Admission
Admission requirements to the University, the Teacher Education Programs, and the Department of Special Education must be met by students intending to major in the programs listed under (2) below. However, students may indicate their intention to major in Special Education upon their entrance to the University. Formal application for admission to any of the Special Education programs of study will be considered only when supported by recommendation from a faculty member in the Department of Special Education and following acceptance into the Teacher Education Programs. Admission to one program does not insure admission to another. Students changing programs must reapply.
Admission Criteria
1. Completion of 56 semester hours of college credit and with an EMU grade point average of 2.50 or better. Applicants to the Speech-Language Impaired (SLI) Program Area are required to have completed 43-46 semester hours of college credit and have an EMU grade point average of 2.75 or better.
2. Successful completion of the state-mandated basic skills test.
Criteria #3 and #4 below do not apply to Applicants to the SLI Program
3. Completion of SPGN 251 Education of Exceptional Children and the introductory course(s) in the major area of study with a grade of "C" or better. These introductory courses are:
a. Emotionally Impaired (EI): SPEI 301 Emotionally Impaired Children and Adolescents;
b. Hearing Impaired (HI): SPHI 228 Education of Hearing Impaired Students, SPSI 332 Acoustic Phonetics: Speech Science, SPSI 336 Physiologic Phonetics: Anatomy and Physiology, SPSI 337 Language Acquisition, SPHI 392 Introduction to Audiology, and pass a language proficiency examination;
c. Mentally Impaired (MI): SPMI 350 Introduction to Mental Retardation;
d. Physically and Otherwise Health Impaired (POHI): SPPI 310 Developmental Sciences for Teachers of the Physically and Health Impaired;
e. Visually Impaired (VI): Demonstrate proficiency in keyboarding.
4. Submission of a formal application for admission to the Department of Special Education supported by recommendation from a faculty member in the Department of Special Education. Application does not insure admission.
Criteria for continuance in a program of study in the Department of Special Education is dependent upon:
1. Maintenance of a 2.50 cumulative grade point average (2.75 in Speech and Language Impaired).
2. Maintenance of a 2.50 cumulative point average in major courses in program of study (3.0 in Speech and Language Impaired).
3. Completion of all courses in the major with a grade of "C" or better. (SLI majors are required to earn the minimum of a grade of "C+" in practica courses.) Students will be required to retake any major course in which they earn a grade below "C." A major course may be repeated only once. (SLI majors may only repeat 2 courses in the major.)
4. Demonstration of performance that indicates reasonable aptitude, maturity, stability, skill, and understanding necessary for success in the professional field of special education.
5. All students are responsible for meeting the State-mandated subject area test requirements (major/minor/elementary). Contact the COE Office of Academic Services, College of Education, 206 Porter, for current requirements.
Students who do not meet all of the above criteria will be identified by the Department as special help students. Students so identified will be required to confer with their advisor to jointly develop a written plan for correction of any deficiency. Opportunity for correction of the deficiency usually will not be extended beyond two semesters of full-time enrollment. Students who do not correct their deficiencies to the satisfaction of the program area faculty within the prescribed time limits will be subject to termination from that program of study.
The continuance or termination decision will be made by the faculty in the program area. Students may request a meeting with the faculty of the program area to apprise them of any extenuating circumstances that may aid them in arriving at a fair and equitable decision. The faculty decision will be final and will be transmitted to the student in writing by the Department Head.
Nothing in this Department's procedures will negate University or College of Education action for students on academic, administrative, or social probation.
Eastern Michigan University adheres to the principle of equal educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, sex, color, creed, national origin, or disability. This policy extends to all programs and activities supported by the University.
Persons convicted of a misdemeanor or felony involving a minor are not eligible for admission into any program in the Department of Special Education.
Application Forms are available in the Department of Special Education Office, 128 Porter Building, Eastern Michigan University.
Or use the Online Application Form. This form is in Adobe pdf format and requires the free program Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or higher. You may fill in this form online, and then print out the completed form to turn in. You will not be able to save a copy of this form, therefore, if you cannot complete the form in one sitting, print out what you have filled in and complete the rest of the form using a typewriter.
Declaration of Major and Minor form also in pdf format.
