BS in Special Education Interdisciplinary Studies Transforming Foundations With Expert Intervention
120
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total
Transform the Lives of Special Needs Children with Our Online Non-Licensure BS in Special Education Degree
You’re passionate about helping all students learn. With a 100% online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Special Education Interdisciplinary Studies degree, you can prepare to help your future students thrive by addressing their unique learning styles. Our bachelor’s degree in special education curriculum focuses on education theory, learning disabilities, and adaptation techniques that you can easily apply to your work in the classroom. By pursuing our online bachelor’s in special education degree, you can acquire the skills needed to successfully manage your classroom while meeting students’ specific needs.
Earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Special Education Interdisciplinary Studies degree can equip you to achieve your goals and succeed in Christian school, private school, and homeschool settings, as well as public childcare facilities and churches, and in the public school as a paraprofessional.
Students who complete their non-licensure, Bachelor of Science degree can potentially pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching, graduate licensure program later on. Our online, non-licensure special education bachelor of science degree complements our Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education. The MAT program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and would be the step needed to obtain your teaching licensure.
Please note: Liberty’s BS in Special Education Interdisciplinary Studies is a non-licensure track. This program is intended to prepare students for non-licensed teaching roles, or to continue into a licensure program at a later time. If you would like to pursue licensure through your bachelor’s degree, see the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Special Education to review teaching licensure requirements.
Why Choose Liberty’s Online Special Education Bachelor’s Degree?
At Liberty University, our mission is to Train Champions for Christ. In our special education bachelor’s degree program, you will be immersed in enriching curriculums focused on practical applications. Our professors have real-world special education experience and are passionate about helping you integrate your faith with your profession. Designed to give you maximum flexibility and convenience, our online bachelor’s of special education degree program can give you the foundation you need to teach with excellence and integrity.
What Will You Study in Our Online Bachelor’s in Special Education Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Program?
Throughout your online bachelor’s in special education degree program, you will study current, research-based education theories and best practices. This background can equip you to work effectively in many settings with children who have special needs. You will explore philosophical, legal, and sociological principles of special education as well as essential learning theories, equipping you to engage in research and scholarship. Based on this foundation of theory, you can learn specific classroom practices you can use to manage your classroom effectively and reach your students where they are.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Homeschool teacher
- Paraprofessional
- Private school teacher
- Tutor
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Education.
- View the Undergraduate Education Course Guides (login required).
- This online early childhood education degree can help prepare you for Liberty’s licensure-track Master of Arts in Teaching.
- Please note: This is a non-licensure program.
Degree Completion Plan
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Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!
Undergraduate Full Time | $390/Credit |
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Undergraduate Part Time | $455/Credit |
Military Undergraduate | $250/Credit |
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Online Undergraduate Degrees
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9595.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.*
- Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.
Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Transcript Policies
High School Transcript Policy
Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.
- Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.
Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.
The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.
Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Military Transfers
If you have military-only transfer credits (completed basic training and enlistment), you must request an official military transcript. Please go to the Military Transfer Credit webpage to request your military transcript.
International Applicants
If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course)*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
- Potential college credit for military training
*Not applicable to certificates.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is special education?
In the classroom, students have many different learning needs. When students are struggling due to disabilities and challenging circumstances, teachers need special education training to help these students learn and grow. The special education discipline focuses on developing and applying tools and methods to help students overcome challenges and improve their education outcomes.
With special tools, assessments, and management skills, special education teachers can help students with physical disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or other challenges. With these tools, special education teachers work to help these students build toward a more successful future.
How do you get a degree in special education?
If you need training to help teach students with special needs, then you could benefit from a degree in special education. Whether you are already in the classroom teaching students, or you want to enter the teaching field, pursuing an online program can be the most convenient and flexible option. Earning Liberty’s special ed degree online gives you the chance to get the training you need to be effective in a special education classroom while still in your current job.
Liberty University’s special education degrees have two tracks: the BS in Special Education emphasizes flexibility and does not require any internship requirements. However, if you want to pursue a state license for special education teaching, then you may be interested in the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Special Education track. This program still has online courses but includes state requirements for teaching experience in a student teaching and practicum.
Can you teach general education with a special education degree?
Liberty’s BS in special education online degree includes general education and teaching content designed to give you a strong foundation in classroom skills. However, depending on your intended teaching areas, you may need to include other required content in your degree plan.
Liberty recommends adding additional subject areas to your degree plan for elementary education, middle grades, or secondary education to give you professional flexibility to meet your school’s teaching needs. See the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) page for more information about licensure requirements.
What can I do with a special education degree?
With a special education degree, you can use special ed teaching tools and techniques to help kids with special needs in many settings. With Liberty University’s special education program, you can learn the skills you need for roles teaching special needs children in sunday schools, private schools, homeschool, tutoring settings, and many more.
With state licensure, you will also be equipped to pursue roles in public schools and other teaching settings where licensure is required. While the BS in Special Education track does not include licensure requirements, you may also pursue licensure through alternative licensure pathways available through your state’s Department of Education. You may also pursue licensure-track requirements through Liberty’s B.Ed. in Education – Special Education.
What resources will be available to me in this program?
Students enrolled in our online Bachelor of Science in Special Education degree will have access to a wide variety of resources through Liberty’s research portal and extensive amount of electronic and print resources through the Jerry Falwell Library.
Will this program provide any hands-on experience?
You will earn practical, real-world experience with your in-person practicum.
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