• Build respectful relationships
• Create communities of learners
• Support and encourage successful learning for all students
• Honor and respond to differences
• Utilize knowledge of human development

• Design, plan, implement and evaluate instruction
• Use best practices for instruction and assessment
• Know content and strategies for integration
• Communicate clearly and effectively
• Solve problems creatively and constructively
• Use the tools of a changing world

• Collaborate effectively with families, communities, and colleagues
• Practice reflective, self-directed, life-long learning
• Demonstrate a commitment to ethical and legal responsibilities
• Contribute to and lead in diverse societies

• Demonstrate knowledge of the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) s/he teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful to students.
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate the concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures among the disciplines.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the diverse ways in which students learn and develop by providing learning opportunities that support their intellectual, physical, emotional, social and cultural development.
• Plan instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, curriculum goals, and learning and development theory.
• Understand and use a variety of instructional strategies and appropriate technology to meet students? needs.
• Create and maintain a classroom environment which supports and encourages learning.
• Demonstrate the ability to support students? learning and well-being by engaging students, home, school, colleagues, and community.
• Understand and use a variety of formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and support the development of the learner.
• Demonstrate an awareness of and commitment to ethical and legal responsibilities of a teacher.
• Demonstrate a strong professional ethic and a desire to contribute to the education profession.
   

• Content Knowledge
• Effective Planning
• P-12 Learning
• Diversity
• Dispositions
• Technology
• Student Teaching or Internship
• Achievement of Standards
• One or more areas identified by program faculty and linked to specific program goals

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS for K-8 Specialization

SED 125	Introduction to Educating Students with Diverse Learning Needs	2
EDU 125	Introduction to Theory and Practice in K-8	2

(SED 125/EDU 125 taken same semester)

SED 200	Foundation in K-12 Special Education	4
SED 201	Curriculum and Instructional Programming in Special Education	4
SED 209	Practicum in Special Education	4
SED 301	Language and Literacy Methods in Special Education	4
SED 306	Assessment in Special Education	4
SED 307	Mathematics and Content Area Methods in Special Education	4
SED 308	Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Supports	4
SED 404	Collaboration Among Diverse Families, Learners, and Professionals	4
SED 450	Special Education Regulations and Practice	4
SED 460	Student Teaching and Seminar in Special Education	16

ADDITIONAL COURSES

PSY 225S	Child and Adolescent Development	4
MAT 103M	Mathematical Content for Elementary School Teachers	4

 

Total credits for the Major:  64

 

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Every student majoring in Special Education K-8 must complete 20-24 credits outside of education as described below. Most students identify their intended concentration during their first year of study after consultation with their advisor. Some concentration courses also fulfill General Education Requirements although credit is not given twice.

Students have three options for meeting this requirement: 1) focused concentration in language arts, mathematics, science, or social science (this is the recommended option); 2) a minor as defined below; or, 3) a multidisciplinary concentration.

1) FOCUSED CONCENTRATION

In order to meet the highly qualified teacher standard under the No Child Left Behind Act, students are strongly encouraged to earn all 24 credits in one of the following concentrations:

LANGUAGE ARTS

ENG 100 English Composition (4 credits)
ENG 181 Literary Analysis & Interpretation (4 credits)
English electives (16 credits)

MATHEMATICS

MAT 103M	Mathematical Content for Elementary School Teachers I	4
MAT 104M	Mathematical Content for Elementary School Teachers II	4
MAT 120M	Introduction to Statistics	4
MAT 141M	Calculus I	4
MAT 313	Introduction to Abstraction	4

Mathematics Elective numbered 132M or higher  (4 credits)

SCIENCE

Biology Elective (4 credits)

Chemistry Elective (4 credits)

Geology Elective (4 credits)

Physics Elective (4 credits)

Two natural science courses elected from any of the following disciplines (8 credits):  Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Physics

SOCIAL SCIENCE

This concentration consists of 24 credits in a minimum of two disciplines from the following: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, and Political Science.

Students wanting an emphasis in a specific discipline may take 20 of their 24 credits in one of the following: Anthropology, Geography, History or Political Science

Option A: Emphasis Option

Choose one course from two of the following areas (8 credits):

Anthropology
Economics
Geography
History
Political Science

And an additional 16 credits in one of the
following areas:

Anthropology
Geography, Including The Following:

GEO 103S	Peoples And Environments
or
GEO 104S	Global Transitions and
GEO 205S	Geography In Education
	History
	Political Science

Option B: Multidisciplinary Option

Choose 24) credits from two or more of
the following areas:

Anthropology
Economics
Geography
History
Political Science

2) MINOR

Students may choose to meet the 24-credit requirement by completing a minor as defined in the catalog. If the minor comprises less than 24 credits, students should work with their advisor to determine which additional courses to take. These courses may come from the chosen minor or from the arts and sciences, health, or rehabilitation.

3) MULTIDISCIPLINARY CONCENTRATION

Students may choose to meet this requirement by completing 24 credits outside of education. Students should work with their advisor to determine which courses to take. These courses may come from the arts and sciences, health, or rehabilitation. These courses must include at least 8 credits at or above the 200 level, and an additional 8 credits at or above the 300-level.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS for 7-12 Specialization

SED 101	Education Exceptional Children at the Middle/Secondary Levels	2
EDU 101	Introduction to Middle/Secondary Education	2

(SED 101/EDU 101 taken in same semester)

SED 200	Foundations in K-12 Special Education	4
SED 201	Curriculum and Instructional Programming for Exceptional Children	4
SED 306	Assessment in Special Education	4
SED 320	Transition, Self Advocacy, & Social Skills	4
SED 321	Math & Literacy Content and Methods for Middle/Secondary Grades	4
SED 209	Practicum in Special Education	4
SED 308	Classroom Management & Positive Behavior Supports	4
SED 404	Collaboration Among Diverse Families, Learners	4
	With Special Needs,  and Professionals
SED 450	Special Education Regulations and Practice	4
SED 460	Student Teaching and Seminar in Special Education	16

Two courses in EDU or a related area, e.g., Psychology, Rehabilitation, Sociology

8

MAT 103M

Mathematical Content for Elementary School Teachers I

4

Total Credits for the Major: 68

Concentration Requirements: 24

A specific concentration is optional, but no longer required. In consultation with advisors, students will choose 24 credits of arts and sciences courses in addition to the general education requirements. These courses will include at least eight credits at or above the 200 level, and an additional eight credits at or above the 300 level.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

For specific information about general education requirements and expectations, see the General Education Requirements in the Academic Programs section of this catalog.

ELECTIVES:  0-8

To earn the 128 credits required in the degree, students may need to complete 8 additional elective credits. These electives may come from the arts and sciences, health, education, or rehabilitation.

MINIMUM TOTAL CREDITS FOR THE DEGREE: 128

PROFESSIONAL STANDING

To be eligible for Professional Standing, students must meet the following criteria:
1) complete a minimum of 38 credits;
2) pass the PRAXIS I at the level established by the State
3) pass ENG 100 with a grade of C- or higher;
4) successfully complete a practicum or field experience;
and
5) earn an accumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.

STUDENT TEACHING

Prior to beginning student teaching, students must meet the following criteria:
1) admission to Professional Standing in Education;
2) an accumulative GPA or 2.5 or higher;
3) completion of 80% of all required course work;
4) completion of all professional requirements in Special Education;
5) grades of C- or higher in all required professional courses that been completed;
6) pass the PRAXIS II, Special Education #0354, at the level required by the State.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must have an accumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to graduate and must have achieved a grade of C- or higher in all required professional courses.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Information on Special Education K-12 follows. For Early Childhood Special Education, look under the letter "E" earlier in this section on Academic Programs. In order to continue in the Special Education certification program, students must achieve professional standing. Students who fail to meet the required standards of professional standing in education will not be eligible to enroll in advanced professional education courses until all the criteria have been met. To enroll in professional education courses at the 200-level or above, students must pass PRAXIS I per State requirements and pass SED 125 or SED 101 with a grade of C or higher.