School of Education
DEPARTMENTSLicensure and Master of Arts in Special Education - Learning disabilities Courses
Prerequisites
Must 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 Learning Disabilities
Basic Skills Instruction: Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Educational Assessment
Instructional Strategies: Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Acquisition of Speech and Language
Learning Disabilities: Adolescent to Adult
PAXIS II
Practicum: Learning Disabilities
Fundamentals of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Additional Requirements to earn 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.
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Education's Place in Society (TEGR 510, EDUC 210, or equivalent)
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Human Relations and Multicultural Education (TEGR 512, EDUC 212 or equivalent)
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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 Learning Disabilities (SPED 786 – 3 Credits)
- Develop theoretical and practical knowledge about the field of learning disabilities.
- Understand school-based definitions, criteria, characteristics and etiology, as well as community and family support systems.
- Identify the current trends at the local, state and national levels for students with learning disabilities.
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.
Educational Assessment (SPED 645 – 3 Credits)
- Examine the technical adequacy and educational viability of assessment instruments in determining screening, eligibility, student progress monitoring and databased instructional planning practices for students with mild and moderate educational disabilities.
- Practice with a variety of measures, including standardized instruments in test administration, scoring and interpretation as well as attention to informal and observational assessment data collection and reporting.
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 state-of-the-art learning strategies and traditional remedial approaches.
- Learn about IEP development as well as instructional strategies and techniques that work in the classroom.
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.
Learning Disabilities: Adolescent to Adult (SPED 794 – 3 Credits)
- Identify the impact of learning disabilities on adolescents and adults.
- Explore the transition from childhood to adulthood, and focuses on the unique challenges for persons who have sustained learning disabilities over time.
- Address appropriate definitions, criteria, characteristics, intervention, and integration of people with learning disabilities into the mainstream of school and society.
PRAXIS II: Test of professional knowledge and subject matter and content test
Practicum: Learning Disabilities (SPED 790 – 3 Credits)
- Gain the practical experience in an educational setting where students with learning disabilities are present.
- Learn the skills in observing assessing and providing appropriate instruction and intervention for students in classrooms and/or community settings, including documentation of practical experiences gleaned from the student’s licensure program.
Fundamentals of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (SPED 752 – 3 credits)
- Provide an introduction to the dynamics of emotional and behavior disorders.
- Explore their effects on students’ education, legal responsibilities of schools, and collaboration among schools and other agencies who serve these youth.
- Understand the theories, definitions and characteristics within the context of school, family and community settings are discussed.
Additional Requirements to earn 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.
