Special Education

Interim Chairperson: Dr. Rori Carson
Office: Horrabin Hall 40
Telephone: 309/298-1909
Website:www.wiu.edu/specialed

Faculty: Boomer, Carson, Conover, Healy, Jensen, Maroney, Meloy, Mummert, Nordness.

Adjunct Faculty: Clark, Dillard, McCall, Wiley.

The Department of Special Education offers a major in special education. Students who successfully complete the special education major will qualify for certification as a Learning Behavior Specialist I. Instructional time in the major typically begins in the freshman year and increases through the senior year. Students participate in the assessment and instruction of children with special needs in a variety of classroom settings in the local schools. Sixteen weeks of student teaching are required with the time distributed equally between the elementary and secondary levels. Upon graduation, students will qualify to teach exceptional children K-age 21 as LBS I teachers. Students are urged to contact the special education adviser in Horrabin Hall 91 to obtain assistance in planning their programs to meet certification requirements. All majors must be accepted into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) and must meet all TEP and departmental requirements to continue in the program. Students may complete a dual certification program for Special Education and Elementary Education.

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Education—Special Education

All students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in Special Education must complete I, II, and III. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h.

  1. University General Education Curriculum: 43 s.h.
    (including Math 106, a Biological and a Physical Science–one of which must be a lab, PolS 122, Hist 105 or 106, Soc 100)
  2. Core Courses: 36 s.h.
    SpEd 200, 250, 280, 300, 320, 350, 370, 400†, 420, 430, 440, 445, 460
  3. Content Requirements: 34 s.h.
    CS 111; IDT 278, 285; Math 206, 364; Rdg 383, 384, 433; RPTA 330; SpEd 360; ScEd 364; SSEd 365; Kin 393
  4. Professional Education (27 s.h.)
    1. EIS 201, 301, 302, 401: 11 s.h.
    2. Student Teaching: STCH (K–6), (7–12): 16 s.h.

†SpEd 400 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) graduation requirement.

Course Descriptions

SPECIAL EDUCATION (SpEd)

200 Introduction to Special Education. (3) Historical foundations of special education including litigation, legislation, models, theories, and philosophies. Introduction to professional ethics, conduct, and professional growth and reflection. A grade of C or better is required to continue in the major.

250 Language Development and Exceptional Individuals. (2) Normal language development from birth through age 21, children’s progression through language development stages at differing rates, and the effects of disabilities on language development. Course will include effects of cultural and linguistic diversity on language development. Prerequisite: SpEd 200.

280 Field Work in Special Education. (1, repeatable to 2) Educational experiences acquired in practical service situations. Prerequisite: approval prior to registration. Repeatable in different settings with permission. Graded S/U only.

300 Characteristics of the Learner. (3) Development of cognitive, emotional, physical, social, and communication skills of students with disabilities. Practices that support the intellectual, social, and personal growth of all students. A grade of C or better is required to continue in the major. Prerequisite: SpEd 200.

310 The Exceptional Individual. (3) A survey of the characteristics of individuals with diverse mental, physical, behavioral, learning, or communication needs. This course emphasizes the identification and education of exceptional learners. For non-majors only.
IAI: ECE 913; SEd 904.

320 Learning Environment. (3) Exploration of individual and group motivators and behavior management techniques. Strategies for creating learning environments that promote positive social interaction and active engagement in learning. A grade of C or better is required to continue in the major. Prerequisite: SpEd 200.

350 Collaborative Relationships and Transition. (3) Factors that promote effective communication and collaboration with individuals, parents, families, school and community personnel. Elements of effective transition of students with disabilities across age span. A grade of C or better is required to continue in the major. Prerequisite: SpEd 300.

360 Health Issues of Special Needs Students. (2) Introduction to health issues of children with disabilities. Includes basic knowledge of common medical conditions, treatment, effects on physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and educational behaviors; basic skills for physical accommodation; and roles and responsibilities in identifying, assessing, and providing services. Prerequisites: SpEd 200 and 300, or permission of instructor.

370 Assessment. (4) Educational assessment processes and strategies to support instructional planning for students with disabilities. A grade of C or above is required to continue in the major. Prerequisites: SpEd 320 and 350; fully accepted into the Teacher Education Program (TEP).

383 Field Work in Special Education. (1) Pre-student teaching clinical experiences in special education under supervision of a department instructor and a certified special education teacher. A grade of C is required for teacher education majors.

390 Characteristics and Classroom Adaptions. (1) Basic characteristics of students with mild disabilities (learning disabilities, behavior disorders, cognitive disorders) and classroom modifications that may help them succeed in the general classroom will be covered, as will the range of positions regarding the philosophy of inclusion. For non-majors only. Prerequisite: SpEd 310.

400 Planning for Instruction. (4) Instructional planning, design, and adaptations to support the learning of students with disabilities. A grade of C or better is required to continue in the major. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. Prerequisite: SpEd 370.

420 Instructional Delivery–Pre-K-Elementary Level. (3) Instructional strategies to encourage inquiry, problem solving, and critical thinking. Best practices in providing access to general curriculum for Pre-K-Elementary students with disabilities through inclusion or modified curriculum. Grade of C or above is required to continue in the major. Prerequisite: SpEd 400. Corequisite: SpEd 430.

430 Fieldwork in Special Education: Elementary. (3) Clinical experiences in planning, implementation, and assessment of instruction with students with disabilities in the elementary grades. A grade of C or above is required to continue in the major. Prerequisite: SpEd 400. Corequisite: SpEd 420.

440 Instructional Delivery–Secondary Level. (3) Instructional strategies to encourage inquiry, problem solving, and critical thinking. Best practices in providing access to general curriculum for secondary students with disabilities through inclusion or modified curriculum. A grade of C or above is required to continue in major. Prerequisite: SpEd 400. Corequisite: SpEd 445.

445 Fieldwork in Special Education: Secondary. (3) Clinical experiences in the planning, implementation, and assessment of instruction with students with disabilities in secondary settings. A grade of C or better is required to continue in major. Prerequisite: SpEd 400. Corequisite: SpEd 440.

460 Fieldwork in Special Education. (1) Experience in the planning, implementation, and assessment of developmentally appropriate instruction of students with disabilities in different settings. A grade of C or above required to continue in major. Prerequisite: SpEd 370.

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