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 (45 credits)
Course # | Formerly | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|
EDU 1000 | EDU 100 | Introduction to Schooling and Education | 3 |
EDU 1008 | EDU 108 | Writing for Educators | 3 |
PSY 2104 | PSY 214 | Children’s Learning and Development | 3 |
EDU 3004 | EDU 304 | Methods of Teaching Mathematics | 3 |
EDU 3805 | EDU 385 | Inquiry-based Science Methods | 3 |
EDU 4306 | EDU 436 | Social Studies Methods | 3 |
EDU 4908 | EDU 498 | Developing Language & Literacy I | 3 |
EDU 4909 | EDU 499 | Developing Language & Literacy II | 3 |
EDU 3101 | EDU 311 | Writing Workshop | 3 |
EDU 3109 | EDU 319 | Students with Special Needs | 3 |
EDU 3402 | EDU 342 | Assessment of Students | 3 |
EDU 3403 | EDU 343 | Models of Inclusion | 3 |
EDU 4308 (formerly EDU 438) No Fault Classroom Management or PSY 3103 (formerly PSY 313) Psychology of Behavioral Management | 3 | ||
EDU 4901 | EDU 491 | Educating English Language Learners | 3 |
EDU 3600 | EDU 360 | Seminar in Professional Education | 3 |
Required Practicum (9 credits)
Course # | Formerly | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|
EDU 4508A | EDU 458A | Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8); Initial Practicum | 9 |
EDU 4608 | EDU 468 | Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (5-12); Initial Practicum | 9 |