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About The Program

School of Education

Special Education

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The special education degree gives you the skills necessary to support students with diverse learning needs in a variety of settings, and often is paired as a double major with NSU’s elementary education degree.

Each candidate admitted to our teacher education program receives an iPad. Our special education majors often hear from special education experts and work with area schools. To further enhance your classroom experience, NSU’s special education professors have forged partnerships with community programs that serve people with disabilities.

NSU has an active Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) chapter, providing additional opportunities to work with students with disabilities in our community.

NSU students have a high first-trial pass rate on the required Praxis exams.

Careers

NSU’s K-12 special education degree prepares you to work with students with disabilities in a variety of settings such as schools, residential facilities, and hospitals, or to work as an adult service provider.

For more information on careers in your major or help choosing a major, contact the NSU Career Center.

Internships

NSU special education students gain valuable hands-on experience in field placements during their sophomore, junior and senior years, including a formal student teaching experience.

Scholarships

School of Education scholarships are available to incoming freshmen and upperclassmen. For details, please call the School of Education at 605-626-2417.

Education Scholarships

NSU Scholarships

Courses

Special Education (BSEd) Course Requirements

Special Education Minor Course Requirements

Plans of Study

Special Education (BSEd) Plan of Study

Elementary Education and Special Education (BSEd, double major) Plan of Study

Our Faculty

Jessica Vogel

Department

School of Education

Teacher Education

Programs

Elementary Education

Secondary Education

Special Education

M.S., Southwest Minnesota State University

B.S., Northern State University

Ms. Jessica Vogel joined the NSU School of Education faculty in 2016. She received a master of science degree in special education from Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, Minn., in 2009. She also received a bachelor of science degree from Northern State University in K-12 special education, as well an early childhood special education endorsement.

Courses Taught

SPED 100: Introduction to Special Education

SPED 210: Teaching Students with Exceptionalities

SPED 431: Identification and Assessment in Special Education

SPED 460: Family Systems and Professional Collaboration Student Teacher University Supervisor

Research Interests

Discipline specialties: autism spectrum disorders

Intellectual disabilities

Early childhood special education

Professional Work Experience

6-12 special education teacher, Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare, Sioux Falls, S.D.

K-12 autism program facilitator, Aberdeen Public School District, Aberdeen, S.D.

K-3 self contained special education teacher, Aberdeen Public School District, Aberdeen, S.D.

Early childhood special education teacher, Aberdeen Public School District, Aberdeen, S.D.

Special Olympics assistant coach, Aberdeen Public School District, Aberdeen, S.D.

Cheryl Wold

Department

School of Education

Teacher Education

Programs

Elementary Education

Secondary Education

Special Education

Leadership and Administration (MSEd Online)

Teaching and Learning (MSEd Online)

Educational Studies (MSEd)

Ph.D., University of North Dakota

M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University

B.S.Ed., Northern State University

Dr. Cheryl Wold joined NSU's faculty in 2013. She received a Ph.D. in teaching and learning from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, an M.S.Ed. degree in special education/learning disabilities from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill., and a B.S.Ed. degree in elementary and special education from NSU. Dr. Wold was a special education teacher for 17 years; Title I reading and math teacher for seven years; and a director of special education for eight years.

Dr. Wold is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Council of Administrators of Special Education, and Council of Higher Education (COHE). She is the president of SDCEC and treasurer for NSU COHE. She also is a member of the American Association of University Women.

At Northern, Dr. Wold has been advisor for the Council for Exceptional Children and the South Dakota Education Association. She is a member of the Faculty Senate Committee, Academic Affairs Committee, Faculty Activities Committee, several faculty search committees, and the Teacher Education Council, as well as the CEEDAR, Office of Instructional Support and Disability committees.

Awards

Dr. Wold received the Sanford Faculty Development Award in 2018 and the OLC Advanced Online Teaching Certificate in 2015.

Wold was named NSU Student Organization Advisor of the Year and was involved in the NSU Student Organization of the Year for 2014-15.

Research Interests

Special education issues related to early childhood outcomes

Specific learning disabilities

iPad initiatives

Transitions to postsecondary

General education issues related to RTI

Literacy instruction

Differentiated instruction and accountability

Teacher training and qualifications