The Bachelor's of Individualized Study with a concentaration in Special Education is designed for students who have earned their transferable associate's degree and are working as instructional assistants. Completers of this program earn a bachelor's degree and are eligible for a Virginia teaching license in both K-12 Special Education endorsement areas (adapted and general).

Who is Eligible?

• Students with a transferable associate degree from a VCCS college.
  • A transferrable associate degree from any VCCS institution will provide the smoothest transition to BIS coursework.
  • Students accepted into the program without a transferable associate degree may have to complete general education requirements not transferred into JMU. Therefore, it is important to know that a student may have to take more courses in addition to their program courses. 
• Students who have completed a minimum of 30 transferable college credits.
• Students who want to become special education teachers in VA (K-12).
• Students who need an online program and are working as instructional assistants in SPED K-12
  classrooms.

Field Experiences

• Generally in a public school K-12 grade classroom.
• Student teach across two semesters in a public school K-12 grade classroom.
• One placement must be in a SPED general curriculum classroom and one placement in a SPED adapted curriculum classroom.
• One placement must be in an elementary school classroom and one placement must be in a middle/high school classroom.

Program Requirements

• About 60 credit hours at JMU plus your transferrable associate's degree (or approved credit) will meet the 120 credit hours required for a bachelor's degree
• Synchronous program courses
• Passing scores on the following assessments are required for degree and licensure
  
  • ALEKS Math Assessment at JMU
  • Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205)

Apply now!

Program Highlights:

• Online, synchronous classes
• Designed for working paraprofessionals
• Completion leads to bachelor's degree & eligibility for VA licensure
• Cohort model - Fall start

For application instructions click here, or watch the video below.