Today’s special education teachers often have students with different types of mild to moderate special needs, such as Asperger’s Syndrome/high-functioning autism, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognitive delays, emotional/behavior disorders, learning disabilities, moderate cognitive impairment, 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 in 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.
Teachers of students with moderate disabilities will be able to:
- Implement appropriate instruction and strategies for students with mild to moderate disabilities, incorporating relevant curriculum frameworks.
- Apply theories and methodologies in assessing physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development in childhood and adolescence.
- Provide developmentally-appropriate learning experiences – especially language development experiences – that connect students’ interests with their life experiences. Significant emphasis is placed on language development, language acquisition, vocabulary development, multiple approaches to reading, and extending the relationship of writing and reading.
- Prepare, implement, and evaluate I.E.P.s and understand/demonstrate role responsibilities as case manager.
- Apply federal and state laws/regulations related to special education and serve as local resources to other agencies that might provide related services.
- Facilitate/collaborate in the design or modification of curriculum and instructional materials and support general education classroom environments for students with mild to moderate disabilities.
- Assist in preparing and monitoring students with moderate disabilities for appropriate general education classrooms.
Quick Info
Initial teaching licenses earned at Elms College qualify candidates to begin teaching in Massachusetts and more than 40 states, islands, and territories.
Curriculum
Click to view course requirements for the Moderate Special Needs (B.A.).
Initial License in Moderate Special Needs (PreK-8) or (5-12)
Major Requirements (66 credits)
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
EDU 1000 | Introduction to Schooling and Education | 3 |
EDU 1008 | Writing for Educators | 3 |
PSY 2104 | Children’s Learning and Development | 3 |
EDU 3002 | Social Studies and Science Methods | 3 |
EDU 3004 | Methods of Teaching Mathematics | 3 |
EDU 3101 | Writing Workshop | 3 |
EDU 3109 | Students with Special Needs | 3 |
EDU 3402 | Assessment of Students | 3 |
EDU 3403 | Models of Inclusion | 3 |
EDU 3600 | Seminar in Professional Education | 3 |
EDU 3704 | Issues of Diversity in Children’s Literature | 3 |
Choose One | EDU 4308 No Fault Classroom Management or PSY 3103 Psychology of Behavior | 3 |
EDU 4106 | Technology in Education | 3 |
EDU 4203 | Pre-Practicum | 5 |
EDU 4204 | Pre-Practicum Seminar | 1 |
EDU 4901 | Educating English Language Learners | 3 |
EDU 4908 | Language & Literacy Development I | 3 |
EDU 4909 | Language & Literacy Development II | 3 |
Required Practicum (12 credits)
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
EDU 4508A | Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8); Initial Practicum | 12 |
EDU 4608 | Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (5-12); Initial Practicum | 12 |