Teachers of Students with Moderate Special Needs

Today's special education teachers often have students with different types of mild to moderate special needs, such as Aspergers Syndrome/high functioning autism, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognitive delays, emotional/behavior disorder, learning disabilities, moderate mental retardation, and traumatic brain injury.

We teach you to understand and implement instruction and strategies for students with mild to moderate special needs, assess physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development in childhood and adolescence, and provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences, especially in language development, that connect students' interests with their life experiences.

Our program prepares teachers to work with students with moderate special needs, pre-kindergarten to grade eight, or grades five to 12. Candidates for licensure complete comprehensive coursework and related field experiences with students with moderate special needs in schools and other settings.

Initial teaching licenses earned at Elms College qualify candidates to begin teaching in Massachusetts and more than 40 states, islands, and territories, including all of the New England states and New York.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Major in Teacher of Students with Moderate Special Needs (PreK-8)

Initial License in Teacher of Students With Moderate Special Needs (PreK-8)

(Minimum at Elms College: 18 credits)

Major Requirements (48 credits)

General Curriculum Emphasis:
EDU 100 Introduction to Schooling and Education (3 credits)
PSY 214 Children's Learning and Development (3 credits)
EDU 304 Methods of Teaching Mathematics (3 credits)
EDU 385 Inquiry-based Science Methods (3 credits)
EDU 436 Social Studies Methods (3 credits)
EDU 360 Seminar in Professional Education (3 credits)

Reading Emphasis:
EDU 307 Current Approaches to Reading and Language Arts (3 credits)
EDU 308 Beginning Reading and Writing (3 credits)
EDU 311 Writing Workshop (3 credits)
(Students are strongly encouraged to select EDU 313, Advanced Developmental Reading in Middle and Secondary Schools, as an elective whenever possible.)

Moderate Special Needs Emphasis:
EDU 319 Students with Special Needs (3 credits)
EDU 342 Assessment of Students (3 credits)
EDU 343 Models of Inclusion (3 credits)
PSY 313 Psychology of Behavioral Management (3 credits)
EDU 458A Teacher of Students with Moderate Special Needs PreK-8; Initial Practicum (9 credits)

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Major in Teacher of Students with Moderate Special Needs (5-12)

Initial License in Teacher of Students with Moderate Special Needs (5-12)

(Minimum at Elms College: 18 credits)

Option One: For candidates who pass the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure Communications and Literacy Test, the General Curriculum Test, and the Foundations of Reading Test.

Major Requirements (57 credits)

General Curriculum Emphasis:
EDU 100 Introduction to Schooling and Education (3 credits)
PSY 214 Children's Learning and Development (3 credits)
PSY 335 Psychology of Adolescence (3 credits)
EDU 304 Methods of Teaching Mathematics (3 credits)
EDU 330 Secondary Curriculum (3 credits)
OR
EDU 333 Middle School Curriculum (3 credits)
EDU 385 Inquiry-based Science Methods (3 credits)
EDU 436 Social Studies Methods (3 credits)

Reading Emphasis:
EDU 307 Current Approaches to Reading and Language Arts (3 credits)
EDU 308 Beginning Reading and Writing (3 credits)
EDU 311 Writing Workshop (3 credits)
EDU 313 Advanced Developmental Reading in Middle and Secondary Schools (3 credits)

Moderate Special Needs Emphasis:
EDU 319 Students with Special Needs (3 credits)
EDU 342 Assessment of Students (3 credits)
EDU 343 Models of Inclusion (3 credits)
PSY 313 Psychology of Behavioral Management (3 credits)
EDU 360 Seminar in Professional Education (3 credits)
EDU 468 Teacher of Students with Moderate Special Needs 5-12, Initial Practicum (9 credits)

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Major in Teacher of Students with Moderate Special Needs (5-12)

Initial License in Teacher of Students with Moderate Special Needs (5-12)

(Minimum at Elms College: 18 credits)

Option Two: For candidates who pass the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure Communications and Literacy Test, one Subject Matter Test (5-8) or (8-12), and the Foundations of Reading Test.

Major Requirements (48 credits)

5-12 Emphasis:
EDU 100 Introduction to Schooling and Education (3 credits)
PSY 214 Children's Learning and Development (3 credits)
PSY 335 Psychology of Adolescence (3 credits)
EDU 330 Secondary Curriculum (3 credits)
OR
EDU 333 Middle School Curriculum and Instruction (3 credits)

Reading Emphasis:
EDU 307 Current Approaches to Reading and Language Arts (3 credits)
EDU 308 Beginning Reading and Writing (3 credits)
EDU 311 Writing Workshop (3 credits)
EDU 313 Advanced Developmental Reading in Middle and Secondary Schools (3 credits)

Moderate Special Needs Emphasis:
EDU 319 Students with Special Needs (3 credits)
EDU 342 Assessment of Students (3 credits)
EDU 343 Models of Inclusion (3 credits)
PSY 313 Psychology of Behavioral Management (3 credits)
EDU 360 Seminar in Professional Education (3 credits)
EDU 468 Teacher of Students with Moderate Special Needs 5-12, Initial Practicum (9 credits)