Gulf Coast State College | Special Education Option, Liberal Arts A.A.

Are you interested in becoming a Special Education teacher?

Gulf Coast State College’s Special Education Option, Liberal Arts A.A. will prepare you to teach children or adults with learning disabilities and will also give you the knowledge and tools to prepare individual education plans to meet the needs of each student. If you're creative, patient and want a challenging and fulfilling career that offers limitless rewards, then a career as a Special Education teacher may be the right choice for you.

Many career options are available to you including child care worker, preschool teacher, principal, school counselor, special education teacher and teacher's aide. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), the national median pay for special education teachers with a bachelor's degree in 2016 was $57,910.00 per year. Jobs for special education teachers are expected to increase by 6% from 2014 to 2024.

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Program Requirements

Communications Area		CH
•+*ENC1101, English I		3
+*ENC1102, English II		3
Humanities Area
Visual and Performing Arts	See General Education Requirement	3
Philosophy/Religion	See General Education Requirement	3
Literature	See General Education Requirement	3
Mathematics Area		6
See General Education Requirement
Natural Sciences Area
Physical Science	See General Education Requirement	3
Biological Science	See General Education Requirement	3
Social Sciences Area
Behavioral Sciences	See General Education Requirement	3
History	See General Education Requirement	3
Government	See General Education Requirement	3
Additional Common Prerequisites
EDF1005, Introduction to the Teaching Profession		3
EDF2085, Introduction to Diversity for Educators		3
EME2040, Introduction to Technology for Educators		3
Electives
Electives		15
TOTAL DEGREE HOURS		60

Recommended electives:

SPC1608, Introduction to Public Speaking, 3 crs.

EEC1701, Childhood Development, 4 crs.

• General Education Core. Students must complete at least one identified core course in each area of study—Communications, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences—as part of the general education course requirements.

+ Prerequisites and/or corequisites required. See course descriptions.

* Minimum grade of "C" required.

Are there special admissions requirements for the Special Education option, liberal arts A.A. Program?

The state of Florida requires a thorough background check by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement prior to you entering the classroom for observations.
On-site requirements may only be completed once written verification of approved background checks are submitted to GCSC.
You must attend and comply with requirements of the school systems where observations are conducted. GCSC has articulation agreements with Gulf, Franklin and Bay school districts for classroom observations.
You must pay all costs associated with background checks.

Forms required for field-based education experience

MY ACADEMIC PLAN (MAP)

Refer to My Academic Plan (MAP)- AA/LIBERAL ARTS (CASE-AA) for a recommended path and timetable, from start to graduation, for obtaining your degree or certification.

Check out the class registration dates and plan your schedule today.

LEARN MORE

Ready to apply? To apply, you’ll need to complete the general admission application to Gulf Coast State College. Visit the Gulf Coast admissions page to learn more about the application process.

Visit the Gulf Coast State College course catalog for specific general education class requirements, course prerequisites, admission requirements, and additional information for the university transfer track.