Admission Requirements

Pre-Admission Requirements for all Candidates

Students interested in majoring in Special Education, Early Childhood & Special Education (ECSE), or Elementary Education & Special Education (EESE) must first gain admission to Towson University. Admission to the university, however, does not guarantee admission to the Special Education, Integrated EESE or ECSE majors. Students must complete a Declaration of Intended Major Form available online through the Registrar's Office, at which time they will be assigned a Special Education adviser. All students applying for admission to a Teacher Education program at Towson University are required to complete a Criminal History Disclosure Form. This form is to be notarized and sent to the Department of Special Education to be kept on file.

Screening

Special Education is a screened major. All candidates for the Special Education, Early Childhood & Special Education, or Elementary Education & Special Education majors will be ranked according to cumulative GPA in all college or university courses (transfer GPA and/or TU GPA).

For consideration for admission to a special education program, an online application must be submitted. Special Education programs often fill allotted spaces quickly. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. 

Students must meet the following requirements:

  1. GPA of 3.0 or higher
  2. possess a C or higher in all required coursework when transferring; no course lower than a 2.0 will transfer
  3. completion of 60 or more units (including units in progress)

All preservice students in Teacher Education programs at Towson University whose program of study require an intensive and extensive internship experience in a public or private school setting (pre-K through 12), are required to undergo a criminal background check before beginning this experience. The criminal background check must be filed with the Department of Special Education.

Transfer Students

Special Education Department personnel are responsive to transfer students and will review those credits which may be compatible with the Core Curriculum requirements, Special Education, Early Childhood/Special Education and Elementary Education/Special Education majors and state certification requirements. Upon acceptance into the University, Admissions and the program advisor will determine courses which will fulfill program requirements. Transfer students are encouraged to contact the program advisor for more information.

The Professional Year

Special Education majors follow the school system calendar for the Professional Development School to which they are assigned as interns. The professional year starts in August when the teachers begin the school year and follows the school system spring break schedule.