School of Education
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Department of Secondary Education
Bachelors of Arts in K-12 Special Education Learning Disabilities (MI Certification)
Concordia's Special Education Learning Disabilities Endorsement (K-12) may be taken once a student has selected an elementary or secondary elementary initial certification.
Add the Special Education Learning Disabilities Endorsement to your initial teaching license
Join the rewarding field of enriching the lives and education of students with learning disabilities.
Credits
30
on-campus
All courses offered face-to-face on Ann Arbor's campus.
Financial Aid
The average undergraduate student award is $16,603.
Learn about financial aidProgram Overview
At Concordia, we are dedicated to your intellectual and spiritual wellbeing. Our SPED curriculum includes courses on language, literacy, educational research methods, procedural safeguards, and the technology available for students and teachers. You’ll learn about federal and state legislation influencing the education, curriculum, and documentation requirements for students with disabilities. Our goal is to prepare servant leaders ready to gracefully communicate with their fellow teachers, administrators, and families in order to operate as a team for the benefit of each student.
What to Expect
This certification is earned in conjunction with a content major in secondary or elementary education only.
In this program, candidates will not only meet the requirements to be a special education teacher in Michigan, but they will also learn how to:
- Create necessary early intervention approaches
- Ensure students with disabilities have the assistance they require
- Adapt curriculum and materials to suit individual student requirements
- Collaborate with parents, other educators, and health care professionals
- Measure student progress
Concentrations / Specializations
- Special Education
Locations
- Ann Arbor
State of Michigan Teaching Certificate
To obtain an initial teaching certification through the State of Michigan, the following requirements must be met:
- Passing scores on the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification
- Documentation of achievement of program outcomes
- Training in first aid and CPR
- Professional conference attendance
- Completion of surveys
- Academic portfolio
Please see our course catalog for details.
Deadline for Program Completion
All requirements for program completion must be completed within two years of withdrawal from the university. Following that deadline, a candidate wishing to return and complete certification requirements must meet any new or changed program requirements.
MOECS
In order to receive certification in the State of Michigan, applicants must apply for certification on the new Michigan Online Educator Certification System. Forms and resources are available on the MOECS site.
Steps to Secure a State Teaching Certificate
- Complete all program requirements
- Submit a Request for Initial Teacher Certification to the School of Education's certification officer
- Apply for certification through MOECS
- The state sends the application to the certification officer to be verified
- When program completion and fulfillment of all requirements have been verified, the certification officer submits the university’s recommendation to the State Department of Education via MOECS
- The state sends the candidate an email that includes a link to pay the certification fee
- Create a Michigan Education Information System (MEIS) Account in the MOECS system
In keeping with Michigan’s Rule 101.1, if a candidate reports conviction for certain misdemeanors or felonies, details must be noted in the submitted recommendation for certification. Failure to accurately or honestly report convictions or current charges may serve as the basis for a denial of certification.
Deadline for Requesting Certification
Michigan stipulates a five-year window for submitting a recommendation for certification upon program completion. After that deadline, Concordia requires evidence of a minimum of ten additional credits of coursework directly related to the requested area(s) of certification. Ten or more years after program completion, a minimum of eighteen additional credits and evidence of 50 hours of appropriate clinical experiences are required.
Certification in Other States
Certification processes and requirements vary by state. Concordia strongly encourages all graduates to begin by securing a Michigan certificate, even if they do not intend to find a teaching job within the state.
Certification Renewal
Forms and resources are available on the MOECS site.
How to Apply
Undergraduate Application Steps
It’s time to help you become a Cardinal! Just follow these simple steps to complete your application.
For first-time freshman:
- Submit your online application
- Have your school send your official high school transcripts. Transcripts may be mailed or sent via a transcript processing service to:
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Admissions Office
4090 Geddes Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 - Send your official ACT or SAT scores.
Scores on your high school transcript will be considered official. If your school does not put scores on transcripts, please contact ACT or College Board.
For transfer students:
- Submit your online application
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
*Transfer students with less than 60 college credits completed will also submit official high school transcripts. Students who have less than 30 college credits also need to submit official ACT or SAT scores. Scores on your high school transcript will be considered official.
Minimum Requirements
- A minimum GPA of a 2.5/4.0 (C average) or higher
- ACT composite of 18 or above
- SAT equivalent of 940 or higher for combined math and evidence-based reading and writing (for tests taken after March 2016).
*If your GPA or ACT score falls below the minimum for acceptance, your admissions counselor may ask you to retake the test or supply additional documents, such as an essay or letters of recommendation, to complete the application.
Required Academic Coursework in High School
A minimum of 16 units of high school (secondary school) work is required, of which at least 11 should be in basic liberal arts areas. Units should be distributed as follows:
- English: At least three units, but four are strongly recommended.
- Mathematics: Two units of college-prep math, preferably one each in Algebra and Geometry.
- Natural Science: Two units, preferably one each in Biology, Physics or Chemistry.
- Social Studies: Two units, preferably one each in world history and American history.
- Liberal Arts: Two units of the same foreign language or additional units in one or more of the other listed subjects or in fine arts.
- Other Electives: Five units from any area of academic study, but ideally from the areas listed above.
- German or Latin is recommended for pre-seminary students.
Kyle B. Chuhran
Kyle Chuhran, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
Office: Krieger KRI126
Phone: (734) 995-7397
Bio
Kyle Chuhran, Elementary Education Coordinator since 2014, holds an Ed.D degree in instructional leadership (CU-Portland). He has served in Lutheran schools since 1988.
Education
- EDD - Instructional Leadership, Concordia University, Portland (2020)
- MS - Education, Concordia University - Wisconsin (2008)
- BA - Secondary Education - Music, Concordia College, Ann Arbor (1988)
Research Interests
- Personality Influences on Teacher Effectiveness
- Teacher Attrition
Teaching Interests
- Education and Pedagogy
- Teaching Reading, Writing, and Literacy
Sara Clemm von Hohenberg
Ph.D.
Coordinator - Teacher Certification Program for CUAA, Associate Professor
Office: Krieger K125
Phone: (734) 995-7326
Bio
Dr. Sara Clemm von Hohenberg serves as the Coordinator of the Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with Teacher Certification Program. She teaches Teaching and Learning, Human Growth and Development, Differentiated Instruction, Cultural Geography as well as online courses in the Masters program.
Education
- Ph D - Instructional Leadership, Northcentral University (2018)
- MA - Educational Leadership, Oakland University (2005)
- BA - Secondary Education, Western Michigan University (2002)
Research Interests
- Teacher Preparation Candidate Dispositions
- Professional Semester Experiences
Teaching Interests
- Differentiated Instruction
- Teaching and Learning
Cammie Dudek
Adjunct Professor
Phone: (248) 342-4856
Bio
I have dedicated my life to education and family. God's gift to us is our life. How we live our life is our gift to God. I try to live my life well. I have been a teacher for over forty years and an adjunct professor for twelve years. Teaching continues to bring such joy to my life. Each day, I learn something new and valuable from my students, and hopefully, they have learned something new and valuable, as well.
Education
- MA - Special Education Learning Disabilities, Oakland University (1983)
- MS - Educational Psychology, Wayne State University (1975)
Teaching Interests
- Special Education Learning Disabilities
- Teaching Struggling Readers
- Curriculum Development and Instructional Strategies
Lutheran Teaching Diploma
Do you feel called to educate, influence, and prepare the next generation of the LCMS church? Our Lutheran Teaching Diploma is designed to prepare you to teach specifically in Lutheran schools. Learn more about the Lutheran Teaching Diploma here.