Sixth Semester
SEDU306
Tch. Rdg. Subject Area (2)
HIST366
U.S. Since 1945 (3)
PSYC390
Social Psychology (3) or
SOC326
Society and the Individual (3)
POLI201
American Government (3)
Social Studies Elective (2)
TOTAL
13 sem. hrs.
Seventh Semester
SEDU375
Sec. Ed. Field Experience (3)
SEDU381
Meas./Eval. Mid./Sec. Sch. (2)
POLI215
Am. State and Local Gov. (3)
POLI240
Intro. to Comparative Gov. (3)
Geography Elective (3)
TOTAL
14 sem. hrs.
Eighth Semester
SEDU495
Student Teaching (12)
SEDU486
Professional Topics in Ed. (2)
Social Studies Elective (3)
TOTAL
15 sem. hrs.
Special Education and School Psychology
Department
FACULTY: Susan Boam-Wood, Susan J. Criswell, Sondra L. Dastoli, Joan A.
Dengel, R. Joel Erion, Jean C. Faieta, Juanita Kasper, Donna M. Murphy, Edward
P. Snyder, Ruth Nash Thompson
The Department of Special Education and School Psychology offers a Bachelor
of Science degree in Education (B.S.Ed.) that prepares students to teach children
in grades K-12 who have disabilities, with the exceptions of hearing and visual
impairments. This undergraduate special education certification program has
been accredited by both the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Students may
also pursue a course of study leading to dual certification in Elementary
Education and Special Education. In addition, the Department offers an Associate
of Arts (A.A.) degree in the area of Developmental Disabilities Specialist. An 18-
credit, non-certification minor in Special Education is also available.
Associate of Arts Degree
Human Services-Developmental Disabilities
Specialist
The Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree in the area of Developmental Disabilities
Specialist is a two-year, individualized program that prepares students to work
with people with disabilities in various public and private sectors. A person
receiving this degree would be qualified to work as a trained instructional assis-
tant in public or private schools, residential treatment programs, day care centers,
early intervention programs, and other programs that provide services to people
with disabilities. Students in the developmental disabilities program select from a
wide variety of courses when designing their program of study. Prescribed pro-
fessional courses provide extensive, relevant information and multiple hands-on
field experiences. For their formal practicum, students work directly with profes-
sionals in a setting for children or adults with disabilities. The courses and cred-
its earned through this program also apply toward a bachelor's degree (B.S.Ed.)
and teacher certification in special education, should a student later choose to pur-
sue the more advanced degree.
I. General Education
30 sem. hrs.
A. ENGL101 College Writing Skills
3 sem. hrs.
B. One approved course from each Core category
21 sem. hrs.
(Artistic Expression, World Civilizations, American Civilizations,
Human Behavior, Cultural Diversity and Social Pluralism, Ethics,
Science and Technology)
C. One approved course from three different Distribution categories
6 sem. hrs.
(Humanities and Fine Arts, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Science
and Mathematics)
II. Human Service Area
27 sem. hrs.
A. Nature and Needs
9 sem. hrs.
SPED215 Psychology of Exceptional Children (3)
SPED230 Behavioral Disorders of Childhood (3)
SPED500 Individuals with Low Incidence Disabilities (3)
B. Behaviors, Treatments and Strategies
12 sem. hrs.
SPED309 Principles of Behavior Management in the Classroom (3)
SPED480 Learning Disability (3)
SPED595 Field Experience with Exceptionalities (6)
C. Electives in Field
6 sem. hrs.
(To be selected from the following)
SPED267 American Sign Language and the Deaf Culture (3)
SPED315 Assessment in Special Education (3)
SPED325 Curriculum in Special Education (3)
SPED525 Collaborative Consultation in Educational Settings (3)
SPED533 Speech and Language Problems of Exceptional Children
(3)
SPED560 Young Children with Disabilities (3)
SPED570 Severely and Multiple Disabled (3)
SPED571 Physical Disabilities (3)
III. Free Electives
6 sem. hrs.
TOTAL
66 sem. hrs.
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS HUMAN SERVICES-DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES SPECIALIST
(Suggested Four-Semester Sequence)
First Semester
ENGL101
College Writing Skills (3)
SPED215
Psychology of Exceptional Children (3)
Core (3)
Core (3)
Free Elective (3)
TOTAL
15 sem. hrs.
Second Semester
SPED230
Behavioral Disorders of Childhood (3)
SPED500
Low Incident Dis. (3)
Core (3)
Core (3)
Free Elective (3)
Distribution (3)
TOTAL
18 sem. hrs.
Third Semester
SPED309
Principles of Behavior Management in the Classroom (3)
SPED480
Developmental/Learning Disability (3)
Core (3)
Core (3)
Core (3)
Distribution (3)
TOTAL
18 sem. hrs.
Fourth Semester
SPED595
Field Experience with Exceptionalities (6)
Choose two from the following electives:
SPED267, SPED315, SPED325, SPED525, SPED533,
SPED560, SPED570, and/or SPED571 (6)
Distribution (3)
TOTAL
15 sem. hrs.
Bachelor of Science in Education Degree
with Special Education Teacher Certification
This program prepares special education teachers according to the criteria estab-
lished by the state of Pennsylvania. State teacher certification in special education
indicates that an individual is qualified to teach children in grades K-12 who have
Curricula and Organization/137