School of Education
DEPARTMENTSmaster of arts and licensure in Special Education - early childhood
Partnering with Families, Focused on the Child
Educators specializing in early childhood provide assistance to parents with children ages birth to six years old with assessing and evaluating early childhood disorders. These experts emphasize activity and play-based intervention techniques and special methods for use with children with motor, sensory, health, communication, social-emotional, and/or cognitive disabilities. Teachers need to develop curriculum that is functional, appropriate, adaptable and fun.
St. Thomas prepares professional, effective teachers in special education with traditional coursework and a practicum in a real-world educational setting. Courses are conveniently scheduled late afternoons or evenings, summer days and summer evenings for working education professionals. In this program you will be prepared to:
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Address current literature and issues in special education.
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Implement appropriate identification and due-process standards.
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Design, field test, and evaluate appropriate instructional strategies and methodologies.
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Provide direct service and consultation.
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Work as partners with families.
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Collaborate with professionals across disciplines.
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Collaborate with family agencies, community services and professional organizations.
The state of Minnesota approves license programs for special education personnel and St. Thomas recommends qualified candidates for those licenses. Specific licensure programs have been submitted and approved by the state. Any variance from that approved program also must be approved by the state. This places upon the department a responsibility for specific, high-quality special education programs.
