Interdisciplinary Studies, B.S.

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.

Elementary and Special Education: General Curriculum Five-Year Program

Completion of this fifth year of the Master’s Degree in Special Education: General Curriculum Five Year Program, which includes two semester-long internship experiences, is required for Virginia licensure 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-level portion of the program, the fifth year.
Students are expected to complete the graduate admissions process during the spring of their senior year. (See the Radford University Graduate Catalog for further details.)
 

Middle School Education

The Middle School Education Program is designed to meet standards from accrediting agencies, NCATE, INTASC, as well as Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). 

Students seeking licensure in middle school education (grades 6-8 / IDSM) complete an Interdisciplinary Studies degree with concentrations (each 21 semester hours) in two of the following areas: mathematics, science, social science, or English. It is highly recommended that students select courses for their concentrations from the following in order to be well prepared for teaching content included in Virginia’s Standards of Learning:

• English concentration must include coursework in language—structure, grammar, literature, advanced composition, and interpersonal communication or speech.
• Mathematics concentration must include coursework in algebra, geometry, probability and statistics, and applications of mathematics.
• Science concentration must include coursework in each of the following: biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth and space science, a laboratory course is required for two of the four areas.
• History and social science concentration must include coursework in each of the following: American history, world history, economics, American government (including state and local government), and geography.

Students are advised to work closely with their faculty advisor when selecting courses for their concentrations.

ENGL 425 - The Study of Adolescent Literature  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.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing

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 PK-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 both the PK/elementary and secondary levels with children and youth who are deaf/hard of hearing.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Special Education: General Curriculum Five-Year Program

Students pursuing a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies and licensure in Deaf/Hard of Hearing (PK-12) (as described above) may enter the fifth year of the Master’s Degree in Special Education: General Curriculum Five Year Program for licensure.
Completion of the fifth year of the Master’s Degree in Special Education: General Curriculum Five Year Program, which includes two semester-long internship experiences, is required for Virginia licensure 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 graduate admissions process during the spring of their senior year. (See the Radford University Graduate Catalog for further details.)
 

Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education Five-Year Program

Pre-Professional Options:

B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Early Childhood Special Education (IDEC) leading to Licensure in Early Childhood Special Education, (Birth-Age 5 all disabilities) (ECSE4).

B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education (IDEC) with 5th Year M.S. Leading to concurrent endorsements in Early Childhood Education (PreK-3), and Early Childhood Special Education, (Birth-Age 5 all disabilities).

The early childhood special education four-year program allows to qualify for Upon successful completion of the four-year program, students earn a Bachelor’s Degree and are eligible to apply for licensure in Early Childhood Special Education, (Birth-Age 5 all disabilities). 

For students interested in teaching early elementary grade levels, the College of Education and Human Development offers a unified early childhood education and early childhood special education option within the Interdisciplinary Studies major.  Upon successful completion of this five-year program students are eligible for concurrent endorsements in early childhood education (PreK-3) and early childhood special education (birth to age 5, all disabilities). Students choosing this program of study must complete the Master’s Degree in order to be eligible for licensure.  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 in either of the above programs must apply, be accepted and meet retention requirements for the Teacher Education Program (see admission procedure for details),

Special Education: General and Adapted Curriculum Five-Year Program

Pre-Professional Option: B.A. or B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Special Education and an academic content area with fifth year M.S. in Special Education leading to two teaching licenses: 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 or 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 concentration 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 of the Masters Degree in Special Education: General and Adapted Curriculum Five-Year Program, which includes graduate coursework and two clinical field experiences, is required for Virginia licensure with endorsements in Special Education: General Curriculum, K-12 and Special Education: Adapted 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 spring 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 with disabilities who are accessing the general or adapted curriculum.

Special Education: General Curriculum Five-Year Program

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, but who do not have adequate time within five years to complete the requirements for both special education adapted and general curriculum (these might be students who changed majors or transferred to RU). 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 concentration 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 field experiences, is required for Virginia licensure with endorsement 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-level portion of the program. Students are expected to complete the admissions process during the spring 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 with disabilities who are accessing the general curriculum.