School of Education
DEPARTMENTSDirector of Special Education Courses
These courses are offered collaboratively through the departments of Special Education and Leadership, Policy and Administration. This competency-based licensure program begins with a skills/experience assessment and leads to the evaluation of competencies through coursework, portfolio completion and other documentation. A program committee of St. Thomas faculty and a director of special education advise and evaluate students.
Sample Courses
Personal and Professional Planning
Planning and Administration: Special Education
Instructional Strategies: Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Administration and Personnel
School Law
Communication, Conflict and Decision Making
Microcomputers and Instruction
Practicum: Director of Special Education
Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail.
Sample Courses
Personal and Professional Planning (EDLD 770 – 2 Credits)
This course is designed to accomplish three goals: analyze and pre-assess the student experiences in leadership in a critical manner, acquaint the student with the phenomenon of leadership and set professional goals. The means by which this analysis is undertaken is important to success in the course. The student will analytically and critically reflect upon his/her own capabilities in reference to specific leadership competencies.
Planning and Administration: Special Education (SPED 731 – 2 Credits)
A seminar reviewing current special education programs at national, state and local levels. Emphasis is placed on understanding the regular and special educational systems statewide along with a review of legal issues, budget issues, national trends and state monitoring and evaluation of programs in special education.
Instructional Strategies: Mild/Moderate Disabilities (SPED 788 – 3 Credits)
Increase the knowledge and understanding of the academic, social, and functional needs of children who have been identified as having a mild-moderate disability. Current state-of-the-art learning strategies as well as the more traditional remedial approaches to the education of children identified as learning disabled or as having an emotional or behavioral disorder as well as children with developmental disabilities are examined. IEP development as well as instructional strategies and techniques that work in the classroom are a primary focus.
Administration and Personnel (EDLD 874 – 3 Credits)
This course examines the mission of the school and focuses on the attributes, knowledge and skills a person needs to be a principal. Emphasis is placed on the importance of ongoing education and the development of professional networks. Students have an opportunity to assess their skills as a basis for selecting elective courses appropriate to their needs. Recent national studies on elementary and secondary education are reviewed and an in-depth analysis of those issues relating to the secondary school occurs.
School Law (EDLD 820 – 3 Credits)
Federal, state and local relationship of law to education are studied. Areas covered include school law as it pertains to districts, boards of education, and school personnel; contractual authority and tort liability; problems of employment of teachers; transportation, attendance and discipline; and landmark school law cases.
Communication, Conflict and Decision Making (EDLD 845 – 3 Credits)
This course examines strategies for analyzing and dealing with conflict between individuals and groups, effective communication processes and decision-making strategies. The theoretical foundations of particular strategies are emphasized. Students use case studies, simulations and exercises to practice problem analysis and resolution, negotiation, collaborative relationship and team building.
Research, Design, Analysis and Critique II (EDLD 622 – 3 Credits)
This course is the second in the three-course M.A. or Ed.S. research sequence. While it assumes familiarity with historical and qualitative research, it focuses on quantitative data collection within the organizing principle of survey research. The approach taken remains grounded in EDLD 621’s emphasis on qualitative and practitioner-oriented approaches to research.
Politics of Education (EDLD 809 – 3 Credits)
Students are presented with an analysis of how public policy, governmental agencies and interest groups affect education at the national, state and local levels. Particular emphasis is placed on policy development and the relationship of policy to administration. Selection and use of databases for policy development and analysis are studied.
Microcomputers and Instruction (LHDT 544 – 3 Credits)
Practicum: Director of Special Education (SPED 773 – 3 Credits)
Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail.
