2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Special Education

The 121 credit-hour minimum is achievable by using specific courses that meet both general education requirements and the Special Education major curriculum requirements. We recommend students work with their academic advisor.

The Bachelor of Science in Special Education degree leads to the state of Illinois Professional Educator License in Special Education: Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS I) with the Middle Grades Literacy Endorsement. Special Education majors must complete all requirements of the College of Education to be eligible for licensure.

Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) are general education courses Concordia-Chicago agrees to accept in lieu of comparable, lower-division general education requirements. For more information regarding IAI transfer credit, please see the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s iTransfer website at www.itransfer.org.

Courses listed below with an (*) per College of Education requirements must earn a C or higher. 

University Requirements 

COL-1995Vocation and College Success1

Theology – Public Teacher Education (6 Hours)

Biblical Courses, choose one3
The Bible (B)
Introduction to the Old Testament (B)
Introduction to the New Testament (B)
Theological Course3
Introduction to Christianity (S)

General Education Requirements

Communication (9 Hours)

Required Courses
ENG-1100English Composition3
ENG-2000Writing About Literature3
The above courses must pass with a C or higher per IAI requirements.
COM-1100Speech Communication3

Humanities (9 Hours)

Humanities: Required Course3
History of the American People to 1877 (*)
History of the American People since 1877
Fine Arts: Select one from the following3
Introduction to the Visual Arts
Two-Dimensional Basic Studio
Three-Dimensional Basic Studio
Western Art: Pre-History through Renaissance
Western Art: Post Renaissance through Contemporary
Non-Western Art 1
Introduction to Film Studies
Global Documentary 1
Exploration of Music
Survey of Western Music
Music of World Cultures 1
History of Jazz
Introduction to Theater
Select one Humanities or Fine Arts from the following:3
Introduction to the Visual Arts
Two-Dimensional Basic Studio
Three-Dimensional Basic Studio
Non-Western Art
Western Art: Pre-History through Renaissance
Western Art: Post Renaissance through Contemporary
American Sign Language I
American Sign Language II
Introduction to Film Studies
Global Documentary
Literature for Children, Adolescents & Young Adults (This course is an ISBE requirement)
Non-Western Literature
U.S. Latina/o Literature(s)
Greek & Roman Mythology
African American Literature
Classical World Literature
Modern World Literature
German for Reading I
German for Reading II
Greek I
Greek II
Hebrew I
Hebrew II
Survey of Early Modern Europe, 1350-1815
Survey of Modern Europe Since 1815
History of the American People to 1877
History of the American People since 1877
Survey of World History to 1350 1
Survey of the World Since 1350 1
U.S. Women's History
African American History
Hispanic and Latino American History
Ancient Greek and Roman Civilizations
A History of Illinois
Arts and Ideas
Intro to American Cultural Studies
Latin I
Latin II
Exploration of Music
Survey of Western Music
Music of World Cultures
History of Jazz
Primer in Philosophy
Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
Introduction to Logic
Social and Political Philosophy
Elementary Spanish I
Elementary Spanish II
Intermediate Spanish I
Intermediate Spanish II
Introduction to Theater

Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 Hours)

Required Courses
EDUC-2020Human and Cognitive Development (This is an ISBE requirement *)3
PSY-2125Child and Adolescent Psychology (*)3
Select one additional course from the following:3
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 1
Foundations of Economics
Geography of North America
World Geography: Culture Patterns 1
The Developing World 1
Introduction to Global Cultural Studies
Engaging Diversity: U.S. Perspectives
American Government and Politics
Social and Political Philosophy
International Relations
Introduction to Comparative Politics
General Psychology
The Mind and the Brain
Developmental Psychology: Life Span
Social Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Race, Ethnicity, and Racism in the U.S.

Physical and Life Science (7- 8 Hours)

All College of Education students must complete coursework in the following areas: biology, chemistry or earth science. At least one of the transfer courses in science must include a lab. 

Physical Science Requirements Select One 4
Consumer Chemistry (With Lab)
Chemistry in the World Today
Health Science Applications in Chemistry
Fundamentals of Chemistry (With Lab)
Elements of Earth Science (With Lab)
Concepts in Physics and Earth Science (With Lab)
Concepts in Life and Physical Science (With Lab)
Medical Terminology
Energy and Our Environment (With Lab)
Introduction to Sustainability (With Lab)
Physics of Things We Use (With Lab)
Elementary Physics I (With Lab)
Elementary Physics II (With Lab)
Life Science Requirements Select One3-4
Biology in the World Today (With Lab)
Medical Terminology
General Biology I (With Lab)
General Biology II (With Lab)
Anatomy and Physiology I (With Lab)
Anatomy and Physiology II (With Lab)
Fundamentals of Microbiology (With Lab)

Mathematics (3 Hours)

MAT-1412Mathematics for Early Childhood Teachers: Geometry, Statistics, Functions3

Theology – Lutheran Teacher Education (21 Hours)

Required Methods Course
EDUC-4900Lutheran Teacher: Vocation and Methods3
Theology Minor (2.75 GPA Required)
Required Courses
THY-2010Introduction to the Old Testament (B) 23
THY-2500Martin Luther's Small and Large Catechisms (S) 13
THY-3105Introduction to the New Testament (B)3
THY-3320Survey of Church History (H)3
Select 2 courses from the list below6
The Augsburg Confession and its Apology (S)
The Ancient Creeds, the Smalcald Articles, and the Treaties (S)
The Formula of Concord (S)
1

Fulfills Gen. Ed. Theology Doctrine Request.

2

Fulfills Gen. Ed. Theology Bible requirement.