SPED 6900    Issues, Trends & Ethical, Legal and Professional Guidelines in Special Education    3 s.h.

This course is designed to provide the candidate with an exploratory study of the issues, trends, as well as the ethical, legal and professional guidelines in special education Candidates will become familiar with legal policies and procedures as well as practice ethical guidelines as related to students with exceptionalities. Candidates will understand how to advocate for improves outcomes for learners with exceptionalities and their families as well as design and implement professional learning activities to increase their own practices.

SPED 6906    Understanding and Addressing the Characteristics and Behaviors of Learners with Exceptional Needs    3 s.h.

This course is designed to provide the candidate with the knowledge and understanding of how individuals with exceptionalities grow and develop in an inclusive learning environment. Candidates will understand how multiple influences, including diversity, families, communities and individual differences shape an individual with an exceptionality’s development and learning. The candidate will then use this knowledge to develop high-quality learning experiences based on strengths and needs.

SPED 6914    Positive Behavior Supports/Intervention Strategies to Support Social-Emotional Needs of All Learners    3 s.h.

This course is designed to address the social-emotional and behavioral needs of children with mild to intensive needs, including those needing intensive support due to disability or trauma. It provides education candidates with effective routines and procedures consistent with the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to create a safe, caring, respectful and productive learning environment as well as a range of preventive and responsive practices. Candidates will apply specific tools grounded in the principles of ABA with ethical strategies being of particular focus. Candidate skills will be grounded in the ability to plan, implement and evaluate behavioral interventions and social skills programs within any special education service delivery model.

SPED 6916    IEP Planning and Accommodations for Learners with Exceptional Needs    3 s.h.

This course is designed to provide the candidate with an exploratory study of the IEP process Candidates will understand how to write an IEP as well as collaborate with families and fellow staff members regarding learners with exceptionalities on this process.

SPED 6917    Effective Instruction for Learners with Exceptional Needs    3 s.h.

This course is designed to provide the candidate with the knowledge about individuals with an exceptionality development and assessment data to inform decisions about effective instruction. Candidates will understand how to use explicit and systematic instructional strategies including active student engagement and motivation, differentiated instruction, flexible and small groups, specialized individualized instruction, self -regulated learning and meta-cognition strategies. The candidate will then use this knowledge to plan and guide instruction to meet the rigorous content goals for each individual with an exceptionality’s academic and social-behavioral needs.

SPED 6928    Transition to Adult Life    3 s.h.

This course is designed to provide candidates with best practices of the professional collaboration process to include specific models and strategies to improve the transition from school to adult life, including career readiness, community, and domestic skills for students with mild to intensive learning needs. Candidates will develop a team training model and evaluate evidence-based practices regarding the transition process for students. Individual strengths and characteristics will be considered to facilitate social, vocational, and daily living skills for all learners. Successful completion of field related assessment project is required.

SPED 6929    Assessment of Exceptional Learners    3 s.h.

This course focuses on the educational assessment process for exceptional learners. Topics include state and federal regulations, data collection techniques, formative and summative assessment, and test interpretation. Importance of instructional alignment between objectives, assessment, and instructional strategies.

SPED 6931    Field-based Practicum with Exceptional Learners in Grades K-6    3 s.h.

Practicum experience, with mild/moderate exceptional learners within grades K-6, in which the candidate acquires and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to design and implement data guided standards-based instruction with differentiated methods, assessments that promote learner growth including effective feedback, and collaboratively work with teacher(s), parents/guardians, and related service professional(s) to implement instruction to meet learners’ diverse needs. Field hours required.
Prereq.: SPED 6900, SPED 6906, SPED 6914, SPED 6916, SPED 6917, SPED 6928, SPED 6929.

SPED 6932    Field-based Practicum on Inclusive Practices with Exceptional Learners in Grades 7-12    3 s.h.

Practicum experience, with mild/moderate exceptional learners in an inclusion classroom within grades 7-12, in which the candidate acquires and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to design and implement data guided standards-based instruction with differentiated methods, assessments that promote learner growth through effective feedback, and collaboratively work with teacher(s), parents/guardians, and related service professional(s) to implement instruction and identify transition services to meet learners’ diverse needs. Field hours required.

SPED 6933    Field-based Practicum with Moderate/Intensive Exceptional Learners in Grades K-6    3 s.h.

Practicum experience, with moderate/intensive exceptional learners within grades K-6, in which the candidate acquires and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to design and implement data guided standards-based instruction with differentiated methods, assessments that promote learner growth including effective feedback, and collaboratively work with teacher(s), parents/guardians, and related service professional(s) to implement instruction to meet learners’ diverse needs. Field hours required.

SPED 6934    Field-based Practicum with Moderate/Intensive Exceptional Learners in Grades 7-12    3 s.h.

Practicum experience, with moderate/intensive exceptional learners within grades 7-12, in which the candidate acquires and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to design and implement data guided standards-based instruction with differentiated methods, assessments that promote learner growth including effective feedback, and collaboratively work with teacher(s), parents/guardians, and related service professional(s) to implement instruction to meet learners’ diverse needs. Field hours required.