Special Education (SPE)

SPE 3303. Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

This course provides a basic introduction to applied behavior analysis and the highly beneficial role that it can play in early childhood intervention for both typically developing children and those with special needs. The objective of this course is to master the fundamental principles of behavior in preparation for learning to apply these principles in school- and community-based settings that focus on early childhood education and intervention. This course is a recommended prerequisite for SPE 3633, SPE 3673, SPE 4673, SPE 4681, and SPE 4683. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81.

SPE 3603. Introduction to Special Education. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

A study of individuals, groups, and populations with disabilities or exceptionalities. Content covered includes special education and disability law, critical issues in special education, special education processes and procedures, etiology, characteristics, prevalence, and placement options. Knowledge and competencies necessary for providing research-based, empirically derived best practices in curriculum and instruction to preschool and school-aged children and youth with exceptionalities in inclusive settings will also be presented. (Formerly titled "Introduction to Exceptionality.") Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Course Fees: DL01 $75; LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81.

SPE 3623. Assessment of Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: SPE 3603, SPE 3633, SPE 3683, SPE 3693, and SPE 4623; Restricted course: advisor code required for registration. Corequisites: SPE 3653, SPE 4643, and SPE 4683. An introduction to assessment of students with mild/moderate disabilities. Informal and formal assessment instruments, procedures, and systems for assessment of aptitude, achievement, adaptive behavior, and language abilities will be studied. This course must be completed with a grade of "B" or better for it to serve as a prerequisite for CI 4716 Clinical Teaching: All level EC-12. Generally offered: Spring. Course Fees: LEA1 $15; LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81; DL01 $75.

SPE 3633. Classroom and Behavior Management. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: SPE 3603. An in-depth introduction to behavior management for K-12 classrooms and other settings using applied behavior analysis. Objectives of this course include mastering evidence-based practices in applied behavior analysis within a Response to Intervention (RTI) framework, such as functional behavior assessment and function-based treatment of challenging behavior in students or clients. Behavioral approaches to classroom management at the class-wide and school-wide level are also addressed. Strategies also include the use of single-subject experimental design methodology, preference assessments, reinforcer assessments, differential reinforcement, and avoiding the use of punishment. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: DL01 $75; LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81.

SPE 3653. Practicum in Special Education (Mild/Moderate Disabilities). (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: SPE 3603, SPE 3633, SPE 3683, SPE 3693, and SPE 4623; Restricted course; advisor code required for registration. Corequisites: SPE 3623, SPE 4643, and SPE 4683. Instructional practices for students with disabilities will be studied including instructional design and creation of individual education plans. Application of course content in the field with students with disabilities will be required. Students enrolled in this course will be required to spend 6-8 hours a week in field-based placements, for a total of 60 to 80 hours, dependent upon the field placement program needs and requirements and on instructor requirements. This course must be completed with a grade of "B" or better for it to serve as a prerequisite for CI 4716 Clinical Teaching: All Level EC-12. Restricted course; advisor code required for registration. May be repeated for credit. (Same as SPE 5893.) Generally offered: Spring. Course Fees: LRH1 $20.54; STF1 $75; STSH $30.81.

SPE 3673. Behavioral Assessment of Students with Autism and Developmental Disorders. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: SPE 3603, SPE 3633, SPE 3683, SPE 3693, and SPE 4623; Restricted course: advisor code required for registration. Corequisites: SPE 4653, SPE 4673, and SPE 4693. An in-depth introduction to comprehensive curriculum development and behavioral assessment of academic and nonacademic behavior, with a focus on students or clients with autism and other developmental disorders and intellectual disability. Objectives in this course include mastering basic information about autism spectrum disorders and using the evidence-based practice of applied behavior analysis in a Response to Intervention (RTI) framework to conduct assessments and treatment evaluations which infirm curriculum development, implementation, and refinement. Strategies include advanced applications of single-subject design methodology, advanced functional analysis, brief experimental analysis of academic behavior, and assessments for literacy, verbal behavior, social, and life skills. This course must be completed with a grade of "B" or better for it to serve as a prerequisite for CI 4716 Clinical Teaching: All Level EC-12. Generally offered: Fall. Course Fees: LEA1 $15; LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81; DL01 $75.

SPE 3683. Special Education Across the Lifespan. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: SPE 3603. The study of programs and services in special education, including early childhood intervention and transition, that impact students with disabilities throughout the lifespan. The course will focus on supports, procedures, and resources for facilitating transitions and communication of transition activities involving the student and families. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81; DL01 $75.

SPE 3693. Special Education Law. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

A study of the local, federal and state laws, regulations, rules, and ethics that govern special education. Course topics will include due process, confidentiality, monitoring and evaluation requirements, and the provision of related services. Emphasis on terminology, definitions, classification systems, and current issues and trends. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: DL01 $75; LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81.

SPE 4623. Mathematics Instruction for Students with Disabilities. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: SPE 3603. The study of the learning and development of mathematical concepts, procedures, and skills for students with disabilities. Concepts, methods, and appropriate use of technology related to numbers, patterns, operations, problem solving, geometry, and algebraic reasoning will be included. Research-based methods and strategies will be applied in the field. This course must be completed with a grade of "B" or better for it to serve as a prerequisite for CI 4716 Clinical Teaching: All Level EC-12. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81; DL01 $75.

SPE 4643. Instruction for Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: SPE 3603, SPE 3633, SPE 3683, SPE 3693, and SPE 4623; Restricted course: advisor code required for registration. Corequisites: SPE 3623, SPE 3653, and SPE 4683. This course is a study of the development and implementation of research-validated instructional strategies. Students will learn how to select learning strategies to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities. Specific learning strategies will be evaluated and implemented in classroom settings. Strategies will address the acquisition, storage, and expression of knowledge. Class sessions will involve direct development in learning strategies and specific problem solving associated with strategies instruction. This course must be completed with a grade of "B" or better for it to serve as a prerequisite for CI 4716 Clinical Teaching: All Level EC-12. Generally offered: Spring. Course Fees: LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81; DL01 $75.

SPE 4653. Practicum in Special Education (Moderate/Severe Disabilities). (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: SPE 3603, SPE 3633, SPE 3683, SPE 3693, and SPE 4623; Restricted course: advisor code required for registration. Corequisites: SPE 3673, SPE 4673, and SPE 4693. The study of the planning, application, and evaluation of Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) and the specialized educational and related services provided under the law to students with disabilities. Students enrolled in this course will be required to spend 6 to 8 hours a week in field-based placements for a total of 60 to 80 hours, dependent upon field placement program needs and requirements and on instructor requirements. This course must be completed with a grade of "B" or better for it to serve as a prerequisite for CI 4716 Clinical Teaching: All Level EC-12. Restricted course; advisor code required for registration. May be repeated for credit. (Same as SPE 5793.) Generally offered: Fall. Course Fees: LRH1 $20.54; STF1 $75; STSH $30.81; DL01 $75.

SPE 4673. Behavioral Instruction of Students with Autism and Developmental Disabilities. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: SPE 3603, SPE 3633, SPE 3683, SPE 3693, and SPE 4623; Restricted course: advisor code required for registration. Corequisites: SPE 3673, SPE 4653, and SPE 4693. An in-depth introduction to behavioral interventions and teaching practices for teaching academic and nonacademic skills based on the results of behavioral assessments. The content includes a focus on the use of Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions for students with autism and other developmental disorders and intellectual disability. Objectives in this course include mastery of the use of evidence-based practice in applied behavior analysis to help students or clients meet their goals across all domains of functioning (e.g., academic, social, leisure, self-care). Course topics include how to use teaching technology such as discrete trial training, incidental teaching, chaining, contingency contracts, group-contingencies, token economies, precision teaching, and augmentative alternative communication systems. This course must be completed with a grade of "B" or better for it to serve as a prerequisite for CI 4716 Clinical Teaching: All Level EC-12. Generally offered: Fall. Course Fees: LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81; DL01 $75.

SPE 4681. Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis Research and Practice. (1-0) 1 Credit Hour.

Prerequisites: SPE 3303 and SPE 3633; concurrent enrollment or prior completion of SPE 4683, and either SPE 3673 or SPE 4673; prior completion of SPE 4683 is recommended because the current course will provide coverage of content from SPE 4683. This course provides students with 15 hours of instruction addressing the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's Professional and Ethical Compliance Code (The CODE). Students will learn how to engage in ethical applied behavior analysis (ABA) research and practice through advanced coverage of The CODE. The objective of this course is to demonstrate sound ethical decision making in response to examples of scenarios commonly encountered in ABA research and practice in clinical and educational settings. May be repeated once for credit. Course Fees: LRH1 $20.54; STSH $10.27; DL01 $25.

SPE 4683. Communication and Collaboration in Special Education. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: SPE 3603, SPE 3633, SPE 3683, SPE 3693, and SPE 4623; Restricted course: advisor code required for registration. Corequisites: SPE 3623, SPE 3653, and SPE 4643.This course will focus on the collaborative roles and responsibilities of teachers, school district personnel, and parents/families in providing individualized educational programs to students with disabilities. Effective strategies for communication and collaboration will be studied. Additional course topics include consultation, collaborating with general education teachers, and designing and managing the activities of paraprofessionals. Generally offered: Spring. Course Fees: LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81; DL01 $75.

SPE 4693. Assistive Technology. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: SPE 3603, SPE 3633, SPE 3683, SPE 3693, and SPE 4623; Restricted course: advisor code required for registration. Corequisites: SPE 3673, SPE 4653, and SPE 4673. This course is a study of the use of technology in facilitating the teaching and learning of students with disabilities. Course will emphasize the selection and use of assistive technology devices and services for students, including those used for communication and mobility and those that facilitate performance in academic environments. Generally offered: Fall. Course Fees: LRH1 $20.54; STSH $30.81; DL01 $75.

SPE 4913. Independent Study. (0-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: Permission in writing (form available) from the instructor, the student’s advisor, the Department Chair, and Dean of the College in which the course is offered. Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Course Fee: STSH $30.81.