Special Education: K-12 Teachers of Students with Disabilities

Program Purpose

The purpose of the Special Education Teacher of Students with Disabilities coursework is to prepare educators to teach students with disabilities in grades K-12. Students with disabilities must be taught by professionals who are trained in the identification, assessment, and teaching of individuals with exceptionalities. The goal of this Area of Distinction is to provide candidates with the opportunity to complete research-based coursework with assignments and performance tasks aligned to the appropriate subject area and grade level. Candidates will gain the skills and knowledge to complete formative and summative assessments, use data to differentiate and deliver instruction, develop and implement behavior intervention plans, collaborate with IEP/504 teams, parents and professionals to meet the needs of the students.  

Fieldwork/clinical experiences are embedded across the coursework, enabling the teachers to demonstrate mastery of the CEC Specialist Standards through performance based tasks.  

*Candidates must have a valid teaching license in order to enroll in this certificate.

Course Requirements

Special Education Teacher of Students with Disabilities Courses Requirements

If selecting Autism for a second certificate (Area of Distinction), select three electives rather than two since MSE 7402 is taken in the Autism certificate.  A course cannot count for two certificates. 

If selecting Early Childhood Exceptional Children for a second certificate (Area of Distinction), candidates may not choose MSE 7407 as an elective.

MSE 7403Diagnosis/Assessment/IEP Development for Exceptionalities

3

MSE 7405Curriculum in Special Education

3

MSE 7402Applied Behavior Analysis

3

MSE 7901Diagnosis/Assessment of Reading Difficulties for Non-Reading/Literacy Majors

3

and one of the following:

 If selecting ECE for the second certificate, do not choose MSE 7407 because a course cannot count for two certificates. 
MSE 8102Legislation and Implementation of Policy and Procedure

3

MSE 7407Teaming/Collaboration with Families & Communities

3

MSE 7406Transition Planning & IEP Implementation for Students with Disabilities

3

MSE 7404Assistive Technology

3

*MSE 8102 Legislation and Implementation of Policy and Procedure is recommended.