M.Ed. Special Education

The primary purposes for this course will be to familiarize students with the history of special education law, the current legal requirements for the provision of services to students with disabilities, and the manner and way to access updated information about the changing legal situation in special education. The course will include analysis of legislation, litigation, and administrative rulings related to special education, and will emphasize the development of legally sound policies and procedures to ensure an appropriate education for students with disabilities.

This course will build knowledge and understanding of the selection and administration of standardized assessments for screening, diagnostics, and progress monitoring of all learners. Models for the formulation of assessment plans for struggling learners and students with persistent academic disabilities will be explored including assessments based on modified achievement standards. Alternate assessments will also be discussed for students with more significant cognitive disabilities. Additionally, this course will focus on special issues in assessment and evaluation including theoretical, legal, and statistical foundations related to assessment in special education and interpretation of assessment results within a Response to Intervention (RTI)/Problem-solving framework to guide instruction for students with learning difficulties. This course includes 5 hours of observation of children with disabilities.

This course explores methods of effective and efficient teaching strategies that promote optimal learning for struggling students including Universal Design for Learning. Candidates will learn how to optimize student learning, select critical content, and break complex tasks into obtainable pieces for all students within an inclusive setting. Additional focus will be placed on monitoring accuracy of student responses and adjusting a lesson based on student performance. Throughout this course, candidates will have multiple opportunities to evaluate how explicit instruction (effective and efficient teaching strategies) can align with their current K-12 classroom and discover occasions for application.

This course explores fundamental concepts and issues related to behavior management at the school-wide and classroom level. Emphasis is placed on research-based intervention for behavioral issues. The instructional goals of this course are to provide candidates with theory, principles, and procedures for serving the academic, social, and emotional needs of students with emotional and behavior disorders in inclusive settings. To meet the goals, the course will be organized as follows: a) a brief overview of characteristics, b) planning and organizing instruction, c) assessment and educational placement considerations, d) curriculum and programming including scientifically research-based strategies, and e) educational, social, and emotional issues across a lifespan.

This course emphasizes awareness, knowledge of Special Education terms, collaboration and consultation, and empathy for exceptional and culturally diverse children; it provides an overview of the history, introduction to current theory, research, ethical practice, and inclusive practices in special education. An overview of exceptional learner characteristics will be explored with an emphasis on understanding and teaching students with special needs within common structures found in schools today focused on student needs being served in an inclusive setting. This course includes 5 hours of observation of children with disabilities.