Course Descriptions

Special Education
COE 234, (406) 657-2338

The College of Education has designed its professional preparation programs to include a series of sequentially arranged field-based experiences.  Depending on the degree option, these field-based experiences may be referred to as internships, practica, clinics, or supervised field experiences.  Each field-based course requires, as a minimum, 45 contact hours per semester credit hour.  Some programs, due to national or state accreditation requirements or Departmental policy, may require additional contact hours beyond the minimum requirement.  Students should clarify requirements with their faculty advisor prior to registration.

All clinical and field-based experiences are arranged through the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice.  Students are encouraged to make application 12 weeks prior to the semester in which the clinical or field-based experience is to be completed.  Applications are available in the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice, Room 114, first floor COE.

SPED/EC 210 Adult/Child Interaction Skills 3 cr.  Provides the student with basic knowledge of adult-child interaction, support strategies, literacy development, and observation techniques.  A field experience is integrated into the course and assignments.

SPED 260 Introduction to Teaching Exceptional Learners 3 cr.  Considers the characteristics of children with exceptional learning needs.  Examines the services and strategies to provide for individual needs of each student with disabilities in the least restrictive environment.  Provides students with an in-school practicum experience.  Students must co-register with a SPED 260 lab.

SPED/EC 283 Curriculum and Adaptations 3 cr.  Provides the student with an understanding of developmentally appropriate curriculum.  Curricular adaptations for individual learners including appropriate technology and equipment will be addressed.  A field experience is integrated into the course and assignments.

SPED/EC 289 Professional Roles and Expectations 3 cr.  Provides the student with an understanding of roles and responsibilities of professional staff and paraprofessionals when working with families.  Emphasis on professional standards of conduct
including the requirements of confidentiality.  A field experience is integrated into the course and assignments.

SPED 290 Internship V 1-6 cr.  Provides freshman and sophomore students with a supervised field experience in an appropriate setting specifically related to the student’s major/minor area.  In-field contact time is 45 hours per semester credit.  Field placements are arranged through the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice.

SPED 291 Independent Study V 1-6 cr.  Provides an opportunity for freshman and sophomore students to explore, under supervision, material not covered by regular college courses.  Approval of department chair required.

SPED 292 Seminar V 1-3 cr.  Provides students an opportunity to investigate topics pertinent to the field of Special Education.

SPED 293 Workshop V 1-9 cr.  Provides an opportunity for study in Special Education.

SPED 310 Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities 3 cr. Prerequisite: SPED 260.  Introduces a historical and theoretical background for teaching students with learning disabilities.  Presents a variety of approaches to teaching students with learning disabilities from preschool level through adult life.

SPED 311 Teaching Students with Emotional Disturbance 3 cr. Prerequisite: SPED 260.  Introduces a historical and theoretical background for teaching students with emotional disturbance.  Presents identification procedures and the variety of community and system options for these children, as well as classroom techniques and procedures for teaching students in the public schools.

SPED 312 Teaching Students with Developmental Disabilities 3 cr. Prerequisite: SPED 260.  Provides a historical and theoretical background for teaching students with developmental disabilities.  Presents skills in assessment, instruction, and evaluation of students in school and community settings.  An in-class field experience is included in this course.

SPED 375 Teaching, Learning, and Behavior in the Schools 3 cr. Prerequisites: SPED 260.  Introduces principles of learning as conceptualized in applied behavior analysis.  Addresses classroom and school-wide discipline models.  Provides information and conducting functional behavior assessment, and emphasizes a collaborative problem-solving approach.

SPED 400 Legal and Current Issues in Special Education 3 cr. Prerequisite: SPED 310, SPED 311, SPED 312, and admission to Teacher Education program.  Focuses on the legal precepts of special education and current issues in implementation of the law.

SPED 405 Assessment of Students with Disabilities 3 cr. Prerequisite: SPED 310, SPED 311, SPED 312, and admission to Teacher Education Program.  Presents measurement principles and procedures and application of norm referenced, criterion referenced, and classroom-based procedures for students with disabilities.

SPED 415 Individualizing Curriculum (Preschool-12th Grade) 3 cr. Prerequisites: SPED 310, SPED 311, SPED 312 and admission to the Teacher Education program.  Covers aspects of effective teaching with emphasis on curriculum familiarity, curriculum analysis, evaluation, individualizing programs, implementing programs, decision-making, and preparing children for success in general education classrooms.  An in-class practicum is included in this class.

SPED 420 Teaching Special Populations 3 cr. Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Education program and senior standing.  Provides students with 90 hours of supervised practical experience in at least two different special education settings.  Involves structured observation, assessment, lesson planning and execution, data collection, and data-based decision-making.  Includes biweekly two hour seminars covering such topics as classroom organization and management and teaching techniques for students with autism, behavioral and emotional problems, cognitive delays, learning disabilities, and other disabling conditions.

SPED 484 Special Education Student Teaching 9 cr. Prerequisite: Approved student teaching application and completion of the special education course requirements.  Places the student in a supervised field experience in a special education P-12 setting that allows the student to demonstrate teaching skills in the classroom with a variety of learners.  Students, in collaboration with the mentoring teacher, engage students in learning and participate in related experiences associated with the teaching profession.  On-site mentoring and university supervision are integral to this experience.

SPED 490 Internship V 1-3 cr. Prerequisite: Consent of department chairperson and completion of student teaching or approved equivalent experience.  Provides junior and senior students with a supervised field experience in an appropriate setting specifically related to the student’s major/minor area.  In-field contact time is 45 hours per semester credit.  Field placements are arranged through the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice.

SPED 491 Independent Study V 1-6 cr.  Provides an opportunity for junior and senior students to explore, under supervision, material not covered by regular college courses.  Approval of department chair required.

SPED 492 Seminar V 1-3 cr. Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Education program.  Provides students an opportunity to investigate topics pertinent to the field of Special Education.

SPED 493 Workshop V 1-6 cr.  Provides an opportunity for study in Special Education.

SPED 494 Clinic V 1-6 cr.  Provides an opportunity for students to explore and develop applications of theoretical study in a particular area.  In-field contact time is 45 hours per semester credit.  Field placements are arranged through the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice.

Graduate Level Courses

The following are graduate level courses.  Please refer to the Graduate Catalog for the course descriptions.

SPED/RD/ED 502 Research in Special Education 3 cr.
SPED 503 Assistive Technology 3 cr.
SPED 504 Collaboration in Education and Human Services 3 cr.
SPED 510 Professional and Legal Issues in Special Education 3 cr.
SPED/EC 521 Models of Early Intervention Services 3 cr.
SPED/EC 526 Special Education Interventions and Adaptations for Children (0-6) 3 cr.
SPED 530 Curricular Adaptations for Special Populations 3 cr.
SPED 540 Education of Exceptional Learners 3 cr.
SPED 543 Supporting Families of Persons with Disabilities 3 cr.
SPED 550 Theory and Practice:  Emotional Disturbance 3 cr.
SPED 551 Assessment and Program Planning for Special Populations 3 cr.
SPED 555 Models for Services to ED/BD Students 3 cr.
SPED 560 Theory and Practice:  Learning Disabilities 3 cr.
SPED 570 Theory and Systems:  Developmental Disabilities 3 cr.
SPED 572 Community Integration for Persons with Severe Disabilities 3 cr.
SPED 574 Data-Based Instruction 3 cr.
SPED 582 Issues: Special Education Supervision 2 cr.
SPED 584 Student Teaching 6 cr.
SPED 590 Internship V 1-6 cr.
SPED 591 Independent Study V 1-6 cr.
SPED 592 Seminar V 1-6 cr.
SPED 593 Workshop V 1-6 cr.
SPED 594 Clinic V 1-6 cr.
SPED 597 Professional Seminar in Special Education 3 cr.
SPED 599 Thesis 6 cr.
SPED 600 Facilitating Positive Behaviors in the Classroom Environment 3 cr.
SPED/RD 611 Administration and Supervision of Special Programs 3 cr.
SPED 612 Colloquium on Special Education Leadership 3 cr.
SPED 650 Current Practices for Students with Disabilities 3 cr.
SPED 690 Internship for Doctorate Degree V 1-6 cr.
SPED 691 Directed Readings V 1-3 cr.