LIBERAL STUDIES-SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

Faculty

Rachel Mathews, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Special Education
Ruth L. Meese, Ph.D.,  Professor of Special Education and Area Coordinator
Christopher Jones, M.S., Lecturer in Special Education
Peggy L. Tarpley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Special Education
Patricia Whitfield, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Special Education

Longwood offers a five-year Liberal Studies-Special Education Program leading to a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies in 4 years and a Master’s Degree in Special Education in 5 years. This program is designed for students who want to become Special Education teachers. (See the Liberal Studies section of this Catalog.) A professional portfolio is developed during the five-year period. Students may choose to terminate their course work at the end of the fourth year (with 126 credit hours) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies and not pursue the Master’s Degree. However, students must complete the fifth year to become endorsed to teach in Special Education.

Course Sequence - Special Education

 ***Students selecting the non-thesis option must complete a three-credit class in lieu of SPED 600 and also complete a three-hour comprehensive exam. (See Graduate Catalog).

Suggested three-credit classes for the non-thesis option include: EDUC 549, EDUC 681, PSYC 523, PSYC 551, PSYC 660, ART 543, MATH 623, MUSC 546, or SCED 562.

The course selected must not have been taken during the undergraduate years.

Special Education Minor

A special education minor may be pursued by students in any other major. Students who wish to minor take the following sequence of courses: 19 credits

16 Credits:

SPED 202                           Intro to Special Education/3 credits
SPED 310                           Behavior Management, Part I/3 credits
SPED 316                           Practicum in Behavior Management/1 credit
                                           *Must be taken concurrently with SPED 310
SPED 313                           Behavior Management, Part II/3 credits
SPED 375                           Language and Language Disorders/3 credits

or

CDIS 375                            Language Disorders/3 credits
SPED 435                           Introduction to Assessment/3 credits

3 Credits from the following:

EDUC 245                         Human Growth and Development/3 credits
PSYC 101                           Introduction to Psychology/3 credits
PSYC 356                           Abnormal Psychology/3 credits
PSYC 357                           Psychopathology of Childhood/3 credits

SPECIAL EDUCATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

A special fee is charged for all practicum and student teaching courses. †

Writing Intensive Courses **

Special education 202. Introduction to Special Education. Introduction to all exceptionalities included in special education; the psychology of exceptional learners and legislation pertaining to the education of students with disabilities. 3 credits.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 220.  Practicum I.  This course is designed to provide students in special education with an early exposure to a wide variety of school climates.  This will include observation of classroom interaction of teachers with students having learning disabilities, mental retardation, and emotional/behavioral disorders in segregated and integrated settings; assistance to the teacher in completing daily activities. 1 credit.  †

Special education 295. Special Topics. Selected topics in Special Education. The topics will vary from semester to semester. Descriptions will be available from academic advisors. May be repeated for credit when topics change. 1-3 credits.

Special education 310. Behavior Management Part I. A survey of applied behavior analysis techniques used in the management of behavior of students. 3 credits. **  Must be taken concurrently with SPED 316.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 311-312.  Studies Abroad.  Primarily intended for transfer of credit earned abroad in courses in special education.  1-18 credits.

Special education 313. Behavior Management Part II.  Strategies for developing positive behavior intervention plans and supports from behavioral, ecological, psychoeducational, and psychodynamic theories.  3 credits.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 316.  Practicum in Behavior Management. A field experience to observe behaviors exhibited by students who are at risk, or who are diagnosed as having learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, or mild-moderate mental retardation.  This course must be taken concurrently with SPED 310.  1 credit.

Special education 321. Reading and Language Arts for Students with LD, E/BD, & MR.  Research-based strategies for teaching reading and Language Arts to Students with Learning Disabilities, Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, or Mild-Moderate Mental Retardation. Emphasis on teacher-directed instruction and direct instructional teaching models. 3 credits  Must be taken concurrently with SPED 323. Prerequisite: SPED 202.

Special education 322. Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Adaptations for Students with LD, e/BD, & mr. Emphasis on strategies, accommodations, modifications, and collaboration for content areas such as mathematics, social studies, and science. Prerequisite: SPED 202. 3 credits.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 323.  Practicum in Reading Assessment and Tutoring.  A field experience tutoring students with learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, or mild-moderate mental retardation in reading.  1 credit.  Must be taken concurrently with SPED 321.

Special education 327. Practicum II. Advanced teaching experience with students having mild/moderate learning and behavioral problems. Prerequisites: SPED 310, 313.  3 credits. †

Special education 375. Language and Language Disorders.  A study of normal development of language and delayed language acquisition resulting from environmental and organic causes. 3 credits.

Special education 435. Introduction to Assessment  This course is designed to introduce students to the assessment process in special education by addressing foundational knowledge & issues surrounding the construction of IEP’s, curriculum-based measurement and assessment (CBM & CBA), and teacher-made tests.  In addition, state assessments, such as SOL’s, will be discussed as they relate to special education students. 3 credits. **  Prerequisites:  SPED 202, 310, 313, 321, 322.

Special education 450. Non-Violent Crisis Intervention. Safe methods to help human services workers provide care for violent individuals, non-verbal and verbal techniques to reduce anxiety, principles of personal safety, and physical restraint and control procedures. Prerequisites: Junior Level or above and permission of instructor. 1 elective credit.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 482.  Collaboration & Effective Communication Among School Personnel, Families, & Community Organizations.  This course is designed to investigate the interaction and communication techniques necessary for teachers to support a student with disabilities in the least restrictive environment.  The focus is on a collaborative/consultation model to be used in consultations with parents, teachers, administrators, and community agencies involved in the education of students with disabilities.1 credit.  Prerequisites:  SPED 202, 310, 313, 321, 322.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 495.  Special Topics in Special Education.  Selected topics in special education.  The topics may vary from semester to semester.  May be repeated for credit when topics change.  1-3 credits.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 498.  Honors Research in Special Education.  Students conduct research in special education under the direction of a faculty member and the Senior Honors Research Committee.  May be repeated as 499.  3 credits.

Special education 516. Medical and Neurological Problems of Exceptional Students. A comprehensive study of environmental/hereditary factors affecting the child with disabilities from the prenatal period through the school years. Educational strategies for accommodating medical and neurological conditions in the classroom. 3 credits.

Special education 530. Characteristics of Students with Learning Disabilities, Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, or Mental Retardation. Definitions, theories of etiology, characteristics, basis for various strategies and management, and criteria for placement of students with learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, and mental retardation. 3 credits.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 545.  Psychoeducational Assessment.  Psychological and educational assessment, administration and interpretation of informal, curriculum-based, standardized, and criterion-referenced tests.  Interpretation of test results as a basis for placement and instruction.  3 credits.

Special education 575. Career and Life Planning for Individuals with Disabilities. An in-depth study of preparatory skills for vocational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. An overview of social, leisure and recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. 3 credits.

Special education 600. Thesis Research. This credit is awarded for the successful completion of a proposal, data collection, final thesis paper, and thesis presentation. If a student fails to complete the thesis during the semester enrolled, he/she may take an incomplete; however, the thesis must be finished by the end of the next academic semester. 3 credits. †

Special education 689. Seminar of Current Issues in Special Education. A discussion of current selected issues in special education such as litigation, legislation, personnel preparation and research. 3 credits.

Special education 690. Graduate Internship. A minimum of 200 clock hours in a public or private agency supervised by a faculty advisor in diagnosis, consultation, or research. Prerequisite: Professional semester. 3 credits. †

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