LIBERAL STUDIES-SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

Faculty

Christopher Jones, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education

Rachel Mathews, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Special Education
Ruth L. Meese, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education
Peggy L. Tarpley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Special Education and Area Coordinator

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 with a concentration in Special Education in 5 years (graduate courses will need to be taken in the summer). This program is designed for students who want to become Special Education teachers.  Liberal Studies is the major for teacher education.  (See the Liberal Studies section of this Catalog.) A professional portfolio is developed during the five-year period.   Those who choose not to complete the fifth year of the program will not be licensed to teach in Special Education.

Course Sequence - Special Education

YEAR 1

SPED 202 Intro to Special Education/3 credits
SPED 220 Practicum I/1 credit

YEAR 2

EDUC 299 Admission to Teacher Preparation/0 credits
SPED 305 Behavior Management, Part I/3 credits
SPED 306 Behavior Management, Part II/3 credits
SPED 316 Practicum in Behavior Management/1 credit

*SPED 306 and 316 must be taken concurrently. 

** Students must earn a “Pass” in EDUC 299 before they will be permitted to enroll in SPED 321 or SPED/EDUC courses above this level.

YEAR 3

SPED 321 Reading and Language Arts for Students with LD, E/BD, and MR/3 credits
SPED 323 Practicum in Reading Assessment and Tutoring/1 credit

SPED 325 Introduction to Assessment/3 credits

*SPED 321, 323, and 325 must be taken concurrently.

SPED 322 Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Adaptations for Students with LD, E/BD, and MR/3 credits

SPED 327 Practicum II/3 credits

YEAR 4

SPED 375 Language and Language Disorders/3 credits

SPED 482 Collaboration & Effective Communication Among School Personnel, Families, and Community Organizations/1 credit
EDUC 484 Media and Computer Technology/1 credit

Professional Semester

EDUC 406 Directed Teaching in LD, E/BD, and MR/11 credits ***
EDUC 488 Education Seminar/1 credit

YEAR 5

EDUC 502 Research Design/3 credits
EDUC 521 Human Growth and Development/3 credits
EDUC 524 Emergent and Early Literacy Instruction/3 credits

Or

EDUC 525 Intermediate Literacy Education/3 credits
EDUC 530 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas/3 credits
EDUC 620 School Law/3 credits
SPED 516 Medical and Neurological Problems of Exceptional Students/3 credits
SPED 530 Characteristics and Needs of Students With LD, E/BD, & MR/3 credits
SPED 545 Psychoeducational Assessment/3 credits
SPED 575 Career and Life Planning for Individuals With Disabilities/3 credits
SPED 600 Thesis Research/3 credits

OR,

SPED 601 Collaborative Special Education Research/3 credits

OR,

EDUC 699 Comprehensive Examination Option/0 credits***
SPED 689 Seminar of Current Issues in Special Education/3 credits
SPED 690 Internship/3 credits 

***Students selecting the Comprehensive Examination option must complete a three-credit class in lieu of SPED 600 or SPED 601 and register for the comprehensive examination. (See Graduate Catalog). Suggested three-credit classes for the comprehensive examination option include: EDUC 549, EDUC 571, EDUC 681, PSYC 523, PSYC 552, 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 305 Behavior Management, Part I/3 credits
SPED 306 Behavior Management, Part II/3 credits
SPED 316 Practicum in Behavior Management/1 credit

*SPED 306 and SPED 316 must be taken concurrently.

SPED 325 Introduction to Assessment/3 credits
SPED 375 Language and Language Disorders/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, student teaching, internship, and assessment 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 305. Behavior Management Part I. Strategies for developing positive behavior intervention plans and supports from behavioral, cognitive, ecological, psychoeducational, and psychodynamic theories. 3 credits.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 306. Behavior Management Part II. 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 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 306. 1 credit. †

SPECIAL EDUCATION 321. Reading and Language Arts for Students with LD, E/BD, and 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. Prerequisites: EDUC 299 and SPED 202.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 322. Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Adaptations for Students with LD, E/BD, and MR. Emphasis on strategies, accommodations, modifications, and collaboration for content areas such as mathematics, social studies, and science. Prerequisites: EDUC 299 and 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. Prerequisite: EDUC 299. 1 credit. Must be taken concurrently with SPED 321. †

SPECIAL EDUCATION 325. 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 and EDUC 299.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 327. Practicum II. Advanced teaching experience with students having mild/moderate learning and behavioral problems. Prerequisites: SPED 305, 306 and EDUC 299. 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. Prerequisite: EDUC 299. 3 credits.

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. Prerequisite: EDUC 299. 1 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, 305, 306, 321, 322 and EDUC 299.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 489. Survey of Exceptional Children. An introduction to all disabilities in special education. Characteristics and needs of students with disabilities, legislation, litigation, inclusion, and the role of the classroom teacher as a member of the IEP team. Prerequisite: EDUC 299. 3 credits.

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. Prerequisite: EDUC 299. 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. Prerequisite: EDUC 299. 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 and assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. 3 credits.

SPECIAL EDUCATION 595. 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 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 601. Collaborative Special Education Research. This credit is awarded for research conducted with a Longwood professor. A student will design, conduct, evaluate, discuss, and disseminate the results of his/her collaborative research project. The product of this research will be an article submitted for possible publication in a professional journal. Prerequisite: SPED 689. 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. †