Mar 28, 2024  
2011 - 2012 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2011 - 2012 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Interdisciplinary Studies, B.S.


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Elementary Education


Students who intend to seek a license to teach elementary education (grades PreK - 6 / IDSE) complete an Interdisciplinary Studies degree with concentrations in two of the following areas: science, social science, English, special education, mathematics/statistics, or foreign language. Courses taken to complete the 12-hour social science concentration must be selected from at least two of the following areas: economics, history, geography, or political science.

Concentrations (24 credits)


Students must choose two concentrations from English, mathematics, science, social science (economics, history, geography, and political science), foreign language, and special education.

Note(s):


*These requirements make up the early field experience program.

**Satisfied in the Interdisciplinary Core

Total Credits Needed for Degree 125


Middle School Education


Students seeking licensure in middle school education (grades 6-8 / IDSM) complete an Interdisciplinary Studies degree with concentrations in two of the following areas: mathematics, science, social science, or English. Courses taken to complete the 21-hour social science concentration must be selected from the following areas: history, geography, economics, or political science. The concentrations have specific requirements that reflect licensure requirements; students are advised to work closely with their faculty advisor when selecting courses for their concentrations. Also, ENGL 425  and EDSP 361  must be completed as part of the Interdisciplinary Core. Courses from the Core Curriculum (maximum of 9 hours in a specific concentration) are used to meet the 21-hour concentration requirement.

Core Curriculum Requirements (43-45 credits)


Students need to choose courses for the Core Curriculum in consultation with the academic advisor because 9 hours can be used from the Core Curriculum to supplement each concentration area; although these hours are not double counted, they are used to meet the 21-hour concentration requirement. Students are encouraged to include MATH 111 - Math Content for Teachers I  and MATH 112 - Math Content for Teachers II  in their Core Curriculum course work.

Interdisciplinary Core (19 credits)


Concentrations (24 credits)


Students must choose two from English, mathematics, science, social science (economics, history, geography, and political science).

Note(s):


*Courses make up the early field experience program.

**Satisfied in the Interdisciplinary Core.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 121


Deaf/Hard of Hearing Option (IDHH)


Licensure Option (Hearing Impairment, preK-12): B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with Concentrations in Special Education and Communication Sciences and Disorders.

For students interested in teaching students who are deaf/hard of hearing, the College of Education and Human Development offers a Special Education: Hearing Impairment PreK-12 (IDHH) licensure option within the Interdisciplinary Studies major. In addition to Core Curriculum requirements, the Interdisciplinary Core, and Professional Education coursework, students complete concentrations in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Special Education. Students must complete EDSP 361  as part of the Interdisciplinary Core and other specific courses in their core curriculum requirements. Upon admission to the Professional Education Program, students will do their student teaching experience at two age levels with children and youth who are deaf/hard of hearing.

Core Curriculum Requirements (43-45 credits)


All majors must complete the following courses and are advised to take them as part of their Core Curriculum requirements:

Total Hours in Program 123


Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education Option


Pre-Professional Option: B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education (IDEC) with 5th Year M.S. Leading to Dual Licensure in Early Childhood Education (PreK-3), and Early Childhood Special Education, (Birth-Age 5 all disabilities)

For students interested in teaching young children, the College of Education and Human Development offers a unified early childhood education and early childhood special education option within the Interdisciplinary Studies major. This option provides the basis for a 5th Year M.S. in Education with Virginia licensure in both early childhood education (pre-kindergarten through third grade) and early childhood special education (children with all disabilities from birth through age five). Students must complete EDSP 360  as part of the Interdisciplinary Core.

Completion of the 5th year M.S. program, which includes semester-long internship experiences, is required for Virginia licensure in early childhood education (PreK-3) and early childhood special education (birth to age 5, all disabilities). Students must meet all requirements for admission to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies before being enrolled in the graduate portion of the program.

Students are expected to complete the graduate admissions process during the fall of their senior year. (See the Radford University Graduate Catalog for further details.) In addition, students must apply to the Teacher Education Program (see admission procedure  for details). They must meet the requirements for admission and retention as outlined here . Upon admission to the Teacher Education Program, students will do their student teaching experiences with children in early childhood and early childhood special education settings.

Course Requirements


Total Hours for Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies: Early Childhood 122


Note(s):


Students wanting Virginia licensure must continue in the M.S. in Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education

Fifth Year Licensure and Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education


Students must meet all requirements for admission to (a) the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and (b) the Teacher Education Program before being enrolled in the graduate portion of the program. Students are expected to complete the admissions process during the fall of their senior year. (See the Radford University Graduate Catalog for further details on graduate admissions. (See p. 101 of this catalog for details on admission to the Teacher Education Program.) The following courses are included in the 5th year graduate portion of the licensure program in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education

Required Courses and Field Experiences (36 credits)


  • EDET 620 - Educational Technology: Applications, Applied Research and Integration
  • EDEF 606 - Educational Research
  • EDUC 670 - Basic Principles and Practices of Multicultural Education
  • EDEF 607 - Educational Foundations
  • EDRD 688 - Advanced Study in Reading Skills
  • EDSP 670 - Proactive Classroom Management and Advanced Positive Behavior Support
  • EDSP 750 - Internship in Early Childhood Special Education
  • EDEC 750 - Internship in Early Childhood Education

Special Education Concentration


General Curriculum Option


Pre-Professional Option: B.A. or B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in Special Education: General Curriculum, K-12 and an Academic Area (IDSP) with 5th year M.S. in Special Education leading to teacher licensure in Special Education: General Curriculum, K-12.

This option within the Interdisciplinary Studies major is designed for students interested in teaching children and youth with disabilities in the general education curriculum. The emphasis is on preparing effective teachers who can work collaboratively in today’s complex and diverse classrooms to maximize learning for all children. In addition to Core Curriculum requirements, the Interdisciplinary Core, and Professional Education coursework, students complete concentrations in Special Education and a second academic area (English, Math and Computer Science, Foreign Language, Science, or selected Social Science). In addition, students must apply to the Teacher Education Program (see admissions procedures  for details). They must meet the requirements for admission and retention as outlined here . Students complete EDSP 361  as part of the Interdisciplinary Core.

Completion of the fifth year M.S. program, which includes graduate coursework and two clinical experiences, is required for Virginia licensure with endorsements in Special Education - General Curriculum, K-12. Students must meet all requirements for admission to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies before being enrolled in the graduate portion of the program. Students are expected to complete the admissions process during the fall of their senior year. (See the Radford University Graduate Catalog for further details.) Upon admission to the Professional Education Program, graduate students will do their student teaching experience at two age levels with children and youth who have high incidence disabilities.

General and Adapted Curriculum Option


Pre-Professional Option: B.A. or B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in Special Education: General Curriculum, K-12 and an Academic Area (IDSP) with 5th year M.S. in special education leading to teacher licensure in Special Education: General Curriculum, K-12 and Special Education: Adapted Curriculum, K-12.

This option within the Interdisciplinary Studies major is designed for students interested in teaching children and youth with disabilities in the general education curriculum and adapted curriculum.

The emphasis is on preparing effective teachers who can work collaboratively in today’s complex and diverse classrooms to maximize learning for all children. In addition to Core Curriculum requirements, the Interdisciplinary Core, and Professional Education coursework, students complete concentrations in Special Education and a second academic area (English, Math and Computer Science, Foreign Language, Science, or selected Social Science).

In addition, students must apply to the Teacher Education Program (see admissions procedures for details.) They must meet the requirements for admission and retention as outlined on here . Students complete EDSP 361  as part of the Interdisciplinary Core.

Completion of the fifth year M.S. program, which includes graduate coursework and two clinical experiences, is required for Virginia licensure with endorsements in Special Education — General Curriculum, K-12 and Special Education — Adapted Curriculum, K-12 (students may elect single licensure in special education general curriculum as listed above). Students must meet all requirements for admission to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies before being enrolled in the graduate portion of the program. Students are expected to complete the admissions process during the fall of their senior year (see the Radford University Graduate Catalog for further details). Upon admission to the Professional Education Program, graduate students will do their student teaching experience at two age levels with children and youth who have disabilities that affect their progress in the general curriculum and those that necessitate an adapted curriculum.

Course Requirements


Core Curriculum Requirements (43-45 credits)

All majors are required to take the following courses and are advised to take them as part of their Core Curriculum requirements:

Note(s):

The student should consult with their academic advisor to review additional recommended courses for the Core Curriculum in this major.

Concentration (12 credits)

  • English, Science, Math, Foreign Language, or Social Science
    (HIST, POSC, GEOG, ECON).
Note(s):

*Taken during senior year of undergraduate program – 3.0 GPA required.

Special Education Non-Endorsement Concentration


This option provides a common set of knowledge and skills for elementary teachers of students with exceptionalities who do not seek the endorsement in Special Education. This option consists of the following courses for a concentration within the Elementary Education Licensure Option of the Interdisciplinary Studies major:

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