School of Education
DEPARTMENTSlicensure and masters of arts in special education - developmental disabilities Courses
Prerequisites
Hold a Valid Teaching License in Minnesota or take courses to fulfill standards
Core Courses
Survey of Exceptionality
Behavior Management
Collaboration Skills for School Professionals
Licensure Courses
Fundamentals of Developmental Disabilities
Basic Skills Instruction: Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Assessment of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Instructional Strategies: Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Methods and Materials: Significant Developmental Disabilities
Positioning and Handling and Augmentative Communication Strategies
Acquisition of Speech and Language
PRAXIS II
Practicum: Developmental Disabilities
Additional Requirements earning a Master’s Degree
Principles of Educational Research
Special Education Final Project
Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail.
Prerequisites
Hold a valid Minnesota teaching license or document the Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice for Beginning Teachers.
- Education's Place in Society (TEGR 510, EDUC 210, or equivalent)
- Human Relations and Multicultural Education (TEGR 512, EDUC 212 or equivalent)
- Psychology of Teaching and Learning (TEGR 530, EDUC 330, or equivalent)
- PRAXIS I (pre-professional skills test or CBT)
Core Courses (9 Credits)
Survey of Exceptionality (SPED 750 – 3 Credits)
- Examine the theories, legal mandates, definitions and terminology related to special education.
- Explore characteristics of individuals with exceptionalities including gifted and talented; emotional behavioral, and speech and language disorders; learning, developmental and sensory disabilities; early childhood special education.
Behavior Management (SPED 785 – 3 Credits)
- Explores the idea of positive behavior support for promoting acceptable behavior in school and other settings where individuals learn.
- Develop skills to teach and support acceptable behavior that is demonstrated in home, school, and community settings.
Collaboration Skills for School Professionals (SPED 714 – 3 Credits)
- Develop the knowledge and skills needed to effectively collaborate with faculty, administrators, students, para-educators, families and community members.
- Explore applications of collaboration related to consultation, team membership, co-teaching, partnership with families, developing interagency agreements and supervision of paraprofessionals.
- Identify current practices in collaboration used in program planning and implementation for students receiving special education services.
Licensure Courses (24 Credits)
Fundamentals of Developmental Disabilities (SPED 753 – 3 Credits)
- Review definitions, prevalence, origins, characteristics, assessments, programming, family issues, inclusion, collaboration, transition, adult services and national trends.
- Examine legal issues regarding the rights of persons with developmental disabilities.
- Find out about organizations providing support and advocacy services to families and educators.
Basic Skills Instruction: Mild/Moderate Disabilities (SPED 705 – 3 Credits)
- Develop research-supported theoretical foundations and skills for the instruction of students with mild-to-moderate disabilities in the basic skills.
- Gain practical knowledge in psychological processing and the basic skills of reading, written expression, spelling and mathematics.
Assessment of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (SPED 709 – 3 Credits)
- Understand characteristics of formal and informal assessment instruments.
- Learn methodologies employed with students having developmental disabilities.
- Study intellectual ability, adaptive behavior, general achievement, functional skills and the area of transition.
Instructional Strategies: Mild/Moderate Disabilities (SPED 788 – 3 Credits)
- Understand the academic, social, and functional needs of children identified as having a mild/moderate disability.
- Find out about leading learning strategies and traditional remedial approaches.
- Learn about IEP development as well as instructional strategies and techniques that work in the classroom.
Methods and Materials: Significant Developmental Disabilities (SPED 754 – 3 credits)
- Review philosophies, perspectives, methods and materials for supporting the learning of students with developmental disabilities.
- Study learning characteristics, curricular models, instructional strategies, adaptations, friendships, and other natural support networks, self-determination, use of technology, planning for transition, and potential services for adults.
- Prerequisites: SPED 709, SPED 753.
Positioning and Handling and Augmentative Communication Strategies (SPED 751 – 3 Credits)
- Discuss normal gross motor, fine motor, oral motor and sensory development.
- Examine the implications of the development of abnormal movement and sensory dysfunction.
- Address current positioning and handling techniques and feeding interventions.
- Understand sensory defensiveness and optimal arousal states.
- Gain real-world experience with classmate partners and children with physical or sensory impairment.
- Find out about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
- Examine the principles and procedures involved in assessment as well as practical guidance on designing and implementing intervention strategies.
Acquisition of Speech and Language (SPED 770 – 3 Credits)
- Explore the normal developmental sequence of speech and language from birth to five years of age.
- Examine cognitive development is in terms of its impact upon the acquisition of language skills.
- Learn strategies for facilitating the development of language and communication skills.
PRAXIS II: Test of professional knowledge and subject matter and content test
Practicum: Developmental Disabilities (SPED 756 – 3 Credits)
- Gain practical experience in an educational or community-based setting.
- Work with a range of students with developmental disabilities.
Additional Requirements for earning a Master’s Degree(4 credits)
Principles of Educational Research (CIED 500 – 3 Credits)
- Learn methods of descriptive and experimental research.
- Understand basic statistical theory and application.
- Build skills in research methodology.
Special Education Final Project (SPED 799 – 1 Credit)
- Apply your knowledge in useful and creative ways.
- Display your knowledge in teaching.
- Demonstrate the ability to influence professionals in your field of choice.
- Design and implement innovative curricula, adapted instruction, in-service programs or complete a formal research project.
Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail.
