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About the BA in Special Education Degree

Why Study Special Education at Cedarville?

Make a meaningful impact in the lives of students with mild to moderate disabilities. Cedarville's accredited special education degree will prepare you to teach grades K–12 in both Christian and public school settings. Your coursework will blend academic rigor with a distinctly Christian worldview to equip you for success in this vital field. You'll expand your knowledge and practical skills through both engaging coursework and innovative field experiences. With a special education degree from Cedarville, you will be prepared to make a lasting, positive influence on your students with the compassion and heart of Christ.

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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

Program Overview

Program Highlights

Biblical — Professors who have vast amounts of teaching experiences will teach you through both your Bible minor and education coursework how to incorporate biblical principles in your classroom.

Changing Lives — A degree in education is an opportunity to change lives for the Kingdom of God. At Cedarville, you will find many ways to pursue your passion and hone your teaching skills: tutoring local students, serving students with disabilities, teaching in area ministries, and educating diverse communities. You will see your work with students as a mission field.

Innovative — You will take part in innovative field experiences within local public schools.

Student Teaching Options — You can choose to complete your student teaching experience locally in Christian and public schools or in a foreign country approved by the School of Education and Social Work.

Diverse — You will take part in innovative field experiences or clinical practice for both conventional and distance learning programs that provide experiences with grade K-12 students from various socioeconomic groups and ethnic/racial groups. You will have opportunities to work with English language learners and students with mild/moderate disabilities. You can choose to complete your student teaching experience locally in Christian or public schools or in a foreign country approved by the School of Education and Social Work.

What Can You Do With a Special Education Degree?

  • Our teacher candidates are known for their quality of education, commitment to the field of education, and diversified experiences that prepare them for teaching in the classroom. Cedarville education graduates are teaching all around the world in public, private, Christian, urban, and mission schools!
  • Every teacher candidate is required to complete licensure exams in order to be a licensed teacher in the state of Ohio. Teacher candidates at Cedarville University are well prepared for these exams, as evidenced by exam pass rates found at this link.
  • As a graduate of the Teacher Education Program at Cedarville University, you are eligible to pursue two teaching certifications. Our program enables you to apply for a state of Ohio teaching license in your field of study that may be transferred to any state within the United States, providing all requirements are met for that state. You are also eligible to apply for an Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) certificate, which is nationally recognized among Christian schools and does not require state-to-state transfer.

Graduate and professional programs and employers welcome Cedarville University graduates each year. It is important to note that most professional career fields you may pursue require additional education, experience, and/or licensure beyond the completion of your Cedarville University undergraduate degree.

Placement Success

We’re proud of our successful graduates! 100% of recent education graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Check out Cedarville’s other placement rates.

Cedarville's Placement Rates

Opportunities to Learn Outside the Classroom

Your coursework will be complemented by the following opportunities as you complete your early childhood education degree.

Field Experiences Early and Often! — The School of Education and Social Work believes that our teacher candidates should have many hands-on experiences in schools. That is why you will engage in local school settings during your first year as a teacher candidate at Cedarville University and will continue to experience teaching within a school setting each year of your teacher training at Cedarville. By the time you graduate, you will have completed more than 600 hours in classroom experiences!

Student Education Association (SEA) — Cedarville's education student organization is a Christ-centered community built on equipping teachers to serve each other and those around them. Throughout the year, you will participate in professional growth events, ministry opportunities, and fun activities. You will also have ministry opportunities through the adopt-a-senior program, the birthday ministry, breakfast for teachers, and other ministries. Any education major is welcome!

Cross-Cultural Experiences/Classes in Ireland — The School of Education and Social Work routinely explores new cross-cultural experiences for teacher candidates to diversify their field experiences. Periodically, faculty lead a group of teacher candidates to Ireland to complete core teaching courses in another culture. As part of this three-week adventure, you will earn credit for your courses, observe classrooms and the education system in another country, and have one-on-one opportunities to minister to the people of Ireland.

Partnership Programs — These programs allow you to be part of field experience and classroom learning within one of the schools in nearby participating school districts. You will learn teaching strategies and practices from Cedarville University professors while engaging those practices and theories in real classrooms with real students and teachers.

Overseas Student Teaching Program — You may choose to complete your student-teaching experience overseas. This experience occurs as the final semester of your study as a teacher candidate at Cedarville University. You will spend approximately 14-16 weeks overseas in an English-speaking school. The School of Education and Social Work works with STAGE/CCTECC to coordinate an overseas experience for teacher candidates who wish to complete their student teaching internship abroad. You may choose to go to almost any country in the world and will receive specialized training for this experience.

Recent teacher candidates have completed their Overseas Student Teaching Program in the following locations:

  • Australia
  • China
  • Columbia
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Hungary
  • Kenya
  • Malaysia
  • Mexico
  • Nepal
  • New Zealand
  • Niger
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • South Africa

Program Curriculum

Building on your general education liberal arts and Bible minor courses, you will take education foundations and methods courses as well as specific special education coursework.

Sample courses:

  • Language Development and Communication Disorders
  • Teaching Children with Mild to Moderate Disabilities

Start Your Degree in High School!

Save time and money in college by taking dual enrollment courses now. Discover how you can complete your education degree one semester early with the Dual Enrollment Pathway to Education.

Explore the Dual Enrollment Pathway

Program Format and Related Programs

Cedarville offers graduate and undergraduate programs with flexible completion options. You may also want to consider these related programs as you choose the degree or program that is the best fit for you.

Program Level and Format

  • Undergraduate
  • Residential
  • 4-Year
Woman teaching primary-aged children.

From Our Students:

  • My time in the School of Education and Social Work has truly been one of growth — not just in academic knowledge, but also in my relationship with Christ, and my interactions with other future educators. The education program provides its students with both direct and indirect experiences on what we will face in the ‘outside adult world.’ We have engaged in hands-on projects in collaboration with peers and faculty while also learning how to become secure in our faith and truly living in a Christlike lifestyle regardless of school setting or curriculum. I am grateful for the experience of learning how to serve the Lord through teaching.
    Regina Wright ’21
    Regina Wright
Job and Grad School Placement

Program Faculty

Photo of Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones, EdD

Dean, Assistant Professor of Education

Contact

Photo of Lori Ferguson

Lori Ferguson, EdD

Assistant Dean, Assistant Professor of Education

Contact

Photo of Lynn Roper

Lynn Roper, PhD

Assistant Professor of Special Education

Contact

School of Education and Social Work

Program News

  • Dr. Megan Brown assists with autism screening.

    Global Partnership Brings Dignity to Children With Disabilities

    Dr. Megan Brown, associate professor of education at Cedarville University, is working to increase awareness and support for children and families affected by autism. From Sept. 2-5, 2025, she traveled to El Salvador with Joni and Friends, a ministry that serves people with disabilities.
  • New teachers who recently graduated Cedarville University receiving school supplies.

    Helping Teachers and Showing Love Through Crayons

    As the days shorten and the morning air holds a hint of fall, recent graduates from Cedarville University’s School of Education and Social Work class of 2025 are back in the classroom — but no longer as students.