Special Education

1999-2000 Bulletin Information

DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

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

The Department of Special Education prepares teachers who will work with exceptional infants, toddlers, 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 students with the mental retardation, emotional and behavior disorders, learning disabilities, vision or hearing impairments, communication disorders, physical disabilities, or those who are gifted. The special education teacher training programs at the University of South Alabama are responding to the acute needs for well-trained teachers that school systems and agencies are currently experiencing.

UNDERGRADUATE
The Department of Special Education has two undergraduate specializations, each leading toward a Bachelor of Science Degree: Early Childhood Special Education and Collaborative Teaching.

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

Students must obtain a minimum grade of "C" in all professional (block) courses in the are 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 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. Enrollments are limited in some courses. Students should consult with their advisors about the effect this may have on their planned course of study.

THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAM
All Special Education undergraduate majors’ programs include a minimum of 131 semester 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, UCOM 3020.

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 301 (or 400). All previously listed requirements of the University and College must have been met also. Student 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 313 as prerequisites.

Minimum General Studies (64 hours)
See College of Education section or departmental advising sheets for general studies requirements.

Professional Studies (30 hours minimum)
To include: SPE 301 or 400; EDF 315, 211; EPY 251
Additional Professional Studies: SPE 200, 205, 363, 410, 495; EDM 310 or 312.

Areas of Specialization (34 hours)
Collaborative Teaching
SPE 200, 311, 312, 313, 342, 362, 373, 443, 454, 484, RED 330, and SPA 290. Collaborative Teaching majors must choose an Internship at K-6 or 6-12 level.

Areas of Specialization (34 hours)
Early Childhood Special Education
SPE 200, 311, 312, 313, 342, 362, 373, 432, 433, 454, RED 330, and SPA 290.

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 Collaborative Teaching, Early Childhood Special Education, and Gifted and Talented provided they already have certification in any area of education.

Post-master’s or Sixth-Year Graduate Programs which lead to AA (State of Alabama) Professional Certification and an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree are available for qualified individuals.

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY - M.Ed. Programs

Previous admission to a regular admission status.

The completion of a minimum of nine semester hours (but not more than 18 semester hours) of graduate credit with a minimum grade of "B" in all courses. Courses are to be designated by the student’s advisor.

Completion of IDE 510.
Successful completion of Departmental Candidacy Examination.

Completion of prior certification or practicum.

Approval of advisor and department chair on the student’s Candidacy Application Form.

All previously listed requirements of the University and College must be addressed as well.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
Students 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 in planning students’ courses of study. Such planned programs should be effected before the completion of nine semester 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., Early Childhood SPE, Collaborative Teaching or Gifted) 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, a students’ Graduate Program Committee selects 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 semesters 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 PROGRAM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
The requirements for the Master of Education include IDE 510, Educational Research and Evaluation and a minimum of 33 semester 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., Collaborative Teaching) may qualify for a 36 semester hour minimum program. Students changing fields of study within special education qualify for a 39 semester hour minimum program. Students with no prior special education certification qualify for a 45 semester hour minimum program.

Those students seeking teacher certification must complete one of the program areas detailed as follows:

PROGRAM FOR COLLABORATIVE TEACHING
The 36 semester hour minimum program for the M.Ed. in the area of Collaborative Teaching includes:

Curriculum and Teaching (six semester hours)
SPE 512, SPE 516

Educational Foundations (six-nine* semester hours)
*SPE 500
Select One:
EDF 501, EDF 515
Select One:
EPY 502, EPY 521

Research and Evaluation (three semester hours)
IDE 510 Educational Research and Eval
Teaching Field (21 semester hours)
SPE 510, SPE 511, SPE 514, SPE 515, SPE 517, SPE 591, SPE 592

Electives (0-nine semester 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.

PROGRAM FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION
The 36 semester hour minimum program for the M.Ed. in the area of Early Childhood SPE:

Curriculum and Teaching (six semester hours)
SPE 512, SPE 516

Educational Foundations (six-nine semester hours)
*SPE 500

Select One:
EDF 501, EDF 515
Select One:
EPY 502

Research and Evaluation (three semester hours)
IDE 510

Teaching Field (12 semester hours)
SPE 432, SPE 433, SPE 510, SPE 515, SPE 517, SPE 534, SPE 535

Electives (0-nine semester 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 THE GIFTED AND TALENTED
The 36 semester hour minimum program for the M.Ed. in the teaching of the gifted and talented includes:

Curriculum and Teaching (six semester hours)
SPE 593, SPE 523

Educational Foundations (six-nine semester hours)
*SPE 500
Select One:
EDF 501, EDF 515
Select One:
EPY 502, EPY 521, EPY 568

Research and Evaluation (three semester hours)
IDE 510

Teaching Field (21 semester hours)
SPE 521, SPE 522, SPE 511, SPE 514, SPE 515, SPE 518, SPE 592

Electives (0-nine semester 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 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 to an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree are available for qualified individuals.

In addition to college requirements previously stated, students seeking certification will have a graduate program committee plan a program based upon the student’s training, experience and needs.

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; and a minimum of 24 additional semester 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 COLLABORATIVE TEACHING (36 semester hours minimum)
Curriculum and Teaching (six semester hours)
IDE 640, IDE 650

Educational Foundation (six-nine semester hours)
*SPE 500
Required: EDF 615
Required: EPY 602

Research and Evaluation (six semester hours)
IDE 620**, IDE 692

Teaching Field (18 semester hours)
SPE 699 Research Project

Balance of course work to be approved by student’s graduate program committee.

*SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not had a recent equivalent. The course then becomes an added course to the program.

**IDE 510 may be required as a prerequisite for IDE 620.

GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION (36 SEMESTER HOURS MINIMUM)
Curriculum and Teaching (six semester hours)
IDE 640, IDE 650

Educational Foundations (six-nine semester hours)
*SPE 500
Required: EDF 615
Select One: EPY 568, EPY 602

Research and Evaluation (six semester hours)
IDE 620, IDE 692

Teaching Field (18 semester hours)
SPE 699

Balance of course work to be approved by student’s graduate program committee.

*SPE 500 is taken only if the student has not had a recent equivalent. The course then becomes an added course to the program.

**IDE 510 may be required as a prerequisite for IDE 620

Descriptions of all Special Education (SPE) courses

College of Education