Courses
Special Education (K)
- EDUC-K 201 Schools, Society, and Exceptionality (1-3 cr.) Provides an overview of the many complex issues related to special education policy and practice in the United States. Content will include an introduction to the definitions and characteristics of various exceptionalities, an exploration of the options available for instructing exceptional children in public school settings, and discussions of the many important topics and issues related to planning and implementing special education in American public schools.
- EDUC-K 205 Introduction to Exceptional Children (2-3 cr.) Provides an overview of the characteristics and the identification of exceptional children. The course presents the issues in serving exceptional children as they participate in the educational, recreational, and social aspects of their lives.
- EDUC-K 285 Foundations in Special Education (2 cr.) A study of the historical and philosophical foundation contributions of Special Education to the development of Public Education.
- EDUC-K 305 Teaching the Exceptional Learner in the Elementary School (3 cr.) Knowledge, attitudes, and skills basic to the education of exceptional learners (students who are handicapped as well as gifted and talented) in the regular elementary classroom. Topics include historical and international perspectives, the law and public policy, profiling the exceptional learner, a responsive curriculum, teaching and management strategies, teachers as persons and professionals.
- EDUC-K 306 Teaching Students with Special Needs in Secondary Classrooms (3 cr.) Includes an overview of the skills and knowledge necessary for effective instruction of students with disabilities in inclusive secondary programs.
- EDUC-K 307 Methods for Teaching Students with Special Needs (3 cr.) Prepares future teachers to work with students with diverse abilities in inclusive settings. Participants learn to use learning modalities, varied rates, and complexity of instruction, and to make use of individual interests and preferences. Additionally, differentiating and/or individualizing instruction.
- EDUC-K 308 Teaching Infants/Toddlers and Young Children with Special Needs (3 cr.) Prepares future teachers to plan and implement programs for infants/toddlers and preschoolers with special needs. Preservice teachers learn the principles of differentiated, adaptive, and individualized instruction. Preservice teachers also develop an understanding of consultation and interdisciplinary techniques, integrative programming, and interagency cooperation.
- EDUC-K 343 Education of the Socially and Emotionally Disturbed I (3 cr.) P: EDUC-K 205 or consent of instructor. A basic survey of the field of emotional disturbance and social maladjustment. Definitions, classifications, characteristics, and diagnostic and treatment procedures are discussed from a psycho-educational point of view.
- EDUC-K 344 Education of the Socially and Emotionally Disturbed II (3 cr.) P: EDUC-K 343 or consent of instructor. A survey of educational curricula, procedures, and materials for socially and emotionally disturbed children. Development of teaching skills is emphasized.
- EDUC-K 350 Introduction to Mental Retardation (3 cr.) P: EDUC-K 205 or consent of instructor. A basic survey of the field of mental retardation. Definitions, classifications, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed from medical, psychological, sociological, and educational points of view.
- EDUC-K 351 Vocational Assessment and Instruction for Special Needs Secondary Students (3 cr.) Emphasizes an awareness of issues and available options related to programming for the special needs adolescent adult. The concept of career education—including preparation in daily-living, personal, social, and occupational skills—is used as the basic framework for the course.
- EDUC-K 352 Education of Students with Learning Disorders (1-3 cr.) Educational programs for optimum growth and development of educable mentally retarded and learning disabled children. Study and observation of curriculum content, organization of special schools and classes, and teaching methods and materials. May be repeated.
- EDUC-K 361 Assistive Technology for Elementary School Students with Disabilities (2-3 cr.) Prepares future teachers with the knowledge required to integrate assistive technology into curricula for students with mild to moderate disabilities.
- EDUC-K 362 Team Approaches to the Education of Students with Disabilities (3 cr.) Students will learn techniques related to effective collaboration and interactive teaming in educational settings. Focus will be the development of skills necessary to serve as consultant or co-teacher in school environments.
- EDUC-K 363 Educational Research: Approaches and Issues (1 cr.) Course is designed to expose students to the major approaches in educational research. Students will learn to interpret educational research and apply this knowledge to a research-based position paper.
- EDUC-K 370 Introduction to Learning Disorders (3 cr.) Survey of historical development and current status of definitions, classifications, assessment, and treatment procedures for learning-disabled students.
- EDUC-K 371 Assessment and Individualized Instruction in Reading and Math (3 cr.) Emphasizes assessment and remediation procedures that address reading and math problems of mildly handicapped students.
- EDUC-K 380 Curriculum and Methods in Educating the Mentally Retarded (3 cr.) A survey of educational programs for educable mentally retarded children. Emphasis is placed on study and observation of curriculum content, organization of special schools and classes, and teaching methods and materials.
- EDUC-K 405 Building Inclusive Middle and Secondary Schools: Approaches and Issues (1 cr.) Students will compare and contrast apprenticeship/school experiences, address specialized areas, and explore challenges and issues confronting special education at the middle- and high-school level (e.g., theory vs. practice). Graded S/F. May be repeated.
- EDUC-K 420 Assistive Technology in Special Education (3 cr.) Develops a basic understanding of Assistive Technology and its potential impact on the daily lives of individuals with disabilities. Explores the options available for children and youth as well as the legislation that regulates its use.
- EDUC-K 422 Teaching Social Skills (3 cr.) Addresses the social context in which classroom instruction and student interaction take place. The course will provide a framework for 1) observing skills that characterize social competence in school, 2) assessing problems with social behaviors, 3) planning instruction and interventions to teach social skills, and 4) monitoring instruction and interventions.
- EDUC-K 426 Assessment and Instruction (3 cr.) Addresses the wide range of learning problems of low-achieving students, including those with mild disabilities, learning disabilities, and other special needs. It will cover development of individualized and group instructional programs such as assessment practices, curriculum design, classroom organization, and effective teaching practices and remedial techniques for teaching.
- EDUC-K 441 Transition Across the Lifespan (3 cr.) Gives prospective teachers the information and skills necessary to effectively teach students with disabilities at the high school level. An overview of characteristics of secondary students with mild disabilities, school programs, transition from school life to adult life, curriculum issues, and strategies of effective instruction for students with disabilities will be covered.
- EDUC-K 448 Families, School, and Society (3 cr.) Addresses approaches for providing services to families with members who are developmentally disabled, chronically ill, at-risk, or who have other types of impairments. Focusing on the family as a system, it examines the challenges of parents and siblings, presents techniques for parent-professional communication, building collaboration, and increasing family empowerment.
- EDUC-K 452 Classroom Management (3 cr.) Shows students how to plan and implement interventions that improve the motivation and self-management skills of students in the classroom. It will focus on procedures for teaching students how to regulate their behavior, and will address the array of skills they need to learn in order to take responsibility for their actions.
- EDUC-K 453 Management of Academic and Social Behavior (3 cr.) Surveys principles of behavior management as they pertain to educational environments. Students will learn how to define, observe, measure, record, and change academic and social behavior.
- EDUC-K 465 Service Delivery Systems and Consultation Strategies (3 cr.) Reviews methods of implementing service delivery systems; consulting with professionals and parents; designing in-service training programs; and developing referral systems, curricular and personnel resources, and evaluation techniques used in special education programs.
- EDUC-K 480 Student Teaching Special Education (3-15 cr.) Provides experiences for each student in his or her respective area of exceptionality, under the direction of a supervising teacher in an educational school setting. Graded S/F. May be repeated.
- EDUC-K 488 Supervised Teaching in Special Education (3-12 cr.) Provides students an opportunity to teach exceptional children under the supervision of a licensed special education teacher and a university special education supervisor. Graded S/F. May be repeated.
- EDUC-K 490 Research in Special Education (1-3 cr.) Variable course title. Individual research. May be repeated.
- EDUC-K 495 Laboratory/Field Experiences in Special Education (1-6 cr.) Provides the student with a field-based, supervised experience with individuals with severe handicaps. It allows the opportunity to interact within school/ work/community settings on a daily basis (three hours/day, five days/week). Specific assignments, which are mutually agreed upon between student, cooperating teacher, and practicum supervisor, are also required. May be repeated.