backBack to Nova Southeastern University
Abraham S. Fischler

Learn to Educate Students Who Face Additional Challenges

Students with exceptional needs require teachers who understand best practices amid the spectrum of challenges these students face every day. Exceptional learners range from children with autism, visual or hearing impairments, intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, as well as other health impairments. In 2017-2018 in the U.S., 13.7 percent of all students fell into this category. At Nova Southeastern University, our Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education will thoroughly prepare you with the skills to excel in teaching exceptional students. We also will lay the foundation for you to pursue a professional teaching certificate in Florida.

In addition to learning to teach students with multiple disabilities—within the general inclusive classroom or in an exceptional student education setting—you will learn how to teach English as a second language (ESOL). These skills will give you an educational edge in the ability to promote equity, cultural awareness and social responsibility in diverse educational settings.

Request Info
Apply Now

Enrich Your Edge With Real-Life Experience

At NSU, your professors are eager to share the wisdom they have gained after spending years in the classroom. Our curriculum is focused on helping you achieve professional greatness. With field experiences and a final internship, you will be ready to jump right into a full-time classroom environment.

Learn More about Career Preparation

 

Shark Destinations

You’ll find NSU education alumni at school districts all around the country, including Broward County Public Schools and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (the sixth largest in the nation), Palm Beach County Public Schools, Pinellas County Public Schools, the Archdiocese of Miami and Exceed Preparatory Academy. Our alumni serve as teachers for K-12 students or support the future of other educators in administrative roles.

NSU Teaching Academy at Tampa Bay


Offered on NSU’s Tampa Bay Regional Campus, the Teaching Academy enables you to earn both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education in four years. Upon graduation, you’ll get a guaranteed a job offer with the Pinellas County School District.

During your undergraduate studies, you’ll have a number of mentorship opportunities and both simulated and real-world classroom experiences, which prepare you for the classrooms of tomorrow.

The field experiences will provide you with an opportunity to perform the duties of a teacher within the classroom setting. The purpose of these experiences is to allow teacher candidates to demonstrate their understanding of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and subject area competencies. A minimum of 10 field experience hours are required through education coursework and are to be completed throughout the exceptional student education program.

The clinical practice (internship) is the culminating real-world classroom experience; a 12 week, full-time school placement providing for hands-on experience in lesson planning, instructional delivery, student assessment, and parent/teacher interactions. Teacher candidates (interns) are matched with a school and certified teacher that will compliment your NSU supervisory and faculty team. The internship is designed to expand responsibilities each week as you become an integral member of the school community and teaching team. Your assigned mentor teacher will guide you along weekly as you assume full responsibility of the classroom, and upon successful completion of the internship, you will emerge as a highly qualified educator.


Learn More about Experiential Learning
Florida participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification Interstate (NASDTEC) Agreement facilitating mobility of Educational Personnel with more than 50 other states and jurisdictions for teacher certification and/or licensure. Graduates who wish to teach outside the state of Florida must contact their state's department of education for information for attaining certification/licensure through reciprocity.

National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification Interstate Agreement

Professional Licensure Disclosure
Reserve your seat in one of NSU’s graduate or professional schools while you earn your bachelor’s degree. With NSU’s Dual Admission program, you don’t have to worry about competing with thousands of other students for a spot in a highly selective graduate program. This Premier Program gives you an opportunity to get a head start on your career, so you can start earning sooner.

Dual Admission Programs
Your NSU professors are dedicated to ensuring that you have a great academic experience. They regularly review the curriculum to make updates that give you an edge in today’s ever-changing world. As an NSU Education major, some courses that you could take include Educational Psychology, Foundations of Learning Disabilities, Introduction to Language Development and Speech Disabilities and Methods of Teaching Literacy in the Elementary School. Visit the B.S. in Exceptional Student Education/ESOL curriculum to view detailed course descriptions and plans of study.

 
View Curriculum and Plans of Study

During your undergraduate studies, you’ll have a number of mentorship opportunities and both simulated and real-world classroom experiences, which prepare you for the classrooms of tomorrow.

The field experiences will provide you with an opportunity to perform the duties of a teacher within the classroom setting. The purpose of these experiences is to allow teacher candidates to demonstrate their understanding of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and subject area competencies. A minimum of 10 field experience hours are required through education coursework and are to be completed throughout the exceptional student education program.

The clinical practice (internship) is the culminating real-world classroom experience; a 12 week, full-time school placement providing for hands-on experience in lesson planning, instructional delivery, student assessment, and parent/teacher interactions. Teacher candidates (interns) are matched with a school and certified teacher that will compliment your NSU supervisory and faculty team. The internship is designed to expand responsibilities each week as you become an integral member of the school community and teaching team. Your assigned mentor teacher will guide you along weekly as you assume full responsibility of the classroom, and upon successful completion of the internship, you will emerge as a highly qualified educator.


Learn More about Experiential Learning

Florida participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification Interstate (NASDTEC) Agreement facilitating mobility of Educational Personnel with more than 50 other states and jurisdictions for teacher certification and/or licensure. Graduates who wish to teach outside the state of Florida must contact their state's department of education for information for attaining certification/licensure through reciprocity.

National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification Interstate Agreement

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Reserve your seat in one of NSU’s graduate or professional schools while you earn your bachelor’s degree. With NSU’s Dual Admission program, you don’t have to worry about competing with thousands of other students for a spot in a highly selective graduate program. This Premier Program gives you an opportunity to get a head start on your career, so you can start earning sooner.

Dual Admission Programs

Your NSU professors are dedicated to ensuring that you have a great academic experience. They regularly review the curriculum to make updates that give you an edge in today’s ever-changing world. As an NSU Education major, some courses that you could take include Educational Psychology, Foundations of Learning Disabilities, Introduction to Language Development and Speech Disabilities and Methods of Teaching Literacy in the Elementary School. Visit the B.S. in Exceptional Student Education/ESOL curriculum to view detailed course descriptions and plans of study.

 
View Curriculum and Plans of Study