ESP 541 Exceptionality in Special Education

This course provides teachers pursuing a special education endorsement an introduction to the 13 federally-defined disability categories (IDEA) which determine a student’s eligibility for special education services. The course will be a general exploration of each category and the diverse continuum of needs that students in each category may have. This course will lay the foundation for all other special education endorsement courses.

Credits

2

Prerequisite

Admission to program or director approval

Outcomes

1. This course will prepare students to:
2. Collaboration: Beginning special education professionals collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways to address the needs of individuals with exceptionalities across a range of learning experiences.
3. Instructional Planning and Strategies: Beginning special education professionals select, adapt, and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities.
4. Learner Development and Individual Learning Differences: Beginning special education professionals understand how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
5. Planning and adapting curricula: Demonstrate knowledge and skills for effective teaching which ensure a positive impact on student learning by planning and/or adapting curricula for diverse student needs.