Graduate Program

A survey of the characteristics and educational needs of exceptional children. Includes definition, etiology, characteristics and various educational alternatives for each of the exceptionalities.

(Also offered as SHS 302)

The nature of speech, language and hearing disorders in children and adults; overview of speech and hearing anatomy and physiology; multicultural issues; emphasizes the impact of communicative disorders on individuals and families.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

To provide the undergraduate special education student with specific strategies and a knowledge of materials which are important in meeting the needs of students with mild disabilities in a variety of classroom settings.

Prerequisite: 201 and 204.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Emphasis will be on developing a functional understanding of the instructional needs of the mildly handicapped, developing initial competencies in basic skills, content and in affective programming, development of skills in behavior management and integration of initial course content. Also accompanied by a weekly seminar and an initial four-week, 32-hour instructional block.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Primary focus areas: altering/adapting basic curriculum, implementing behavioral, affective, academic curriculum and selecting/altering curriculum content for special needs of handicapped learners.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Provides future teachers with technical management skills needed to cope with the behaviors of exceptional students across all categories, age groups and service levels. Emphasis on management and organization of environment, instruction, behavior and record keeping.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

This course surveys a variety of issues and behaviors (e.g., homelessness, suicide) that place students at risk of school failure. Particularly vulnerable to these issues/behaviors are children with disabilities. School and community interventions will be addressed.

Introductory course on social, medical, emotional, physical and cognitive characteristics of people with intellectual disability. Emphasizes classification, diagnosis and treatment from medical, psychological, sociological and educational points of view.

Introductory course on characteristics of emotionally or behaviorally disordered children. Emphasis on historical development, identification, behavioral description, classification, assessment and an introduction to intervention strategies in various therapeutic environments.

Covers the characteristics of persons with learning disabilities. Emphasis on the historical development of the field, definitions, etiologies, characteristics, diagnosis and research findings about assessment and instructional approaches.

Course overviews the nature and history of the field of early childhood special education. Emphasis is given to typical and atypical development as this relates to young children with delays/exceptionalities birth to age 8.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

An overview of general programming considerations for students with intellectual disability and severe disabilities. Students are to demonstrate competencies in writing instructional objectives, task analysis, instructional program design and developing evaluation procedures for instructional programs.

Students will be placed in an elementary or secondary classroom, preferably at B or C service level. They will spend all day for one semester in the classroom setting and spend one to two hours per week in a seminar session.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Provides functional instruction in observation and informal/formal diagnostic procedures. Instruction in the merits/limits of diagnostic procedures and instruments. Use of case information/test protocols to determine functioning level and program plan.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

(Also offered as ARTE 465)

Designed to acquaint teachers with the value and therapeutic uses of art in special education classrooms and to acquaint art education majors with adaptations of art to various exceptional cases. Special fee required.

Investigation of etiology, characteristics and treatment appropriate for individuals with physical disabilities who are in public sector, schools and exercise programs.

Introductory course focused on gifted and talented children and youth. Emphasis placed on (a) historical development of the field; (b) characteristics and identification; (c) academic and social/emotional needs; and (d) educational programs and interventions.

This course is designed to introduce the special educator to various assistive technology devices, software and instructional uses of the computer.

This course addresses the basic components of planning and teaching reading in inclusive classrooms, emphasizing strategies for differentiating instruction for learners with a range of needed intensities of supports using evidence-based reading methods.

This course is specifically designed for general education majors with no minor in special education. It provides information about student characteristics, legal issues, resources, parent partnerships, and appropriate modifications in curriculum, instruction, and behavioral supports.

Planned and supervised professional laboratory or field experiences in agency or institutional setting.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Introduction to all areas of exceptionality including state and national issues, history, incidence, etiology, identification, treatment and service alternatives.

This course surveys a variety of issues and behaviors (e.g., homelessness, suicide) that place students at risk of school failure. Particularly vulnerable to these issues/behaviors are children with disabilities. School and community interventions will be addressed.

Covers the selection, adaptation, and use of instructional materials in special education. It also covers classroom organization and prescriptive use of materials and methods. There are several methods classes designed to emphasize early childhood, elementary, secondary and bilingual special education. See program for other restrictions.

Supervised experience with exceptional persons. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credit hours total for Masters Plan I and a maximum of 12 credit hours total for Masters Plan II.

Restriction: major in Special Education M.A., Ed.D., or Ph.D. program and permission of instructor.

Introduces students to instructional methods and materials to foster thinking skills including: creative and critical thinking, decision making and problem solving. Also covers theories of group development and multiple intelligences.

This course addresses issues surrounding the inclusion of students with exceptionalities into general education. The course will include an examination of the sociocultural context of inclusion, methods and materials and strategies for collaboration.

Explores family issues and environmental variables related to assessment and community influences of family members, especially students at risk of failure and who have exceptionalities. Home, school and community interventions are also presented.

This course explores the legal rights and responsibilities of special educators in their actions with students who have exceptionalities and the families of those students. The course includes study of applicable Constitutional law, statutes, regulations and interpretive case law.

This course explores the concept of disability as a “social construction” from a variety of perspectives: historical, educational, bureaucratic, cultural and linguistic, gender and from that of the individual.

Provides the special education teacher with a theoretical background and practical experience in the use of a model of curriculum development, task analysis and evaluation of pupil progress.

Focus is on specific materials, techniques and programs that have been adapted or developed for learners with severe problems in reading. Includes depth in direct instruction, cognitive/behavioral merged approaches and multi-sensory approaches.

This hands-on class teaches methods and materials for working with exceptional students in the areas of mathematics and science. Connected to CEC instructional content and practice standards.

Reviews special education eligibility assessment and instructional assessment. Focuses on knowledge and skills necessary for (a) interpreting and applying formal assessment data and (b) designing and monitoring instruction of diverse students with learning and behavior exceptionalities.

The course promotes the area of positive support interventions and environmental management. It includes procedures for organizing and managing a classroom as well as behavioral techniques that foster successful student behavior.

Students are taught the use of behavioral technology to manage academic and social behavior in the classroom.

Introductory course on social, medical, emotional, physical and cognitive characteristics of people with intellectual disability. Emphasizes classification, diagnosis and treatment from medical, psychological, sociological and educational points of view.

Examines a range of interventions for students with mental disorders and mental retardation or severe disabilities. Focus is on developing appropriate supports for individuals with both mental disorders and cognitive or severe disabilities.

Prerequisite: 420 or 520.

Examines advocacy and empowerment with individuals with intellectual or severe disability, including related legislation, supports and interdependence, self-determination, influence of culture, and strategies that increase school-age individuals' involvement in their education.

Study of substantive law in areas affecting the lives of exceptional persons and an analysis of the legal and practical reasons for the law’s involvement.

Exposes students to a variety of assessment methods appropriate for use with diverse exceptional learners, including those with intellectual disability and severe disabilities. Emphasis will be placed on assessments which provide direction for instruction.

Contemporary and historical study of social development and sexuality education and expression, including: attitudes toward sexuality and disability; anatomy and physiology; myths; teaching strategies; roles of schools and others; and legal issues.

(Also offered as PEP 529)

Investigation of etiology, characteristics and treatment appropriate for individuals with physical disabilities who are in public sector, schools and exercise programs.

Prerequisite: 201.

Introductory course on characteristics of emotionally or behaviorally disordered children. Emphasis on historical development, identification, behavioral description, classification, assessment and an introduction to intervention strategies in various therapeutic environments.

Instruction in development and maintenance of educational intervention programs for children with behavioral disorders. Emphasis on philosophical approach, intervention strategies, environmental arrangement, program organization, behavior management, classroom management, parent involvement, transition procedures and case conferencing.

Review of the history of social competence and self-determination skills training for children/youth receiving special education services. Provides experiences in group training and individualized programming. Related information concerning resiliency among children/youth.

Covers the characteristics of persons with learning disabilities. Emphasis on the historical development of the field, definitions, etiologies, characteristics, diagnosis and research findings about assessment and instructional approaches.

Covers the primary approaches developed and adapted for K–16 students with learning disabilities. Includes major instructional models, teaching methods, specific techniques and materials that have been empirically proven effective for these students.

Prerequisite: permission of instructor, program majors only, 540 recommended.

Course overviews the nature and history of the field of early childhood special education. Emphasis is given to typical and atypical development as this relates to young children with delays/exceptionalities birth to age 8.

Overviews teaching/intervention approaches for children with exceptionalities from birth to age 8. Covers methods/materials/procedures appropriate for these children in a variety of settings. Also addresses strategies for working with families in transdisciplinary contexts.

An overview of general programming considerations for students with intellectual disability and severe disabilities. Students are to demonstrate competencies in writing instructional objectives, task analysis, instructional program design and developing evaluation procedures for instructional programs.

Refines and enhances students’ knowledge and skills by applying learned principles and strategies to real and simulated cases. Students videotape and analyze their teaching. Questions and issues specific to on-site teaching are identified and addressed.

Special in-depth offerings on various areas of interest (e.g., trauma, bilingualism) linked to material presented in other ECSE courses.

This course is an overview of the interface between language, culture and disability. Content supports those making decisions in referral and education of culturally and linguistically diverse exceptional students.

Explores issues related to the educational diagnosis of young children, including standardized assessment procedures, family issues and factors impacting development.

Prerequisite: 564L.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

This hands-on course provides teachers with ESL and native language instructional strategies for working with culturally and linguistically diverse students. Theory and practice are integrated for effective program planning and teaching.

Emphasis on working with multidisciplinary teams for educational diagnosis of students and integration of assessment information from related service providers.

Prerequisite: 564.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Examination of issues related to the educational assessment and diagnosis of students for eligibility for special education supports.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Designed to develop competencies in administration, scoring and diagnostic interpretation of various individual tests of intelligence. Adaptive behavior rating scales will be included to supplement the diagnostic evaluation.

Designed to teach educational diagnosticians to be proficient in administration and interpretation of tests in the areas of language aptitudes, self-concept and learning processes.

Prerequisite: 566L.

Specifically designed for the educational diagnostician to develop skills necessary for the educational evaluation and programming of children whose language and/or culture is other than English.

Prerequisite: 566L.

Supervised community-based experience in educational diagnosis (primarily in public school system). Designed to provide opportunities for direct application of theoretical and practical knowledge.

Prerequisite: 566L and 567L and 568L.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Introductory course focused on gifted and talented children and youth. Emphasis placed on (a) historical development of the field; (b) characteristics and identification; (c) academic and social/emotional needs; and (d) educational programs and interventions. 470/570 is a recommended prerequisite to other courses in gifted education.

Focuses on the educational needs of twice-exceptional learners, that is, gifted students with learning and behavioral difficulties. Issues related to characteristics, identification and instructional interventions to simultaneously address the giftedness and the disability are explored.

This application-based course presents instructional strategies designed to address the unique learning needs of gifted students. These differentiated instructional strategies include modifications in content, process, products and environment. Access to gifted/talented students is required.

Prerequisite: 470 or 570.

This course focuses on the development of appropriate curriculum (i.e., courses and units for gifted students tied to benchmarks and standards. Topics include models for curriculum development, integrative/interdisciplinary curriculum, pre-packaged curricular materials and problem-based curriculum.

Prerequisite: (470 or 570) and 576.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

This course explores the identification, assessment and facilitation of the development and function of communication in educational settings. For young children, and those with severe disabilities, communication through alternative means to oral language is paramount.

Introductory course on social, communication, and behavioral characteristics of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Emphasis on intervention models, curricular issues, and instructional practices used in the education of students with ASD.

Provides students with an in-depth knowledge of evidence-based teaching/intervention strategies for students with ASD. Includes critique of published studies in this area and hands-on activities. Focuses on specific techniques/programs designed for ASD students.

This course addresses the teaching of mathematics to students with mental retardation and severe disabilities and emphasizes assessment, the developmental sequence of math skill acquisition, and research-based strategies for teaching skills using a conceptual approach.

Prerequisite: 420 or 520.

This course addresses the basic components of planning and teaching reading in inclusive classrooms, emphasizing strategies for differentiating instruction for learners with a range of needed intensities of supports using evidence-based reading methods.

Designed to teach selection and implementation of appropriate reading instruction approaches for individuals with intellectual or severe disability. Includes examination of varied formal and informal reading assessments and planning and organization of reading instruction.

This course will explore administrative, managerial and supervisory theories and strategies related to special education programs and services. Participants will acquire leadership concepts, skills, strategies and trends for administration of these programs and services.

This course is specifically designed for general education majors with no minor in special education. It provides information about student characteristics, legal issues, resources, parent partnerships, and appropriate modifications in curriculum, instruction, and behavioral supports.

May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credit hours for Masters Plan I and a maximum of 12 credit hours for Masters Plan II.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Planned and supervised professional laboratory experiences in agencies or institutional settings.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Provides experiential practice to prepare students to select, administer, and score standardized assessments used for educational diagnosis.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Independent readings to be arranged collaboratively with individual faculty member. Student will develop an Individual Performance Contract with a faculty member to determine the key readings and to delineate the final product to be produced. Open to Special Education graduate students only.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Offered on a CR/NC basis only.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

A seminar for post-master’s students in special education degree programs. It is recommended this seminar be taken during the first semester of enrollment.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Culminating course in doctoral program in special education. Designed as experience in applying acquired knowledge and skills to current issues and trends in the field of special education.

Restriction: admission to post-master’s work in Special Education.

Designed for advanced graduate students wishing to learn to conceptualize, design, conduct, analyze, and disseminate applied academic research using behavior analysis research methodology. Course comprises both didactic and field experience.

Prerequisite: 519.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

A planned and supervised experience for doctoral students. This course allows the student to apply theoretical concepts to a relevant problem. This experience may include but is not limited to research, teaching, administration, organization, and evaluation.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

Students may not receive credit in Dissertation until the semester in which the doctoral comps are passed.

Offered on a CR/NC basis only.

Restriction: permission of instructor.