirements for Admission to the Licensure Programs

An undergraduate degree in education and a valid teaching license are required for admission to the special education licensure programs. Please note: If you do NOT have a current standard MN teaching license, you will need to complete the Standard of Effective Practice (SEP) courses, complete student teaching, and complete all exams as required by the MN Board of Teaching and/or MN Dept of Education. 

SLD and EBD Licensures and the MS in Special Education

While the SLD and EBD licensure programs are highly correlated with the Master of Science in Special Education degree, completion of a licensure program does not lead immediately to a masters degree; additional course work is required.  For the most part, students who have completed the SLD and EBD licensure programs may complete the MS in Special Education by completing the Scholarly Activity. 

Students do not need to be admitted into the MS Special Education program to take graduate level courses; however, we encourage students to apply for admission to the MS in Special Education when they begin the EBD or SLD license. 

10 Credit Limit: Students taking graduate-level course work without being enrolled in a graduate program (i.e. MS in Special Education) must note that only 10 credits may transfer into a graduate program.

For information on requirements for graduate admission, contact the School of Graduate Studies.

Course Rotation

Typically an individual will need 2 years to complete a licensure program if no special education course work has been completed previously. Course work taken at the undergraduate level or at other institutions may reduce the time required to complete the licensure.

A course rotation has been developed to help students plan ahead to complete their licensure program. It is highly recommended that students work with an advisor to ensure that they are able to complete the program in a timely manner. Students need to note that none of the licensure programs can be completed in one year.

Consult the BSU Graduate Catalog for additional program and course information.

Clinical Experiences

Eight classes in the SLD and EBD licensure programs have embedded clinical experiences designed to provide interaction with a variety of age levels in the licensure area. Students who transfer these courses from other institutions will have to complete a clinical experience.The embedded clinical experiences take the place of a culminating student teaching experience.

Contact Information

For questions about a specific licensure program, contact the appropriate coordinator or the Professional Education Department (218-755-3734). 

For more information on Special Education, or for students who do not have a current MN teaching license and wish to take SEP course on campus, contact:
Dr. Janne Lillestol 
jlillestol@bemidjistate.edu
218-755-3745

For students who do not have a current MN teaching license and wish to take SEP course online, contact:
Dr. Roxanne Pickle
rpickle@bemidjistate.edu
763-262-4773