Undergraduate Course Descriptions

• Foundations Semester
• PDS Semester 1: Instructional, Management, Behavior Sequence
• PDS Semester 2: Assessment and Instruction of Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities
• PDS Semester 3: Assessment of Individuals with Mild/Moderate Disabilities Sequence
• PDS Semester 4: Communication, Apprenticeship Semester

Foundations Semester

ALD 322 – Individual Differences
This course provides an introduction to individual differences focusing on various exceptionalities within the context of the normal development.  Course content will include definitions, methodologies, legal aspects, trends and issues, and current research related to individuals with speech and language disorders, learning disabilities, mental retardation, giftedness and creativity, behavioral disorders and emotional disturbance, physical disabilities and/or special health care needs, low vision and blindness, deafness and hard of hearing, autism, deaf-blind, and traumatic brain injury.  All issues will be discussed in the context of family involvement, cultural and linguistic diversity, and a lifespan focus.

ALD 327 – Sociocultural Influences on Learning
This course is an introductory course for special education teacher education majors and is designed to provide an overview of issues, trends, and influences in teaching and learning in regards to culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students.  The main goal of this course is to increase students’ understanding of how to serve CLD learnersThe importance of understanding diversity in the classroom setting, its relevance to teaching and learning strategies, assessments, and professional community building is emphasized. This course has a substantial writing component.

SED 376 – Foundations (Trends) and Issues in Special Education
This course is designed for future special education teachers, to provide them with a working knowledge and understanding of key issues affecting decision-making and practices by special education teachers and others related to the treatment and education of students with disabilities.  Students will develop an understanding of the contributions of history, policy, the law, research, and current trends and issues as they apply to programs for individuals with disabilities, their families, and their school communities.  Students will learn to write legal and educationally useful IEPs and discuss the effect of history, policy, the law, research, and current trends on IEP development, implementation, and evaluation.

SED 322 – Field Experience in Special Education (will be SED 332 in Spring 2007)
Through a series of six field placements of two weeks each, the student will become knowledgeable about various methods of special services delivery to students with disabilities.  Students will have the opportunity to come in contact with service environments providing a continuum of service delivery systems ranging from programs in self-contained environments to those operating in more inclusive settingsThe major purposes of this field-based professional development course are to:

1. observe in a variety of settings in which students with disabilities are educated.
2. learn about the operations of schools; and
3. learn how to observe and reflect on the operations and procedures utilized within these various environments.

PDS Semester 1: Instructional, Management, Behavior Sequence

ALD 328 – Applied Human Learning: Foundations of Positive Behavioral Support and Classroom Management
The purposes of the course are to provide students with (a) an understanding of the basic principles of human behavior, (b) the application of those principles to teaching, (c) the application of those principles to positive behavior support, and (d) the application of those principles to the design of effective classrooms.  The course is organized to prepare teachers and clinicians who will be in general and special education settings with children of all ages who do and do not have disabilities.

EDC 670EA – Reading Methods, Grades 1-8
This course is designed as an introduction to the teaching of reading in the elementary classroom. Based on current theory and research, specific, practical and effective methods for teaching reading in grades one through eight will be explored. Materials and organizational strategies will also be explored. (Taken in Special Education PDS Semester 1.) Restricted to Major Codes 335408 or 335418.

EDC: 670EB – Language Arts, Grades 1-8
This course is designed an introduction to the teaching of language arts in the elementary classroom. Based on current theory and research, specific, practical and effective methods for teaching language arts in grades one through eight will be explored. Materials and organizational strategies that help elementary students achieve the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Language Arts 1-8 will also be explored. (Taken in Special Education PDS Semester 1.) Restricted to Major Codes 335408 or 335418.

EDC 331E - School Organization and Classroom Management
This course will focus on principles and strategies for developing and maintaining an effective classroom environment. A variety of models conducive to maintaining a positive environment will be explored. Students will be introduced to classroom management practices, instructional strategies, and collaborative consultation that facilitate the inclusion of special education students in regular classroom settings. The reflective teaching model will be integrated through the internship learning activities. This class includes a 20-hour per week internship. (Taken in Special Education PDS Semester 1.) Restricted to Major Codes 335408 or 335418.

PDS Semester 2: Assessment and Instruction of Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities Sequence

ALD 326 – Language of Children With and Without Disabilities
This is an introductory course designed to provide an introduction to language development, language variations, and the interface with special education to include: (a) an overview of language and literacy related disabilities, (b) guidelines for assessing language and literacy skills, and (c) strategies for promoting language and literacy development.

SED 378E – Advanced Early Childhood Intervention
This course has been designed to assist students in acquiring in-depth knowledge of Early Childhood Intervention and early childhood special education, particularly related to services within the State of Texas.  Students will begin developing skills that will enable them to work successfully with parents, their young child, and other related service team members.  Students will also develop an understanding for the legal policies related to serving young children with disabilities and their families. The field experience provides preservice teachers opportunities to apply class and text content.

SED 378D – Assessment Practices in Autism and Developmental Disabilities
The aim of this course is to review various approaches to the assessment of students with autism and developmental disabilities.  The examination will begin by considering the purpose of assessment and strategies for conducting assessments across a range of domains.  Issues related to the development and validation of contemporary assessment instruments will be covered, as will the uses of formal and informal assessment procedures.

SED 378S – Teaching Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities
This course begins with a review of the learning and behavioral characteristics of students with severe and multiple disabilities, including students with autism and related developmental disabilities.  The educational implications of these learning and behavioral characteristics will be highlighted, including implications for the selection of appropriate teaching goals and objectives.  The course will also cover empirically-validated procedures for teaching students with developmental disabilities.  Emphasis will be given to the basic principles of learning that underlie effective instructional strategies and how to structure the environment to promote learning. The field experience provides preservice teachers opportunities to apply class and text content.

PDS Semester 3: Assessment of Individuals with Mild/Moderate Disabilities Sequence

SED 375C – Teaching Individuals with Mild/Moderate Disabilities
The purpose of this course is to increase preservice teachers’ knowledge and skills in special education instructional methodology through university coursework and a public school field experience.  The focus of this course is the design, implementation, and evaluation of instruction for students with mild to moderate disabilities.  The field experience provides preservice teachers opportunities to apply class and text content.  The instructor will model principles of effective teaching, use different instructional arrangements and technology tools, and assign homework to help students practice the implementation of the content to be mastered in this course.

SED 378R – Reading Difficulties with Diverse Populations
This course is specifically designed to enhance your learning about reading theory, assessment, materials, and instruction through hands-on tutoring, along with readings, lectures, demonstrations, and assignments.  Each one of you will have students who need additional assistance in your classrooms; therefore, we want you to be prepared as knowledgeable and confident teachers who can meet the instructional needs of all of your students.

SED 372 – Assessment of Individuals with Mild/Moderate Disabilities
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the assessment processes and procedures that special education student experience.  Students will either conduct or use results from a special education teacher.  To this end, classroom assessment and progress monitoring, special education eligibility assessments, and accountability assessments.  This class is also designed to accompany this semester’s internship experience.  Therefore, we will focus particularly on the assessments you conduct with the students whom you tutor.

EDC 370E - Mathematics Methods, Grades 1-8
This course is designed to provide a foundation in theories, issues, methodologies and practical approaches that are vital to successful mathematics instruction and learning in elementary schools grades one through eight. Current standards and instructional suggestions as advocated by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics will be explored. Materials and organizational strategies that help elementary students achieve the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skill in Mathematics 1-8 will also be explored. (Taken in Special Education PDS Semester 2.) Restricted to Major Codes 335408 or 335418.

PDS Semester 4: Communication, Apprenticeship Semester

SED 337 – Intercultural Communication and Collaboration
This course is required for all special education majors and is offered in conjunction with apprentice teaching which provides the field-based setting for students to apply theory to practice. It is designed to promote the development of inclusive special educational practices for students with disabilities from socio-culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Students have opportunities to explore their own personal and professional identities, identify curricular and instructional resources that they can use in their apprentice teaching classrooms, and learn strategies for effective communication with students and families from diverse cultural backgrounds.

SED 960 – Apprenticeship: Research to Practice
This course is a supervised practicum in special education classroom teaching, conducted in cooperating schools, as part of the teacher preparation program.  The practicum consists of teaching, analysis, and evaluation.  Also required are forty hours of fieldwork a week for one semester; accompanying directed study and seminars.