Special Education

1997-1998 Bulletin Information

For current bulletin information see www.southalabama.edu/bulletin

Chair: Terry G. Cronis
Professor: Cronis
Associate Professors: Sachs, Ellis
Assistant Professors: McNeill, Shank
Visiting Instructor: Baxter

The Department of Special Education prepares teachers who will work with exceptional children and youth. Persons who have a strong desire to aid the personal and educational development of students with special learning needs and capacities would find the area of Special Education gratifying and fulfilling. Assisting students who have the greatest educational needs can provide much personal and professional award.

As a result of many recently passed laws, standards, and educational policies, there has developed a tremendous increase in the demand for teachers trained to work with the mentally retarded, emotionally disturbed, learning disabled, blind, deaf, speech impaired, physically disabled, or gifted students. The special education teacher training programs at the University of South Alabama are responding to the many and varied needs for well-trained teachers that school systems and agencies are currently experiencing.

UNDERGRADUATE
The Department of Special Education has four undergraduate specializations, each leading toward a Bachelor of Science Degree: Mentally Retarded (MR), Multiple Disabilities (MD), Emotional Conflicts (EC), and Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD).

The programs in Special Education are designed to prepare teachers to function in a variety of settings with nursery-through-high-school-level students.

Students must obtain a minimum grade of "C" in all professional (block) courses in the area of Special Education (i.e., 300-level or above courses which carry the SPE prefix and are restricted to candidacy).

Non-majors seeking enrollment in courses restricted to candidacy should obtain permission from department chair in Special Education. Successful completion of the program and eligibility for the Bachelor of Science degree and/or teaching certificate necessitates that requirements of the Department of Special Education, the College of Education, the University of South Alabama, the Alabama State Department of Education, and NCATE be met.

The Department of Special Education places particular emphasis upon the student-advisor relationship. Each advisor has detailed information to aid the student's progress and to ensure that the many and various requirements are met.

THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAM
All Special Education undergraduate majors' programs include a minimum of 192 quarter hours. Differences in course-work exist within the teaching areas and advisors provide the specific course information for each student. Worksheets are available from the Department or from the Education Certification and Student Services Office, College of Education, ILB 120.

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY
Students must apply at the Education Certification and Student Services Office, College of Education, for admission to teacher candidacy upon meeting candidacy requirements and should have completed SPE 201 (or 400). All previously listed requirements of the University and College must have been met also. Students must apply as early as possible preferably by the end of the sophomore year. Professional courses are organized into sequenced blocks all of which require both SPE 312 and SPE 313 as prerequisites.

Professional Studies (60 hours)
Educational Foundations 20 hours
To include: SPE 201 or 400, EDF 210, 211, 315, EPY 251. Additional Professional Studies; SPE 362, 363, 410, 495, EDM 385 or 464 or 482, RED 348 or 451 or 458 or SED 351.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
INTERRELATED (EMOTIONAL CONFLICTS/LEARNING DISABILITIES)
Teaching Field - 60 hours
AED 301 or 450, PE 461, 5 hours of SPE 200, SPE 205, 211, 312, 313, 314, 342, 343, 352, 364, 455, 444, 8 hours approved teaching field electives.

INTERRELATED (MENTALLY RETARDED/MULTIPLE DISABILITIES)
Teaching Field - 60 hours
AED 301 or 450, PE 461, 5 hours of SPE 200, SPE 205, 211, 312, 313, 314, 342, 343, 352, 364, 454, 444, 8 hours of approved teaching field electives.

GRADUATE
The graduate program in Special Education prepares individuals with or without special education backgrounds to work with exceptional children and youth. Students seeking Alabama Class A professional certification may select programs of study in the areas of Emotionally Conflicted, Learning Disabled, Gifted and Talented, and Mental Retardation provided they already have certification in any area of education. Those seeking certification in the area of the Multidisabled must have prior certification in Multidisabled, Mental Retardation, or Orthopedically Handicapped/Other Health Impaired. Those seeking Mild Learning Disabilities certification must be eligible for certification in MR, LD, or EC.

Post-master's or Sixth-Year Graduate Programs which lead to AA (State of Alabama) Professional Certification and/or an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree are available for qualified individuals. Certification programs are available in Mental Retardation, Gifted Education, Emotional Conflicts, Learning Disabilities, and Mild Learning Disabilities.

All previously listed requirements of the University and College must be addressed as well. Cut off scores for the NTE, GRE, and MAT tests are available in the departmental office from graduate program coordinators.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
Students not seeking a degree in Special Education but who are working on a SDE letter of deficiency or completing the equivalent of an approved program in Special Education should be aware that the Department requires that certain courses be taken in sequence. Advisors should be consulted to obtain information about sequencing and prerequisite course work.

A committee consisting of graduate faculty members within the Department will be selected by program advisors to assist students in planning their courses of study. Such planned programs should be effected before the completion of twelve quarter hours of work. Planned programs will also indicate prerequisite courses.

The Special Education Department requires that students who receive a grade of C in their major area (i.e., EC, Gifted, LD, MR, Multidisabled) must repeat that course and attain a grade of B or better.

Satisfactory performance in all course work (an average of B or better) is required of all graduate Special Education majors; in the event of unsatisfactory performance in a course not in their major area, students are given the option of repeating the course and demonstrating satisfactory performance or demonstrating satisfactory performance in an approved alternate course.

Students may be permitted to do their internship during one of their two final quarters in residence. This is a joint decision between student and advisor.

Students are assigned to advisors in their respective program areas. No faculty member other than the assigned advisor may advise Special Education students.

The student has the sole responsibility for initiating applications and meeting test and other deadline requirements.

WRITTEN COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
Satisfactory performance on a written comprehensive examination is required of all graduate students prior to the completion of their program.

MASTER OF EDUCATION DEGREE PROGRAMS
IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
The requirements for the Master of Education include IDE 510, Educational Research and Evaluation and a minimum of 44 quarter hours in the program specialization, as determined by the student's graduate faculty committee. Students already certified in the same field of special education as their graduate major (e.g., EC, LD, MR etc.) may qualify for a 48 quarter hour minimum program which includes 8 quarter hours of advisor-approved electives. Students changing fields of study within special education qualify for a 52 quarter hour minimum program which includes 12 quarter hours of advisor-approved electives. Students with no prior special education certification qualify for a 60 quarter-hour minimum program which includes 20 quarter hours of advisor-approved electives.

These students seeking teacher certification must complete one of the program areas detailed below:

PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS OF THE
EMOTIONALLY CONFLICTED
The 48 quarter-hour minimum program for the M.Ed. in the teaching of the emotionally conflicted includes:

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
SPE 544 Curriculum and the Exceptional Child
SPE 543 Educational Procedures for Children with Behavior Disorders/Emotional Conflict

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (8-12* quarter hours)
*SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 501 Culture Foundations of Education
EDF 515 Multicultural Education

SELECT ONE:
EPY 502 Psychological Principles of Learning
EPY 521 Human Development and Behavior

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (4 quarter hours)
IDE 510 Educational Research and Evaluation

TEACHING FIELD (20 quarter hours)
SPE 541 Characteristics of Children with Behavior Disorders/Emotional Conflict
SPE 574 or 474 Secondary Curriculum for the Mildly Handicapped
SPE 554 Corrective and Remedial Teaching
** SPE 595 Internship/Practicum in SPE:EC

Students must take sufficient additional advisor-approved courses 400-level or above in the teaching field to total 20 quarter hours.

ELECTIVES (8-20 quarter hours)
Guided electives to be selected with advisor approval.

*SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not had a recent undergraduate equivalent.
It becomes an additional part of the program.

**In some instances, students who have already completed a satisfactory internship in their field may not be required to take SPE 595.

PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS OF THE GIFTED AND TALENTED
The 48 quarter-hour minimum program for the M.Ed. in the teaching of the gifted and talented includes:

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
SPE 595 Internship/Practicum in SPE:G/T
SPE 523 Teaching Children with High Potential

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (8-12* quarter hours)
* SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 501 Cultural Foundations of Education
EDF 515 Multicultural Education

SELECT ONE:
EPY 502 Psychological Principles of Learning
EPY 521 Human Development and Behavior
EPY 568 Teacher Training in Multiple Talent Development

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (4 quarter hours)
IDE 510 Educational Research and Evaluation

TEACHING FIELD (20 quarter hours)
SPE 521 Children with High Potential
SPE 522 Creative and Productive Thinking
BLOCK OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
12 hours in English/Humanities, or
12 hours in Social Sciences, or
12 hours in Mathematics/Science or
12 hours in Professional Education Courses

ELECTIVES (8-20 quarter hours)
Guided electives to be selected with advisor approval.
* SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not had a recent undergraduate equivalent.
The course then becomes an added course to the program.

PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS OF THE LEARNING DISABLED
The 48 quarter-hour minimum program for the M.Ed. in the teaching of the learning disabled includes:

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
SPE 544 Curriculum and the Exceptional Child
SPE 554 Corrective and Remedial Teaching

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (8-12* quarter hours)
* SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 501 Cultural Foundations of Education
EDF 515 Multicultural Education

SELECT ONE:
EPY 502 Psychological Principles of Learning
EPY 521 Human Development and Behavior

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (4 quarter hours)
IDE 510 Educational Research and Evaluation

TEACHING FIELD (20 quarter hours)
SPE 551 Nature and Needs of the Learning Disabled Child
SPE 531 Language Problems of Exceptional Children
SPE 542 Behavior Management

Students must take sufficient additional advisor-approved courses 400-level or above in the teaching field to total 20 quarter hours.

ELECTIVES (8-20 quarter hours)
Guided electives to be selected with advisor approval.

* SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not had a recent undergraduate equivalent.

** In some instances, students who have already completed a satisfactory internship in their field may not be required to take SPE 595.

PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED
The 48-quarter-hour-minimum program for the M.Ed. in the teaching of the mentally retarded includes:

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
SPE 573 or 473 Teaching the Educable Mentally Retarded
SPE 574 or 474 Secondary Curriculum for the Mildly Handicapped

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (8-12* quarter hours)
* SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 501 Cultural Foundations of Education
EDF 515 Multicultural Education

SELECT ONE:
EPY 502 Psychological Principles of Learning
EPY 521 Human Development and Behavior

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (4 quarter hours)
IDE 510 Educational Research and Evaluation

TEACHING FIELD (20 quarter hours)
SPE 571 Nature and Needs of the Mentally Retarded
** SPE 595 Internship/Practicum in SPE:MR
SPE 572 Teaching the Moderately and Severely Handicapped
SPE 501 Testing and Evaluating Exceptional Children, or
SPE 566 Assessment of the Severely/Profoundly Handicapped

Students must take sufficient additional advisor-approved courses 400-level or above in the teaching field to total 20 quarter hours.

ELECTIVES (8-20 quarter hours)
Guided electives to be selected with advisor approval.

* SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not had a recent undergraduate equivalent. It becomes an additional part of the program.

** In some instances, students who have already completed a satisfactory internship in their field may not be required to take SPE 595.

PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS OF THE MULTIDISABLED
The 48-quarter-hour-minimum program for the M.Ed. in the teaching of the multidisabled includes:

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
SPE 568 or 468 Augmentative and Assistive Communication
SPE 572 or 472 Teaching the Moderately and Severely Handicapped

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (8-12* quarter hours)
* SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 501 Cultural Foundations of Education
EDF 515 Multicultural Education

SELECT ONE:
EPY 502 Psychological Principles of Learning
EPY 521 Human Development and Behavior

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (4 quarter hours)
IDE 510 Educational Research and Evaluation

TEACHING FIELD (20 quarter hours)
SPE 581 Medical Aspects of Multihandicapping Conditions
** SPE 595 Internship/Practicum in SPE:MH
SPE 542 Behavior Management of Exceptional Children
SPE 566 Assessment of the Severely/Profoundly Handicapped
Balance of course work to be approved by student's graduate program committee.

ELECTIVES (8-20 quarter hours)
Guided electives to be selected with advisor approval

* SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not had a recent undergraduate equivalent.
It becomes an additional part of the program.

** In some instances, students who have already completed a satisfactory internship in their field may not be required to take SPE 595.

PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS IN MILD LEARNING DISABILITIES
The 60-quarter-hour minimum program for the M.Ed. for teaching in Mild Learning Disabilities includes:

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
SPE 544 Curriculum and the Exceptional Child
SPE 574 Secondary Curriculum for the Mildly Handicapped

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (8-12* quarter hours)
* SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 501 Cultural Foundations of Education
EDF 515 Multicultural Education

SELECT ONE:
EPY 502 Psychological Principles of Learning
EPY 521 Human Development and Behavior

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (4 quarter hours)
IDE 510 Educational Research and Evaluation

TEACHING FIELD (32 quarter hours)
SPE 554 Corrective and Remedial Teaching
SPE 543 Educational Procedures for Emotionally Conflicted
SPE 573 or 473 Teaching the Educable Mentally Retarded
SPE 531 Language Programs of Exceptional Children

SELECT TWO:*
SPE 541 Characteristics for Children with BD/EC
SPE 551 Nature and Needs of the LD Child
SPE 571 Nature and Needs of the Mentally Retarded

SELECT TWO:
SPE 595 Internship/Practicum in SPE:EC
SPE 595 Internship/Practicum in SPE:LD
SPE 595 Internship/Practicum in SPE:MR

ELECTIVES (8 quarter hours)
Guided electives to be selected with advisor approval

* SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not had a recent undergraduate equivalent.

PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY
See the College of Allied Health section of this Bulletin for program information.

ADVANCED GRADUATE STUDY: SIXTH-YEAR
(POST-MASTER'S) PROGRAMS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

Post-master's or Sixth-Year Graduate Programs which lead to AA (State of Alabama) Professional Certification and/or to an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree are available for qualified individuals. Certification programs are available in Mental Retardation, Gifted Education, Emotional Conflicts, Learning Disabilities, and Mild Learning Disabilities.

In addition to college requirements previously stated, students seeking certification in Mental Retardation, Emotional Conflicts, and Learning Disabilities must have, or be eligible for, Master's (Alabama Class A professional) certification in that field. Students may seek certification in Gifted-Talented with prior Master's certification in any field. In the area of Mild Learning Disabilities, students may enter the program with prior certification in LD, EC, MR, or MLH at the Class A level.

NON-DEGREE PROGRAMS
Students seeking Alabama Class AA professional certification only must take IDE 692, Research Project Seminar, and a minimum of 44 addition hours in one of the program areas detailed below under certification options.

EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST (Ed.S.) DEGREE PROGRAMS
The requirements for the Educational Specialist Degree include IDE 692, Research Project Seminar; SPE 699, Research Project; IDE 620, Quantitative Methods I; the core courses; IDE 640, 650, 660, and a minimum of 24 additional quarter hours in program specialization as determined by the student's graduate faculty committee.

Those students seeking teacher certification must also complete one of the program areas detailed below under Certification Options.

CERTIFICATION OPTIONS
EDUCATION OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED
(48-quarter-hour minimum)

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
IDE 640 Instructional Development
IDE 650 Instructional Techniques

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (8-12* quarter hours)
* SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 610 History of American Education
EDF 615 Education and Anthropology

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (12 quarter hours)
IDE 660 Instructional Evaluation
** IDE 620 Quantitative Methods I
IDE 692 Research Project Seminar

TEACHING FIELD (20 quarter hours)
SPE 671 Seminar in MR Education
** SPE 699 Research Project
Balance of course work to be approved by student's graduate program committee.

ELECTIVES (0-8 hours)
* SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not previously satisfied the requirement.
The course then becomes an added course to the program.

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
IDE 640 Instructional Development
IDE 650 Instructional Techniques

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (8-12* quarter hours)
* SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 610 History of American Education
EDF 615 Education and Anthropology

SELECT ONE:
EDF 521 Human Development and Behavior
EPY 568 Teacher Training in Multiple Talent Divisions
EPY 602 Psychological Aspects of Teaching and Learning

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (12 quarter hours)
IDE 660 Instructional Evaluation
** IDE 620 Quantitative Methods I
IDE 692 Research Project Seminar

TEACHING FIELD (20 quarter hours)
** SPE 699 Research Project
Balance of course work to be approved by student's graduate program committee.

ELECTIVES (0-8 hours)
* SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not previously satisfied the requirement.
The course then becomes an added course to the program.
** Not required for students seeking AA Certification only.

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
IDE 640 Instructional Development
IDE 650 Instructional Techniques

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (8-12* quarter hours)
*SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 610 History of American Education
EDF 615 Education and Anthropology

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (12 quarter hours)
IDE 660 Instructional Evaluation
** IDE 620 Quantitative Methods I
IDE 692 Research Project Seminar

TEACHING FIELD (20 quarter hours)
SPE 641 Seminar in Behavior Disorders/Emotional Conflict
** SPE 699 Research Project
Balance of course work to be approved by student's graduate program committee.

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
IDE 640 Instructional Development
IDE 650 Instructional Techniques

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (8-12* quarter hours)
* SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 610 History of American Education
EDF 615 Education and Anthropology

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (12 quarter hours)
IDE 660 Instructional Evaluation
** IDE 620 Quantitative Methods I
IDE 692 Research Project Seminar

TEACHING FIELD (20 quarter hours)
SPE 651 Seminar in Learning Disabilities
** SPE 699 Research Project
Balance of course work to be approved by student's graduate program committee.

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING (8 quarter hours)
IDE 640 Instructional Development
IDE 650 Instructional Techniques

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (8-12* quarter hours)
* SPE 500 Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth

SELECT ONE:
EDF 610 History of American Education
EDF 615 Education and Anthropology

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (12 quarter hours)
IDE 660 Instructional Evaluation
** IDE 620 Quantitative Methods I
IDE 692 Research Project Seminar

TEACHING FIELD (20 quarter hours)
SPE 671 Seminar in Mental Retardation
SPE 641 Seminar in Behavioral Disorders/Emotional Conflict
SPE 651 Seminar in Learning Disabilities
** SPE 699 Research Project
Balance of course work to be approved by student's graduate program committee.

ELECTIVES (0-8 hours)
* SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not previously satisfied the requirement.
The course then becomes an added course to the program.

***Students who do not already have a certificate in MLH but do have an A-level certificate in MR, LD, or EC may have to take additional course work to remove any deficiencies, as determined by the student's graduate program committee.