Curriculum and Instruction - Undergraduate Programs
Courses
ELED 4311. TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN EARLY AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. 3 Hours.
Principles of integration of mathematics concepts in relation to cognitive development. Emphasis on developing dispositions promoting scientific investigation and appropriate objects, materials, activities and programs to assist in assimilation of mathematics concepts. Course will also address the instructional needs and appropriate assessment of all students in inclusive, multicultural and multilingual classrooms for this content area; 20 hours field-based experiences required. Prerequisite: ELED 4312, ELED 4314. Taken concurrently with BEEP 4385.
ELED 4312. TEACHING SCIENCE AND HEALTH IN EARLY AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. 3 Hours.
Principles of integration of science and health concepts in relation to cognitive, socio-emotional, and psychomotor development. Emphasis on developing dispositions promoting scientific investigation and appropriate objects, materials, activities and programs to assist in assimilation of science and health concepts. Course will also address the instructional needs and appropriate assessment of all students in inclusive, multicultural and multilingual classrooms for this content area; 20 hours field-based experiences required. Prerequisite: Taken concurrently with ELED 4314.
ELED 4314. TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES AND FINE ARTS IN EARLY AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. 3 Hours.
Examination of materials, methods, content, and assessment learning experiences associated with elementary social studies and fine arts. Content areas include history, geography, economics, government, citizenship, culture, science, technology and society. Opportunities to demonstrate applications in field settings. Course will also address the instructional needs and appropriate assessment of all students in inclusive, multicultural, and multilingual classrooms for this content area; 20 hours field experiences required. Prerequisites: Taken concurrently with ELED 4312.
ELED 4317. GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND LEARNING THEORY. 3 Hours.
Examination of the relationship between major theories and principles of cognitive, socio-emotional, and psychomotor development and EC-6 student learning, home-school connections, and behavior in the classroom. Emphasis on environmental and cultural influences on children's development and learning, prenatal through age 12. Prerequisite: ELED 4311, ELED 4312, ELED 4314.
ELED 4321. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, PEDAGOGY, AND PRACTICES IN EC-6 EDUCATION. 3 Hours.
A study of developmentally appropriate curriculum and methods for elementary classrooms, including diversity, assessment, behavior guidance and management, planning instruction, and creating a positive learning environment. Course will also address instructional needs and appropriate assessment of all students in inclusive, multicultural, and multilingual classrooms. Field observations required. Prerequisites: EDUC 4316, ELED 4317.
ELED 4687. CLINICAL TEACHING IN EARLY AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. 6 Hours.
Full-day, Monday - Friday, supervised and directed clinical teaching in university-approved EC-6 classrooms. Candidates will have two placements: one in PK-2 and one in grade 3-6. Clinical teaching must immediately follow the field-based experiences semester. Candidates will follow the school district's calendar, and report to the classroom all day and each day of the semester. Prerequisites: ELED 4311, ELED 4312, ELED 4314, ELED 4317, BEEP 4306, BEEP 4384; LIST 4373, LIST 4374, LIST 4376, EDUC 3301, EDUC 4318, EDUC 4319.
ELED 5309. TRENDS AND ISSUES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. 3 Hours.
In-depth analysis of current research and practical articles on trends and issues in early childhood and elementary education. Emphasis on the evaluation and impact of historical, political, and social policy; overview of legislation and advocacy on behalf of young children.
ELED 5312. EC6: INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES IN SCIENCE. 3 Hours.
Study of principles of integration of content in EC-6 classrooms with focus on science concepts and cognitive development. Emphasis on developing dispositions toward scientific inquiry and the use of appropriate objects, materials, activities, and programs to assist in the learning of science concepts.
ELED 5315. CLINICAL TEACHING. 3 Hours.
Clinical teaching in candidate's certification area(s). This semester-long experience will help candidates apply theory and research to practice.
ELED 5317. THEORIES OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING. 3 Hours.
Human growth and development, including developmental anomalies, from birth through middle childhood with emphasis on cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth. Attention is given to current research regarding establishment of learning environments that foster development of the child's self-concept, cognitive competencies, oral language and literacy development, and positive social behaviors including appreciation of diversity among individuals and groups.
ELED 5318. FOUNDATIONS IN EC6 EDUCATION. 3 Hours.
An overview of historical and philosophical influences and current research in early and elementary education on promoting educational environments that support development of the whole child. Attention is given to the development and implementation of appropriate EC-6 curricula and programs that extend and integrate learning experiences of children, including the home-school relationship; 20 hours field experiences required.
ELED 5319. EC6 EDUCATION: INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES IN MATHEMATICS. 3 Hours.
Study of principles of integration of content in EC-6 classrooms with focus on mathematics concepts and cognitive development. Emphasis on developing dispositions toward the use of appropriate objects, materials, activities, and programs to assist in learning of mathematics concepts.
ELED 5320. EC6 EDUCATION: INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES IN SOCIAL STUDIES AND THE CREATIVE ARTS. 3 Hours.
Study of principles of integration of content in EC-6 classrooms with focus on social studies, the creative arts, and cognitive and socio-emotional development. Emphasis on developing dispositions promoting awareness of self and others, and the study of group dynamics involved in the socialization process in a diverse community. Strategies for enhancing creativity and risk-taking characteristics in EC-6 classrooms.
ELED 5321. EC-6: CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT & INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES. 3 Hours.
This course explores a variety of effective classroom management and instructional strategies which include developmentally appropriate, research-based, and anti-biased curricular and materials to teach the core content subjects of English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies in ESL elementary classrooms. This course also examines challenges to inquiry-based instruction, including those related to assessment, behavior guidance and management, planning instruction, and diversity; 20 hours of field observations are required.
ELED 5390. SELECTED TOPICS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. 3 Hours.
An examination of different topics related to elementary education. This course may be repeated for credit with permission.
ELED 5391. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH. 3 Hours.
Research over a topic agreed upon between the student and instructor. May be repeated for credit with permission.
Courses
SPED 3301. CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 3 Hours.
This course focuses on the characteristics of students with mild disabilities and their (a) related academic and social outcomes, and (b) implications for assessment and intervention. The course is specifically designed for students who seek certification in teaching children with mild disabilities, to include children who are defined by Federal and state regulations as experiencing learning disabilities (LD), intellectual disability (ID), emotional and/or behavioral disabilities (EBD), and attention deficit disorders/hyperactivity disorders (ADD/ADHD).
SPED 3302. APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS FOR TEACHERS. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to present students with applied behavior analysis strategies and tactics to ensure they are able to make effective instructional decisions and to evaluate the results of those decisions. Procedures covered in class include those to accelerate, decelerate, and maintain student academic and social behavior. Application of learning theory, measurement procedures, and verification of functional relationships will be emphasized. Knowledge of current significant research in Applied Behavior Analysis will be facilitated through research readings.
SPED 4301. STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH INCIDENCE DISABILITIES: READING AND WRITING. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to prepare future special educators to plan and provide content area instruction to elementary and secondary students with mild disabilities in reading and writing. Course content will include information on assessment, curriculum and instruction, and the professional role as a teacher of students with mild disabilities.
SPED 4302. COLLABORATIVE PRACTICES AND TRANSITION PLANNING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. 3 Hours.
The purpose of this course is to learn about the concepts, tools, and strategies considered essential for effective collaboration and teamwork. Methods of collaborating and consulting with other professionals in the field of education and family members of students with disabilities will be discussed. Transition planning and collaborative interagency issues related to transition will be examined. Context, process, and content of collaborative school consultation will be presented.
SPED 4303. ADVANCED CONTENT AREA STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH INCIDENCE DISABILITIES. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to prepare future special educators to plan and provide content area instruction to elementary and secondary students with mild disabilities across the content areas. Course content will include information on assessment, curriculum and instruction, and the professional role as a teacher of students with mild disabilities.
SPED 4304. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. 3 Hours.
This course will address the use of technology in special education, including microcomputers, interactive video, auditory and visual enhancement, and other adaptive devices with individuals experiencing disabilities including learning disabilities, intellectual impairments, sensory and physical impairments. Current developments and research findings concerning rehabilitative, adaptive, and learning technologies applied to needs of individuals with learning, intellectual, physical, or sensory disabilities will also be addressed. Topics include selection and evaluation, instructional and administrative applications, and personal productivity tools.
SPED 4307. SPECIAL EDUCATION LEGAL AND POLICY ISSUES. 3 Hours.
This introductory course will discuss historical legal foundations of special education and the present legal and policy challenges facing the field. Course content will include information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. Students will also understand how important rules from the court system have interpreted laws governing special education and how current policies and issues could impact special education. At the undergraduate level, special focus will be given to applied aspects of the law (e.g., Individualized Education Plans; ARD meetings, etc.).
SPED 4601. PRACTICUM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. 6 Hours.
This course is designed to provide practical opportunities for the pre-service candidate to develop skills in assessment and instruction of individuals with severe disabilities. In addition to providing direct services, an important component of the practicum is to collaborate with both classroom and school staff regarding all aspects of service provision. Finally, general professional protocol is emphasized in this course including dependability, attitude, and communication skills (both written and spoken).
SPED 4687. CLINICAL TEACHING IN EC-6 AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. 6 Hours.
Supervised and directed clinical teaching in student's targeted area of certification. The student will be assigned full time for the Independent School District calendar. Required seminars provide students with theory to integrate and apply during clinical teaching. Students will apply theory and research to practice through daily teaching and interaction with students, major assignments, and data analysis of practice. Prerequisite: Completion of program coursework, program approval.
SPED 5301. CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 3 Hours.
This introductory course focuses on the characteristics of students with mild disabilities and their (a) related academic and social outcomes, and (b) implications for assessment and intervention. The course is specifically designed for students who seek certification in teaching children with mild disabilities, to include children who are defined by Federal and state regulations as experiencing learning disabilities (LD), intellectual disability (ID), emotional and/or behavioral disabilities (EBD), and attention deficit disorders/hyperactivity disorders (ADD/ADHD). Graduate level students' understanding will be assessed and measured through additional readings and assignments designed to encourage deeper thinking regarding classroom level interventions for students with disabilities.
SPED 5302. APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS FOR TEACHERS. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to present students with applied behavior analysis strategies and tactics to ensure they are able to make effective instructional decisions and to evaluate the results of those decisions. Procedures covered in class include those to accelerate, decelerate, and maintain student academic and social behavior. Application of learning theory, measurement procedures, and verification of functional relationships will be emphasized. Graduate level students' understanding will be assessed and measured through the direct application of concepts in the field and a written functional behavioral assessment inclusive of a behavior intervention plan.
SPED 5303. COLLABORATIVE PRACTICES AND TRANSITION PLANNING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. 3 Hours.
This course focuses on the concepts, tools, and strategies considered essential for effective collaboration and teamwork. Methods of collaborating and consulting with other professionals in the field of education and family members of students with disabilities will be discussed. Transition planning and collaborative interagency issues related to transition will be examined. Graduate students will facilitate a mock ARD and transition planning meeting.
SPED 5304. INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to prepare future special educators to plan and provide specialized instruction to elementary and secondary students with mild disabilities in reading, writing, mathematics, and across the content areas. Course content will include information on assessment, curriculum and instruction, and the professional role as a teacher of students with mild disabilities. Graduate students will demonstrate mastery of evidence-based practices for students with disabilities by teaching a lesson.
SPED 5305. ADVANCED LEARNING DISABILITIES. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to teach the definitions, characteristics, theories, and etiologies of students with specific learning disabilities. Students will analyze definitions of specific learning disabilities from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and professional learning disability organizations. Students will also analyze research describing the nature and characteristics of learning disabilities and how to best serve these students in an educational setting.
SPED 5306. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. 3 Hours.
This course will address the use of technology in special education, including microcomputers, interactive video, auditory and visual enhancement, and other adaptive devices with individuals experiencing disabilities including learning disabilities, intellectual impairments, sensory and physical impairments. Students will examine current developments and conduct research concerning rehabilitative, adaptive, and learning technologies applied to needs of individuals with disabilities.
SPED 5307. SPECIAL EDUCATION LEGAL AND POLICY ISSUES. 3 Hours.
This introductory course will discuss historical legal foundations of special education and the present legal and policy challenges facing the field. Course content will include information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. Students will also understand how important rules from the court system have interpreted laws governing special education and how current policies and issues could impact special education. At the undergraduate level, special focus will be given to applied aspects of the law (e.g., Individualized Education Plans; ARD meetings, etc.).
SPED 5308. ADVANCED INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to teach the definitions, characteristics, theories, and etiologies of students with intellectual disabilities. Students will analyze definitions of intellectual disabilities from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and professional intellectual disability organizations. Students will also analyze research describing the nature and characteristics of intellectual disabilities and how to best serve these students in an educational setting.
SPED 5309. THE NEUROSCIENCE OF TYPICAL & ATYPICAL LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. 3 Hours.
This course will examine the many levels of language including phonetics, phonology, semantics, syntax and pragmatics from both functional and neuroscientific perspectives. This will be closely tied to language acquisition and early language development. The focus on the pre-reading years will provide a solid basis for further study of literacy-related skills and overall learning. Sub-skills and precursors of reading will be examined from a neurological point of view and applied to researching reading difficulties as well as the teaching and learning in the classroom. Course offered as EDUC 5362 and SPED 5309; co-list credit will be granted only as one.
SPED 5310. ADVANCED BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS. 3 Hours.
This course will cover advanced principles, concepts, and practices related to educating students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders and other IDEA disabilities categories with behaviorally related characteristics. Emphasis will be on school-based services, including advanced instructional and behavioral interventions for improving academic, social, and behavioral outcomes, as well as mental health and juvenile justice services.
SPED 5311. CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to equip teachers with practical assessment strategies for students with a wide range of disabilities. Course content will include standardized norm-referenced assessments, curriculum-based assessment, curriculum-based measurement, and other progress monitoring strategies. Students will create various assessment tools and plans to collect meaningful instructional data from students with disabilities.
SPED 5312. SPECIAL EDUCATION FIELD EXPERIENCE. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to engage students in multiple field-based activities such as, direct observations, functional-behavior assessments, data-based instruction and decision making, and research as part of an independent field experience. At the conclusion of the field experience, students will be assessed on a written product and presentation (e.g., portfolio, research poster). Prerequisite: All other courses in program sequence; requires approval.
SPED 5313. SINGLE SUBJECT RESEARCH. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to provide students an introductory overview of single subject research methodology. Course content will include quality indicators of single subject research that can lead to identifying effective interventions. Students will design and implement a single-subject experiment.
SPED 5314. CURRENT TOPICS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to discuss current events in special education with a focus on both practice and research. Students will think critically about intended and unintended consequences of various policy and practice issues. Specific topics for the course will be influenced by current policy concerns, problems of practice, and student interests.
SPED 5315. MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT. 3 Hours.
This course will focus on multi-tiered system of support frameworks for integrating instruction, evidence-based interventions, and assessments to meet the academic and behavior needs of all students. Specific frameworks such as, response to intervention and positive behavioral interventions and supports will be emphasized as systems for prevention of disabilities and identification of students with learning disabilities and emotional and behavioral disorders.
SPED 5316. ADVANCED APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to present graduate students in special education with applied behavior analysis strategies and tactics to ensure they are able to make effective instructional decisions and to evaluate the results of those decisions in accordance with the master's degree program and initial and advanced licensure standards. This course is intended for students with foundational knowledge of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Students will be required to plan, implement, and evaluate an applied behavior analysis project with a student in an educational setting.
SPED 5317. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. 3 Hours.
This course focuses on the characteristics and issues encountered by individuals who experience autism spectrum disorders. Students will analyze definitions of ASD provided by IDEA, DSM-V, and professional organizations. Emphasis will be on characteristics, school-based and post-secondary supports, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and assistive technology.
SPED 5318. MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL MANAGEMENT OF STUDENTS WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to provide students with an examination of how the medical and physical needs of students affect a teacher's design of instruction. The medical and physical aspects of a wide variety of orthopedic, musculoskeletal and sensory disorders, as well as the educational models of intervention and service delivery for individuals with multiple disabilities will also be discussed.
SPED 5319. METHODS OF TEACHING STUDENTS WITH MODERATE/SEVERE DISABILITIES AND AUTISM. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to prepare future special educators to plan and provide specialized instruction to elementary and secondary students with moderate/severe disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Course content will include information on assessment and evidence-based instructional practices for academic, functional, adaptive, and behavioral skills. Students will demonstrate mastery of evidence-based practices for students with moderate/severe disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders and receive feedback on the implementation of these practices.
SPED 5320. CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDENTS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES. 3 Hours.
This course focuses on the characteristics and issues encountered by individuals who experience severe and profound levels of intellectual disabilities. Characteristics addressed include learning, behavioral, social-emotional, and communicative abilities. Special emphasis is placed on implementing evidence-based practices and empirically supported treatments.
SPED 5601. CLINICAL TEACHING. 6 Hours.
Supervised and directed clinical teaching in student's targeted area of certification. The student will be assigned full time for the Independent School District calendar. Required seminars provide students with theory to integrate and apply during clinical teaching. Students will apply theory and research to practice through daily teaching and interaction with students, major assignments, and data analysis of practice. Prerequisite: Must complete all other courses in sequence first; permission required.