SPED 430A, EDSC 440S, SPED 371, and SPED 421 provide basic introductions to IDEA, ADA etc. A special focus is placed on the status of special education services within society. A historical overview of federal and state legislation is also presented and discussed in terms of it's impact on service delivery approaches. This course includes an emphasis on the philosophy and history of the field of Special Education. The candidates are able to explain the various theories i.e., transactional, behavioral, ecocultural, psychodynamic, and analyze the relationship between theory and clinical practice in the field.
Candidates reflect on their own heritage and culture and discuss their racial and ethnic diversity.
At this point candidates have mastered the educational policy and perspectives and are able to move on to a more applied level of their knowledge. These actual procedures are then demonstrated during the SPED 490 and 489. Persons without prerequisite must take the survival course prior to the Internship. Persons who have already taken the prerequisite course will be required to take the survival class as a refresher. They can take it during their first semester as an Intern.