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2024-25 Academic Catalog

SPED Course Descriptions

Table of Contents

SPED 501 Theory, Foundations and Ethics for Special Educators

1 credit hour

This course will focus on the historical foundations and purpose of special education, theory, special education law and policy, including legislation and litigation, and ethics. The course provides the foundational knowledge needed to understand exceptionalities of all kinds.

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SPED 508 Literacy & Mathematics Methods and Interventions

3 credit hours

This course will examine research-based methods of instruction and interventions in literacy and mathematics to support students with disabilities at the elementary and secondary levels. Course topics encompass research, curriculum, implementation, intervention, instructional strategies, and assessment within the English Language Arts and Mathematics state standards framework.

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SPED 510 Theory, Foundations, and Ethics for Special Educators

2 credit hours

This course will focus on theoretical and practical aspects of human development while identifying the connections to developmental psychology and learning theory with an emphasis on birth through young adulthood. Functional knowledge of exceptionalities including autism, dyslexia, and executive functioning will be developed in relation to learning. Historical foundations and the purpose of special education including law, policies, legislation, litigation, and ethics will be thoroughly explored.

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SPED 511 Developmental Psychology and Learning Theory

1 credit hour

The theoretical and practical aspects of human development with emphasis on - birth through young adult – and the connection to developmental psychology and learning theory. Functional knowledge of exceptionalities: autism, dyslexia, executive functioning are developed as it relates to learning.

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SPED 512 Structures for Teaching and Learning: Academic

3 credit hours

This course prepares candidates to meet the needs of school students with high incidence learning disabilities in general education classrooms. An emphasis on developing curricular modifications and adaptations to evaluate content curriculum, providing assistance to general education teachers, developing knowledge and skills to adjust curriculum content using Oregon State Standards, and utilizing informal assessments to provide information on student progress in the general education curriculum. This course will also prepare candidates to evaluate technological and assistive supports and determine appropriateness for exceptional learners. Candidates will design and develop assistive technology tools for use in academic settings.

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SPED 513 Structures for Teaching and Learning: Functional

3 credit hours

This course prepares candidates to meet the needs of school students with low incidence disabilities including intellectual disability, hearing impairment, visual impairment, deaf/blindness, communication disorder, emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, and other health impairments. An emphasis on utilizing the Oregon State Standards to plan and implement curriculum, understand how to make eligibility decisions, and knowledge of academic and functional instruction to support students with low incidence disabilities. Functional living skills are incorporated into content planning. This course will also prepare candidates to evaluate technological and assistive supports and determine appropriateness for exceptional learners. Candidates will design and develop assistive technology tools for use in academic and functional settings.

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SPED 521 Assessment & Evaluation

4 credit hours

This course addresses assessment and evaluation as the means for informing special education disability decisions as well as instructional decisions. The candidate will learn and practice multiple ways of assessing students. These include informal assessment, progress monitoring, formal evaluations, and standardized achievement tests. The candidate will learn to write formal reports that emphasize proper administration of assessments and ethical complications of the evaluation process to synthesize all that data to create a cohesive picture of the student’s standing and continue to use the appropriate assessment tools to generate the information needed to make curricular and program decisions.

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SPED 524 Assistive Technology & Specialized Support

1 credit hour

This course will focus on developing candidates’ ability to evaluate technological and assistive supports and determine appropriateness for exceptional learners. Candidates will design and develop assistive technology tools for use in academic and functional settings.

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SPED 531 Case Management

3 credit hours

Candidates will gain knowledge and skills in writing effective, compliant Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and acquire communication and collaboration strategies to facilitate IEP meetings and interactions with families. Candidates will identify key issues that could lead to litigation. Course content includes communication, organization, compliance and administrative management.

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SPED 550 Behavior Support and Classroom Management

3 credit hours

This course will focus on the preparation of candidates to work with students who demonstrate significant emotional/behavioral, trauma, and fetal alcohol/drug issues and use interventions that are research-based. Candidates are instructed on the methods of behavior analysis and accommodation strategies including the development of behavior support plans.

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SPED 552 Community Supports and Transitional Programs

2 credit hours

This course will focus on the families, individuals, and community supports for individuals with disabilities ages birth - 21. Candidates will identify age-appropriate services such as Head Start, early intervention, vocational educational programs, community experiences, employment and other post-school adult living objectives, acquisition of daily living skills, if appropriate, and access to state and federal services. Candidate will also learn all required federal/state requirements for secondary transition plans. They will learn how to apply and develop an individual Education Plan for students of transition age.

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SPED 576 Practicum: Mild to Moderate

2 credit hours

This practicum will be completed at either early childhood elementary, elementary middle, or middle level and high school, in settings with students identified with mild to moderate disabilities. Candidates will complete a work sample during this practicum. Candidates will complete a minimum of 60 hours of clinical practice in a mild to moderate disability placement.

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SPED 577 Practicum: Moderate to Severe

2 credit hours

This practicum will be completed at either early childhood elementary, elementary middle, or middle level and high school, in settings with students identified with moderate to severe disabilities. Candidates will complete a minimum of 60 hours of clinical practice in a moderate to severe disability placement.

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SPED 578 Practicum I

4 credit hours

This practicum will be completed at either early childhood elementary, elementary middle, or middle level and high school, in settings with students identified with mild to moderate or moderate to severe disabilities. Candidates will complete a work sample during this practicum. Candidates will complete a minimum of 600 hours of clinical practice in a placement that serves students with the classification of mild to moderate or moderate to severe disabilities. Pass/No Pass.

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SPED 579 Practicum II

2 credit hours

This practicum will be completed at either early childhood elementary, elementary middle, or middle level and high school, in settings with students identified with mild to moderate or moderate to severe disabilities. Candidates will complete a minimum of 60 hours of clinical practice in a placement that serves students with the classification of either mild to moderate or moderate to severe disabilities. Note, that this practicum should be with the student classification that is different from Practicum I. Pass/No Pass.

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SPED 585 Selected Topics

1-3 credit hour

Occasional special courses chosen to fit the interests and needs of students and faculty.

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SPED 595 Special Study in Special Education

1 credit hour

This course will focus on an in-depth exploration of a topic related to special education, inclusion, or specific disabilities that is outside the regular offerings of the program. Research and evidence-based practices related to the topic will be examined as part of the special study

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