Elementary Education, Exceptional Student Education Major

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An Elementary and Exceptional Student Education major is immersed in the field of special education through coursework and practicum experiences in local elementary, middle, and high school. Majors will work with students with high incidence (mild) and low (moderate to severe) disabilities identified through the law. Students will explore the foundations, identification, and strategies for how individuals with disabilities are best served in public education.

ELEM/ESE majors also explore:

Case law and ethical standards that govern the education of students with exceptionalities
The characteristics of students with exceptionalities using the eligibility criteria of categories included in current state and federal laws and regulations governing K-12 education programs.
Typical and atypical development of physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional stages of students in the K-12 educational system.
Varied instructional strategies and resources, including appropriate technology, to provide comprehensible instruction, and to teach for student understanding.
Differentiation of instruction based on an assessments of student learning needs and recognition of individual differences in students.

Program Coordinator: Dr. Cheryl McCarthy

Required General Education Courses (51 Hours)

Students entering with an Associate of Arts (AA) degree are exempt from the general education requirements, with the exception of specified courses for their major.

Mathematics

MAT 142 - College Geometry Credits: 3
and
MAT 223 - Statistics Credits: 3
and
MAT 135 or higher Credits: 3

Foundations of Knowledge

HIS 205WI - United States History to 1877 Credits: 3
or
HIS 206WI - United States History Since 1877 Credits: 3
and
ESL 315 - Cross Cultural Communications Credits: 3 This course is required for all Exceptional Student Education, Elementary Education majors, including those with an AA degree.
and
An Additional “Studies of Cultures” course (See General Education Program and Courses in catalog.) Credits: 3

Creative Expression

Choose a Category A course. (See General Education Program and Courses in catalog.) Credits: 3
EEL 365 - Elementary Methods in the Arts Credits: 3 (Category B) This course is required for all Exceptional Student Education, Elementary Education majors, including those with an AA degree.

Ways of Knowing

EDU 202WI - Introduction to Child and Adolescent Development in the Educational Setting Credits: 3 This course is required for all Exceptional Student Education, Elementary Education majors, including those with an AA degree.
and
PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology Credits: 3
and
NAS Life Science Course Credits: 3
and
NAS Earth Science Course Credits: 3
and
NAS Physical Science Course Credits: 3

Professional Education Courses (29 Hours)

EDU 241 - Professional Development 1 Credits: 1
EDU 242 - Instructional Design for Teaching and Learning Credits: 3
EDU 309 - Introduction to Techniques in Exceptionality Credits: 3 (15-hour practicum)
EDU 321 - General Methods of Instruction Credits: 3
EDU 355 - Tests and Measurements Credits: 3
EDU 357 - Classroom Management Credits: 3 (15-hour practicum)
EDU 461 - Professional Development II Credits: 1
EDU 481 - Internship Credits: 12

Elementary Education Courses (21 Hours)

EEL 301 - Elementary Reading Instruction Credits: 3 (15-hour practicum)
EEL 302 - Children’s Literature: Reading Across the Content Areas Credits: 3
EEL 342 - Elementary Methods of Social Studies Credits: 3 (20-hour practicum)
EEL 362 - Elementary Methods of Mathematics Credits: 3 (20-hour practicum)
EEL 364 - Elementary Methods of Science Credits: 3 (20-hour practicum)
EEL 431WI - Elementary Methods of Language Arts Credits: 3 (20-hour practicum)
EEL 455 - Diagnostic Reading Credits: 3 (20-hour practicum)

Exceptional Student Education Courses (12 Hours)

ESE 330 - Techniques in Assessment of Exceptional Children Credits: 3
ESE 365 - Language Development and Speech Disabilities Credits: 3
ESE 420 - Instructional Practices: Elementary Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities Credits: 3 (20-hour practicum)
ESE 425 - Instructional Practices: Secondary Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities Credits: 3 (20-hour practicum)

ESOL Courses (6 Hours)

ESL 325 - Applied Linguistics Credits: 3
ESL 415 - ESOL Curriculum and Materials Development Credits: 3 (20-hour practicum)

Elective Courses (At Least One Hour)

To meet the minimum 120-hour graduation requirement, at least one additional credit hour must be earned.

Note

Some courses require admission to the Education Department and/or other prerequisites. Also, some courses are offered only in fall/spring or even/odd semesters. This information can be found by accessing individual course descriptions.