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Graduate Special Education

2025 Spring Term

Class Schedule

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT FOR THE INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM

SPECED 560

The purpose of this course is to provide general strategies to promote effective behavior management in the inclusive educational environment. Focus will be on theories and practices for facilitating successful integration of children with disabilities in the regular education classroom or public school special education programs.

Class Schedule

EVIDENCE BASED EARLY INTERVENTION FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS

SPECED 565

This course examines relevant theories and pertinent research pertaining to care of infants and toddlers with special needs within the family setting and in group care programs. Content includes an examination of legislative action that calls for intervention services for the birth to three population in natural settings, screening and assessment procedures, eligibility criteria for service delivery, working closely with and supporting families, and team collaboration styles. Mental health issues related to infants and toddlers are examined in relation to those who provide care to this population.

Class Schedule

ADVANCED BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

SPECED 640

The purpose of this course is to provide special educators with the knowledge and skills to intervene with children with intense patterns of behavior that prevent the student from accessing the general education classroom. Techniques for conducting functional behavior assessments and designing behavior intervention plans will be provided. In addition, legal aspects regarding behavior intervention will be provided. Students fulfill independent field experiences.

Class Schedule

EDUCATIONAL-DIAGNOSIS AND ASSESSMENT IN LD, E/BD, ID

SPECED 662

A course to develop advanced diagnostic skills for elementary through secondary students with mild/ moderate disabilities (LD, EBD, ID). Particular emphasis is placed upon the assessment of cognitive, academic, developmental and behavioral skills that affect classroom performance. The application of advanced trend analysis and data synthesis techniques for special education placement and program planning is stressed and current issues and trends are discussed.

Class Schedule

STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR AND CAREER PREPARATION

SPECED 680

This culminating student teaching seminar supports teacher candidates as they reflect on how, when, and why specific evidence-based practices are implemented in public school and alternative school settings. Teacher candidates will explore respective roles and responsibilities of all school personnel. Attention is given to the recognition and application of skills and activities fundamental to the development of effective teachers. Teacher candidates will complete all special education department summative signature assessments including unit plans, an IEP, FBA, and BIP along with reflection journal submissions.

Class Schedule

SPECIAL ED ALTERNATIVE WISCONSIN FOUNDATIONS OF READING TEST

SPECED 685

This capstone course is designed to meet the professional licensing requirement of passing the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test in an alternative portfolio format required for Wisconsin Cross Categorical Special Education teachers. Participants will complete the required portfolio content to pass the Alternative WIFORT including documentation of required course grades, intensive intervention planning (phonological awareness, phonics, and fluency), integrative thematic unit instruction plans (vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency), and completion of a minimum of two instructional observations and coaching sessions by a Wisconsin certified Reading Specialist addressing phonological (phonemic) awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.

Class Schedule

LEGAL FOUNDATIONS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

SPECED 700

The purpose of this course is to provide an in-depth graduate level theoretical foundation of the field of special education. Historical trends and current issues in the field of special education will be explored with an emphasis upon the impact these issues have on current practice. Current special education law and its interaction with practice will also be explored.

Class Schedule

ADVANCED METHODOLOGY AND PRACTICES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

SPECED 701

This course provides the post-baccalaureate student with the knowledge and skills to understand, interpret, and apply single-case design methods within the large context of research design in education. Students will learn how to evaluate single-case design research studies in order to understand current research related to the behavioral intervention. In addition, students will learn how to conduct single-case design researvh in order to evaluate their own intervention programs.

Class Schedule

PROMOTING REFORM THROUGH COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP

SPECED 703

This course will examine school reform and collaborative leadership from a Special Education perspective. Specifically, the course will provide students with strategic skills to promote collaborative problem-solving approaches to the development of policy and practice that will promote the development of learning communities and the revitalization of the quality of learning for all children. Students will participate in practical activities that will enhance their ability to assume informal and formal leadership roles within and across professions impacting Special Education.

Class Schedule

APPLIED FIELD ACTION RESEARCH IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

SPECED 704

Under the mentorship of the faculty advisor, the student will reflect and implement an Action Research proposal at the classroom, school and / or district level. The synthesis and summary of the findings will be disseminated via multiple formats, e.g. poster sessions, conference presentations, journal articles and the sharing of information at professional gatherings. The Action Research study will be a tool for producing artifacts that can be integrated into appropriate professional portfolios to enhance professional development, career mobility of qualification for NBPTS certification.

Class Schedule

FOUNDATIONS OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

SPECED 707

The purpose of this course is to provide an in-depth graduate level introduction to the foundations of autism spectrum disorder. This course includes an overview of autism spectrum disorder, including discussion of diagnostic issues, philosophical issues, research on the biological and psychosocial bases of the disorders, as well as an overview of intervention techniques and legal issues. The basic principles of behavioral analysis are covered.

Class Schedule

BEHAVIOR CHANGE PROCEDURES

SPECED 742

Students will learn how to identify and implement appropriate behavior change procedures in order to reduce challenging behavior and teach new skills. Strategies will include shaping, chaining, reinforcement procedures, group contingencies, self-management, imitation training, and naturalistic teaching.

Class Schedule

SCIENCE OF READING I: PHONICS, LINGUISTICS, & INTERVENTIONS

SPECED 752

The course addresses phonemic awareness, phonics, advanced word reading, and reading fluency for students who struggle to read, have a learning disability, or have dyslexia. Through use of research validated strategies in phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, and spelling, the processes and skills children and adolescents use to read fluently are examined as well as similarities and differences in reading instruction for students with LD and dyslexia and typical readers. The difficulties encountered by students with dyslexia and language and learning differences are reviewed and best practices in teaching phonemic awareness, decoding/phonics, and spelling are emphasized through discussion, modelling, and demonstrating.

Class Schedule

DISABILITIES: CHARACTERISTICS & ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION

SPECED 760

This course addresses the characteristics of students who qualify for special education services. Students examine eligibility, service delivery models, and teaching methods. Students understand historical and current special education issues and trends that impact service delivery. Students who are not currently teaching must complete a special education related field experience. Students employed as a teacher or paraprofessional must complete field hours in a developmental level different from the developmental level of their current position.

Class Schedule

PLURALISTIC RELATIONSHIPS: FAMILY, SCHOOL, & COMMUNITY AGENCY

SPECED 766

This course provides students with theory, general principles, and procedures for fostering collaborative partnerships among families, professionals, students, and other stakeholders that lead to outcomes of individual and mutual empowerment in a pluralistic society. Students will gain knowledge of interpersonal and collaborative skills that support partnerships between parents and school/community professionals as well as between school professionals and other community service providers including conflict resolution. Collaborative partnerships for planning transition from early childhood through adulthood are explored. Information concerning national, state, and local resources for families of children with disabilities will be provided and integrated into class activities.

Class Schedule

SUPERVISION, COACHING, AND MENTORING IN SPECIAL PROGRAMS

SPECED 769

This course is for those seeking continuous improvement in teaching-learning arrangements and professional growth for educational professionals. Learners will explore theory and models of supervision, coaching, and mentoring and methods for giving support to teachers to help them perform effectively. Topics include: collaborative coaching to implement and evaluate instructional practices; using data for reflection, evaluation, and instruction planning; diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in consultation, advocacy, and instruction; utilizing technology for coaching/professional development; and reflection for improving professional practice and that of others. Practicum hours developing coaching/mentoring leadership with feedback provided within the professional setting and by course instructor.

Class Schedule

INDIVIDUAL STUDIES

SPECED 798

Study of a selected topic or topics under the direction of a faculty member.