The 128 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.
University Requirements
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
COL-1995 | Vocation and College Success | 1 |
General Education Requirements
Communication (9 Hours)
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
ENG-1100 | English Composition | 3 |
COM-1100 | Speech Communication | 3 |
ENG-2000 | Writing About Literature | 3 |
Humanities (9 Hours)
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
| History of the American People to 1877 | |
| History of the American People since 1877 |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Non-Western Literature | |
| Society and 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 (incoming freshmen, transfer students exempt) | |
| 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)
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
EDUC-2020 | Human and Cognitive Development (May also be applied to Special Education major) | 3 |
PSY-2125 | Child and Adolescent Psychology | 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 | |
| People and Society (transfer students exempt) | |
| Introduction to Sociology | |
| Marriage and the Family | |
| Sociology of Gender/Sexualities | |
| Race, Ethnicity, & Racisms in the U.S. | |
| Social Inequality: Class, Status and Power | |
Physical and Life Science (7-8 Hours)
At least one science course must include a lab.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
| |
| Biology in the World Today | |
| Medical Terminology | |
| Fundamentals of Microbiology | |
| |
| Elements of Earth Science | |
| Consumer Chemistry | |
| Chemistry in the World Today | |
| Health Science Applications in Chemistry | |
| Fundamentals of Chemistry | |
| Concepts in Chemistry and Biology | |
| Biology in the World Today | |
| Fundamentals of Microbiology | |
| Consumer Chemistry | |
| Physics of Things We Use | |
| Concepts in Chemistry and Biology | |
| Concepts in Physics and Earth Science | |
| Energy and Our Environment | |
| Introduction to Sustainability | |
Mathematics (3 Hours)
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
MAT-1412 | Mathematics for Early Childhood Teachers: Geometry, Statistics, Functions | 3 |
University Requirements
Theology – Public Teacher Education (6 Hours)
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
THY-1100 | The Bible (B) | 3 |
| Introduction to the Old Testament (B) | |
| Introduction to the New Testament (B) | |
THY-1210 | Introduction to Christianity (S) | 3 |
Theology – Lutheran Teacher Education (21 Hours)
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
EDUC-4900 | Lutheran Teacher: Vocation and Methods | 3 |
| |
THY-2010 | Introduction to the Old Testament (B) 2 | 3 |
THY-2500 | Martin Luther's Small and Large Catechisms (S) 1 | 3 |
THY-3105 | Introduction to the New Testament (B) | 3 |
THY-3320 | Survey of Church History (H) | 3 |
| 6 |
| The Augsburg Confession and its Apology (S) | |
| The Ancient Creeds, the Smalcald Articles, and the Treaties (S) | |
| The Formula of Concord (S) | |