Special Education (BS) Military Pathway
Bachelor of Science
For Catalog Years 2025-2028
Military Pathway Information
This military pathway outlines degree requirements that may be satisfied by military training and experience or exams, as well as requirements that must be satisfied through courses taken at Old Dominion University.
Download a PDF of the Special Education (BS) pathway
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Requirements Potentially Met Outside the Classroom
Where indicated, a passing CLEP or DSST examination score will satisfy the ODU course requirement.
- CLEP Exams - College Board
- DSST Exams - GetCollegeCredit.com
- ODU CLEP and DSST Credits
- CLEP Preparation - ModernStates.org
A student may forego the CLEP or DSST option and satisfy the requirements by taking the actual courses. If a course is taken elsewhere, check first for transfer equivalency in ODU's Transfer Equivalency Tool.
Prior learning credit is also available in specific situations at a cost of 20-50% of the current tuition rate. Prior learning credit may not be paid for by military tuition assistance (TA). Prior learning credit cannot exceed 60 credit hours.
Lower Division General Education Requirements
| Military Course, Certification, Experience or Exam | ODU Equivalent Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLEP College Composition (NOT Modular) | ENGL 110C English Composition | 3 |
| DSST Technical Writing | ENGL 231C Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics | 3 |
| Instructor, career counselor, recruiter, or select specialties | Oral Communication requirement | 3 |
| CLEP College Mathematics | MATH 101M Introduction to Mathematics for Critical Thinking | 3 |
| CLEP College Algebra or DSST Fundamentals of College Algebra | MATH 102M College Algebra | 3 |
| CLEP Precalculus | MATH 162M Precalculus I | 3 |
| DSST Principles of Statistics | STAT 130M Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| CLEP Foreign Languages or military linguist or DLIFLC graduate | Language and Culture requirement4 (Spanish preferred) | 6 |
| CLEP American or Analyzing & Interpreting Literature | Literature requirement | 3 |
| CLEP Human Growth & Development or DSST Lifespan Development Psychology | PSYC 203S Lifespan Development | 3 |
| CLEP Biology | Nature of Science requirement | 4 |
| DSST Introduction to Geology or Principles of Physical Science I | Nature of Science requirement (must be different than BIOL) | 4 |
| CLEP or DSST multiple choices | Electives required to meet 120 credits | various |
| Current or previous E6-E9 | STEM 251G Computer Literacy: Communication & Information | 3 |
| Current or previous E6-E9 (elective if needed) | SEPS 302 Workforce Supervision Management | 3 |
| Current or previous E7-E9 (elective if needed) | MGMT 325 Contemporary Organizations & Management | 3 |
| Current or previous E8-E9 (elective if needed) | MGMT 330 Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| Current or previous E9 (elective if needed) | MGMT 410 Leadership in Organizations | 3 |
*ODU’s Language and Culture requirement can be satisfied by three years of a foreign language or two years of two foreign languages in high school. Students whose native language is not English are exempt from taking a foreign language for general education.
Total requirements potentially met outside classroom: 47+ credits
Requirements Met at ODU
A minimum of 30 credits must be taken at ODU and 120 credits gained in total to earn this degree.
Special Education General Education Core Requirements
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| HIST 104H Interpreting the American Past; Human Creativity and Philosophy and Ethics requirements | 9 |
| FOUN 301 Learning and Development | 3 |
| FOUN 302 Assessment of Learning | 3 |
| SPED 400 Foundations of Special Education: Legal Aspects and Characteristics | 3 |
| SPED 411 Classroom and Behavioral Management Techniques for Students with Diverse Needs | 3 |
| SPED 417 Collaboration and Transitions | 3 |
| STEM 370T Technology and Society (writing intensive; C or better required; meets Impact of Technology requirement) | 3 |
| TLED 326 Socio-Cultural Perspectives in Education | 3 |
| TLED 426 Introduction to Literacy, Linguistics and Practice in the Classroom | 3 |
| Electives required to meet 120 credits not met elsewhere | various |
| Subtotal: 33+ credits |
General Education K-12 Requirements
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| SPED 402 Instructional Design I: Learner Characteristics and Assessment | 3 |
| SPED 403 Directed Field Experience in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 415 Instructional Design II: Curricular Procedures and Individualized Education Planning | 3 |
| SPED 418 Instructional Strategies to Meet Diverse Learning Needs in Math | 3 |
| SPED 440 Assistive Technology for Diverse Students | 3 |
| SPED 486 Teacher Candidate Internship for Special Endorsement | 12 |
| TLED 408 Reading and Writing in Content Areas | 3 |
| Subtotal: 30 credits |
Adapted Curriculum K-12 Requirements
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| SPED 402, 415, 418, 440, and 486 as above | 24 |
| SPED 404 Characteristics and Medical Aspects of Disabling Conditions | 3 |
| SPED 428 Instructional Strategies for Students Accessing the Adapted Curriculum | 3 |
| SPED 441 Teaching Students with Severe Physical and Sensorimotor Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 469 Communication/Language Development/Intervention for Students with Significant Disabilities | 3 |
| Subtotal: 36 credits |
Total requirements met at ODU: 63+ credits
Total credits for degree: 120
Next Steps
Review Program Information
Learn more about our Special Education BS online degree program.
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Military Student Services
From credit for your experience to flexible learning options, ODUGlobal can help fit education into your life. Learn more about how we support active-duty military and veteran students.