Special Needs Teaching?

Question

Does anyone know what qualifications are good for getting into teaching special needs. I've thought about getting a masters degree in psychology and then completing a teacher's course. Do you think those qualifications are enough to get me to the career I've wanted for years?

Answer 1

I have a masters in Special Education. that should be all you need.

Answer 2

Education

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT

Steffanie Bowles, Ph.D.

Madame Cadillac Building, Room 221

Direct: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

PROGRAMS OFFERED

Bachelor of Arts, Special Education;

Learning Disabilities Major (B.A.)

Learning Disabilities Endorsement (SM)

Planned Program for Professional Certification

POTENTIAL CAREERS

Classroom Teacher of Students with Learning Disabilities, Special Education Advocate and Special Education Consultant.

GENERAL INFORMATION

This program is designed to prepare candidates to meet the educational needs of a wide variety of children. To accomplish this, you will receive experiences in several key areas: educational psychology and human development, education of culturally diverse and special needs populations, practical and sequential experiences in the schools, teaching methodology, and a strong liberal arts education. Marygrove’s Special Education program will provide a strong foundation in the knowledge, skills and dispositions considered foundational to all special education practitioners as well as those more specific to the

area of learning disabilities.

This program combines regular elementary or secondary teaching certification

with a K-12 endorsement in learning disabilities.

CAREER INFORMATION

Bachelor of Arts, Special Education; Learning Disabilities Major (B.A.)

After completion of the special education major, you qualify for teaching certification

and an endorsement in Learning Disabilities (SM). Graduates are also required to pass

the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification exams. This provisional certificate identifies

you as a specialist in the field and makes you a marketable applicant when seeking a teaching position.

Learning Disabilities Endorsement (SM)

Teachers who already hold a valid Michigan teaching certificate can add the SM endorsement by completing the courses in the endorsement sequence. The State of Michigan grants the endorsement after successful completion of coursework and the Michigan Test for Teaching Certification in the areas of Learning Disabilities and Elementary Education.

Planned Program for Professional Certification

Teachers who require a planned program for professional certification may complete an 18 hour planned program in special education. Candidates may select a minimum of 12 hours of coursework from Special Education (SED) courses and six credit hours of coursework from Education (EDU) courses. SED courses completed in a planned program may be counted toward the Special Education Endorsement.

SPECIAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM

Academic Performance

A grade point average of 2.7 is required.

BACHELOR OF ARTS, SPECIAL EDUCATION MAJOR, ELEMENTARY LEVEL (B.A.)

The Special Education; Learning Disabilities Major (SM endorsement) will prepare you to work with students with learning disabilities birth through age 26 and grades P-12.

This program has a specific set of required courses. Concurrently, you will be taking the teacher certification courses. See Teacher Certification section of the catalog.

In order to select the special education major, you must apply separately for the teacher certification program. This process will be explained in EDU 203: The Teaching Profession. Students are required to complete all major courses with a 2.0 or higher. A minimum 2.7 grade average is required to remain in the Teacher Certification Program.

Additional courses and requirements for admissions and completion may be required with changes in divisional policies and/or State of Michigan certification rules.

The requirements for a Bachelor of Arts with a special education major in learning disabilities at the elementary level are listed below.

A. General Education Requirements

See general education requirements.

B. Required Teacher Certification Courses

An undergraduate student in special education must complete 20 or 24 credit hours in a certifiable minor for a Secondary Certification. See the Teacher Certification section of this catalog for a list of certifiable minors for Secondary Education.

C. Required Special Education Endorsement Courses

An undergraduate elementary-level student in special education must complete the following courses in the teacher certification sequence.

SED 355 Pre-professional Practicum in Learning Disabilities

SED 364 Characteristics of Students with Learning Disabilities

SED 365 Teaching Students with Disabilities

SED 366 Assessment of the Exceptional Child

SED 370 Students with Disabilities: School, Family, and Community Interaction

SED 373 Assistive Technology in Special Education

SED 375 IEP Development

SED 376 Classroom Management and Intervention Strategies for Students with Disabilities

SED 425 Teaching Language Arts to Students with Disabilities

SED 450 Teaching Mathematics to Students with Disabilities

SED 456 Language Development and Disorders

SED 496 Special Education Senior Seminar

SED 499 Student Teaching

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

SED 355 Pre-professional Practicum in Learning Disabilities 3 hours

Prerequisites: SED 364, SED 365

Thirty-five hours of supervised observation and participation with students labeled learning disabled in a school or community setting; seminar discussion of theories of learning disabilities, ethical issues, and development of personal theoretical framework.

SED 364 Characteristics of Students with Learning Disabilities 3 hours

Prerequisites: SED 250, Admission to Teacher Certification Program or

Permission of Instructor

Emphasis on the etiology, legal definition and regulations, the negative effects on learning and curriculum methods and techniques used to facilitate remediation. Research dealing with multicultural influences on diagnosis, as well as social organization and structure.

SED 365 Teaching Students with Disabilities 3 hours

Prerequisites: SED 250, SED 364; completion of regular education methods courses

Methods and techniques for the educational needs of students with mild disabilities. Psychological information about group and individual; strategies for achieving integration

in regular education; organizational structure of the school, and strategies for teaching reading, math, and study skills.

SED 366 Assessment of the Exceptional Child 3 hours

Prerequisite: EDU 241

Educational assessment of exceptional individuals, focusing on both standard and

alternative measures, appropriate and effective use of test results, and multiple methods

of documenting mastery of curriculum/goals and objectives.

SED 370 Students With Disabilities: School, Family, 3 hours and Community Interaction

Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Certification Program

Develop flexible theoretical frameworks, practical skills and sensitivity in working with families of students with disabilities. Theoretical bases for current approaches to supporting families, anomalies and challenges presented by the growing diversity of U.S. society, development of a critical awareness of formal and informal supports for families.

SED 373 Assistive Technology in Special Education 3 hours

Prerequisite: EDU 330

Introduces the use of adaptive technology, methods for linking technology and instruction of students with special needs, techniques for selecting and utilizing computer based instructional programs, and methods for developing interactive instructional materials.

SED 375 IEP Development 3 hours

Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Certification Program

Covers prereferral and referral processes, assessment, plans, eligibility criteria for services, due process, and development of the individual education plan (IEP). Includes transition, consideration of assistive technology needs, modifications, functional behavior analyses and intervention plans.

SED 376 Classroom Management and Intervention Strategies for 3 hours Students with Disabilities

Prerequisite: EDU 324

Create and manage productive and positive classroom environments. Examine the roles of teachers in preventing and minimizing problem behaviors, as well as in utilizing behavioral difficulties as learning opportunities. Preventing and maintaining prosocial behavior and applying supports through functional behavior assessment and intervention planning. Develop an understanding of the larger social contexts of behavior management and

social control.

SED 425 Teaching Language Arts to Students with Disabilities 3 hours

Prerequisite: SED 365

Offers a wide range of research based, multisensory, technology-enhanced strategies and techniques for teaching reading, spelling, and written expression skills in an integrated process. Includes practicum.

SED 450 Teaching Mathematics to Students With Disabilities 3 hours

Prerequisite: SED 365

Introduces approaches to teaching and assessing mathematics for special needs students. Learn to examine, evaluate, and apply teaching approaches used in both general and special education settings.

SED 456 Language Development and Disorders 3 hours

Prerequisite: EDU 240

Relationship of language development and psycholinguistics to the child’s motor,

emotional, and cognitive development. Special reference to the educational process

and difficulties of students with learning disabilities. Focus on teaching strategies and multi-media approaches.

SED 496 Special Education Senior Seminar 3 hours

Prerequisites: Senior status, Admission to Teacher Certification Program

Examine trends and issues facing special educators. Emphasis on current problems that affect students with disabilities.

SED 499 LD Student Teaching 4-6 hours

Prerequisites: Admission to student teaching, completion of EDU 499

Observation and guided full-time, 8-12 week professional laboratory experience in public, private, or community setting with students labeled LD for six credit hours.

12/05



yes can usemasters degree in psychology