Why Major in Special Education?
Belmont University’s undergraduate program in Special Education, grades Kindergarten through 8th grade, combines rigorous coursework with the most innovative, evidenced-based practices and mentorship from faculty members and experts. This program provides in-depth, hands-on field and clinical experiences to help individuals become the very best teachers possible.
Each undergraduate student pursuing this special education degree builds a repertoire of evidence based instructional practices, learns to leverage key partnerships needed to support all students and develops vital leadership attributes to impact the lives of all of the students that they encounter.
Belmont’s program in special education offers the opportunity to craft a program of study that builds in an additional specialized concentration for their degree. Undergraduate students are frequently also interested in coursework that leads to additional licensure in Elementary Education, English as a Second Language or Secondary Education. Or, students may craft a program of study that positions them for both licensure in the classroom as well as extended graduate study after completion of their undergraduate degree.
What You'll Learn
- Gain an understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments enable each learner to meet high standards.
- Create learning experiences that make the central concepts, tool of inquiry and structures of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
- Develop multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
- Plan instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
Program Details
Curious about your coursework? View requirements for this degree in the course catalog.
Master of Arts in Teaching 4+1
All Students interested in earning a Master's degree can do so in our 4+1 program, allowing students to earn a Master's degree and initial teaching licensure in 5 years. The program offers a year-long internship experience across two diverse settings under the guidance of licensed experienced teachers. The intern program entails being school based during the day (following the school district’s schedule) and attending classes in the evening. The internship portion of the program runs from fall to spring only, and candidates must have completed the professional core courses before entering the internship part of the program. This means undergraduate students will major in a core subject area (History, Science, English, Math) and minor in Education and then select a licensure area concentration in their Master's year.
Belmont Teacher Education candidates have many opportunities to practice their advocacy, leadership and teaching skills through participation in Belmont’s service-learning and volunteer opportunities as well as education department-specific opportunities.
Candidates should explore coaching, teaching and tutoring opportunities, as well as create their own opportunities as they engage in service in their new home community of Nashville.
Our community partners include area charter, independent and public schools, as well as nonprofit and for profit community agencies serving Nashville’s families. Belmont University requires all students to be engaged in community and service-learning opportunities but it is not uncommon for teacher education candidates to go beyond the required hours and in a number of opportunities take leadership roles.
Below are some of the opportunities in which our candidates engage:
Belmont’s Service-Learning and Volunteer Opportunities
Through Get Connected, Belmont’s online volunteer service directory, our candidates can connect with more than 70 area organizations where they can connect and serve. Our teacher candidates take seriously the opportunity to serve the greater-Nashville community and volunteer in programs such as: English Language Tutors with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, athletic coaches with area middle schools, tutoring programs with the YMCA, Martha O’Bryan Center and area faith-based programs.
Best Buddies©
BESTBUDDIES® builds one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), through school and community friendship programs that provide socialization opportunities to help erase the invisible line that often separates students or adults with and without IDD. Best Buddies at Belmont is an active student organization where Belmont students and community members with IDD become friends and hang out together with the focus on reducing barriers and building inclusive communities focused on strengths and relationships.
Homework Hotline
Homework Hotline is the largest provider of tutoring in Tennessee, the only service available by phone and the only program that provides tutoring in six languages. Belmont University candidates serve as a volunteer satellite of Homework Hotline, housed on the Belmont campus. In this way, Belmont University students practice teaching techniques while providing one-on-one tutoring to at-risk children.
Kappa Delta Pi National Education Society
Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), International Honor Society in Education, fosters excellence in education and promotes fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. Belmont’s Nu Phi Chapter is additionally, concerned with assisting the community and has been involved with food drives, raising funds for local literacy programs, as well as helping with Homework Hotline.
Student Teacher Education Association
Through its affiliation with the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) and the National Education Association (NEA), our student program leads tomorrow's teachers to a bright professional future. STEA exists to help our members move smoothly from student on campus to beginning teacher. This is achieved through a variety of avenues including organization meetings with speakers who highlight opportunities at Belmont and beyond to broaden understanding of what it means to be an educator, discussion of issues and trends in education, conference attendance for members to network and develop professionally and a focus on service to communities and families.
STEA is proud to work with Belmont University for Annual Family Literacy Day each spring by forming a reading circle where we read aloud books around a theme with children from the community. We also collect canned goods for local food banks as well as school supplies for teachers and children in Nashville Public Schools. Each spring we also host a campus-wide Valentine’s Day Card-Making event for the children and families of the Ronald McDonald House and residents of local nursing homes.
Create a BU4U account to apply, request information, and more! To apply for admission as a traditional freshman, traditional transfer, undergraduate non-degree seeking or undergraduate Re-enroll student, please choose the Traditional Undergraduate Application.
Belmont University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Belmont University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Belmont’s Teacher Education Program is approved by the Tennessee Department of Education and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) legacy site visit of 2021.
The Belmont University School of Music is a fully-accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
The Watkins College of Art at Belmont University is an Accredited Institutional Member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Sheyanne S. Smith
Master of Arts in Teaching
High Ability Learning Specialist for the Office of Teaching, Learning & Assessment | Nebraska Department of Education
“Belmont College of Education prepared me academically and equipped me with the skills necessary to thrive in the professional world of education. The commitment to students is truly extraordinary. Being a student at Belmont University undoubtedly changed my life in a way that is hard to put into words. I finally felt like I belonged and that I was heard."
Frequently Asked Questions
Belmont's Special Education program stands out through its integrated approach to teacher preparation. Our program uniquely combines special education with general education preparation, featuring expert faculty from Vanderbilt's doctoral program and partnerships with organizations like The CEEDAR Center for inclusive practices.
Our Special Education program prepares educators to teach students from kindergarten through 8th grade. The program provides comprehensive training specifically focused on K-8 special education instruction, with opportunities for additional certifications.
- Elementary Education license
- Special Education endorsement
- English Language Learning endorsement
The practical experience in our Special Education program is comprehensive and hands-on. Students receive field experience through robust community partnerships, including collaboration with local schools. These partnerships provide opportunities to observe and implement special education curricula like Orton-Gillingham in regular classroom settings.
- Universal Design for Learning principles
- High-leverage teaching practices
- How to create inclusive learning environments
- Multiple methods of assessment
- How to plan instruction supporting all students
- Understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures
- 100% career placement rate (2024)
- Most students secure teaching positions by graduation
- Currently, 70% of surveyed schools nationwide report special education teacher vacancies
- In Metro Nashville Public Schools, about 28% of open teaching positions are in exceptional education
Graduate study opportunities are available after completing your Special Education degree. The program can be structured to position you for both classroom licensure and extended graduate study after completing your undergraduate degree.
For information about the Special Education program, you can contact:
Hallie Caddy
Admissions Coordinator
Phone: 615.460.5505
You can also request information through the online form on this program page.
Request Information
Contact Us
Addison Wallace
Admissions Coordinator
615.460.5505
Email Addison