Course Descriptions
The Literacy for Special Needs program blends coursework in reading, writing, assessment, and literature with selected special education courses.
LITC 521 Teaching with Children's and Adolescent Literature (3 credits)
Integrating children's and young adult literature into instruction across the curriculum. Examines the range of literature written for children and young adults from picture books to novels, including fiction, poetry, and informational books. Emphasis will be given to selecting appropriate literature, developing literature- based instruction, and understanding the multicultural contexts of literature. Course web site
LITC 522 Seminar in Writing Instruction (3 credits)
Development of written language expression at all grade levels; examination and evaluation of instructional and assessment practices, materials, and research on writing.
LITC 524 Literacy Assessment and Evaluation (3 credits)
Assessment and evaluation of literacy. Examines formal and informal assessment measures, instructional techniques and materials, and clinical programs and approaches. Prerequisite: LITC 525 or permission of instructor. Course web site
LITC 525 Seminar in Literacy Instruction (3 credits)
Development of literacy processes and skills at all levels; examination and evaluation of current instructional and assessment practices, research, and materials. Course web site
LITC 526 Literacy in the Content Fields (3 credits)
Instructional methods in literacy in the content fields. Emphasizes the role of literacy across the curriculum.
LITC 527 Specialized Literacy Techniques (3 credits)
Identification of components of effective corrective literacy programs. Description and application of specialized literacy techniques, assessment, and materials. Evaluation and design of literacy instructional approaches for students with specialized learning needs. Prerequisite: LITC 524 or SPSY 554 or permission of instructor.
LITC 528 Practicum: Literacy for Special Needs (5 credits)
Supervised field experience in literacy assessment and instruction. This practicum serves as the capstone experience of synthesis and application to the role of a reading specialist, general education teacher, or special education teacher working with students with special literacy needs. Emphasis is on comprehensive research-based curriculum, assessment, and integration of children's and young adult literature into instruction. Prerequisites: LITC 522, LITC 524, LITC 525, LITC 527, and SPSY 554 or permission of program director. Closed to non-matriculated and audit students.
Special Education Courses
SPED 540 Introduction to Special Education and Learning Disorders (3 credits)
An introduction to special education including an overview of historical/legal foundations, individualized educational plans, and exceptionalities in childhood. An emphasis will be placed on understanding the nature of learning disorders (i.e., learning disabilities, speech/language disorders, and mental retardation).
SPED 541 Multicultural/Multilingual Issues in Learning (3 credits)
Introduction to the field of multicultural and multilingual special education. Topics covered include types of culturally and linguistically diverse students, perception of disabilities across cultures, reasons for the overrepresentation of various racial and ethnic groups in special education, assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse students, and the effects of learning English as a second language on current classroom learning.
SPED 542 Teaching Students with Learning Disorders (3 credits)
An examination of the methods and curriculum that have been demonstrated to be effective for students with disabilities. Prerequisite: SPED 540.
SPED 545 School Consultation and Intervention (3 credits)
Methods for the special education teachers, reading specialists, and school psychologists to work cooperatively with general educators to effectively teach students with disabilities. This course presents observational techniques, consulting skills, effective communication skills, and dealing with resistance. Applications to working in teams and committees are examined. Prerequisite: SPED 540.
SPSY 564 Individual Educational Assessment (4 credits)
Comparison of various methods used in the evaluation of learning problems. Selection, administration and analysis of assessment methods. Interpretation of results linked to interventions. Prerequisite: SPED 540. NOTE: There is a fee for this course.