SPED 509.  History and Philosophy of Special Education    3 credits
This course covers the historical development of the field of special education along with accompanying philosophical views and legal aspects.  Definitions and etiologies for mild / moderate levels of disabilities will be reviewed including cultural and linguistic implications.  Prevalent issues in the field will be addressed including inclusion, assessment, high-stakes testing, transition, instructional methods, and school reform. Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

SPED 510.  Behavior Intervention    3 credits
Behavioral Intervention is a course that examines the fundamentals of classroom management and behavior modification.  This course teaches methods in assessing and modifying maladaptive behavior through operant conditioning, cognitive restructuring and social skill instruction.  Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

SPED 511.  Assessment in Special Education     3 credits
Focuses on development of skills in formal and informal assessment techniques.  Information will be presented about standardized diagnostic procedures used in special education and the human services field.  Emphasis will be placed on curriculum based measures.  Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

SPED 513.  Collaboration in Special Education     3 credits
This course focuses on 1) developing knowledge and skills in the area of parenting children with special needs; 2) understanding the needs of parents raising children with disabilities; 3) developing skills for working in partnerships with families; 4) learning methods and strategies for working collaboratively with professionals in educational, social service, and community agencies; 5) exploring effective communication skills, basic legal issues, and co-teaching models; and 6) learning the roles of members on the multidisciplinary/transdisciplinary team.  Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

SPED 514. Curriculum in Special Education     2 credits
Students taking this course will develop skills in the design of special education curriculum for mild and moderate special needs children and youth.  Exposure to IEP development as well as curriculum development and design based upon IEP’s will encompass the major focus of this course.  Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

SPED 520. Characteristics of Learners with Mild/Moderate Disabilities    3 credits
The course provides information on the etiology and characteristics of children and adolescents with mild to moderate disabilities including cognitive, psychological, social-emotional, academic, and career development.  Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

SPED 521. Methods and Strategies for Teaching Academic Skills    3 credits
This course exploration of strategies for teaching mathematics, spelling, writing, thinking, and content knowledge to children with mild to moderate disabilities.  Prerequisite: SPED 509, 510, 511, 520, or permission of instructor.

SPED 523. Methods for Teaching Learning and Life Skills        3 credits
This course is an in depth exploration of strategies for teaching mathematics, writing, thinking in content and life skill areas to adolescents with mild to moderate disabilities.  Prerequisite: SPED 509, 510,511,520,EDUC 556,or permission of instructor.

SPED 528. Practicum in Mild/Moderate Disabilities – Elementary         3 credits
This practicum provides students with experience working in elementary programs for students with mild/moderate disabilities.  Students will obtain practical, first-hand experiences working in the areas of assessment, collaboration, behavior management, curriculum, and teaching strategies.  Prerequisite: SPED 509,510,511,513,520,521,560,EDUC 552 and must hold valid teaching license in regular education.

SPED 529. Practicum in Mild/Moderate Disabilities – Secondary          3 credits
This practicum provides students with experience working in secondary programs for students with mild/moderate disabilities.  Students will obtain practical, first-hand experiences working in the areas of assessment, collaboration, behavior management, curriculum, and teaching strategies.  Prerequisite: SPED 509,510,511,513,520,523,560,660,EDUC 556 and must hold valid teaching license in regular education.

SPED 530. Characteristics of Students with Learning or Behavior Problems      3 credits
This course introduces its participants to the characteristics of students having emotional/behavioral disorders and learning disabilities. Components of the course include: an overview of past and current state and national trends; the impact of the characteristics on the classroom learning as well as on the social domains; a look at the educational alternatives and related services; and the major psychological-social-emotional effects these characteristics have on learning and its relationship to social imperceptiveness and juvenile delinquency.  The components of the course adhere to the program requirements of individuals seeking the endorsement as an instructor in programs serving students from ages 5-21. Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

SPED 531. Methods for Teaching Students with Learning and Behavior Problems    
3 credits
This course has been designed to reflect on the Practitioner Preparation Standards of the current State Code of Iowa. This particular course intends to develop skills in applying assessment information, providing curricular and instructional methodologies utilized in the education of behavior and learning disabled students, and managing student behavior and social interaction skills. Prerequisite:  Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

SPED 538. Practicum in Moderate/Severe Learning and Behavior Disabilities    3 credits This practicum provides graduate students with experience working students who have severe behavior disorders and learning disabilities and are between the ages of 5 and 21.  Students will obtain practical, first-hand experiences working in the areas of assessment, collaboration, behavior management, curriculum, and teaching strategies.  Prerequisite: SPED 509,510,511,513,514,520,521, and 660.

SPED 560. Introduction to Assistive Technology     2 credits
This course successfully combines lecture and lab component to provide participants with an introduction to assistive technology. Participants will explore features and characteristics of switches, adapted toys, augmentative systems, and hardware and software options for adapting a computer. This course will also include discussions on the law, funding, curriculum adaptations, and intervention hierarchies.  Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program, basic computer operating skills.

SPED 660. Career Management & Transition 3 credits
Emphasis is placed on various models used for providing vocational/career education to individuals with special needs.  Students study career assessment, programming and various transition models.  Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

SPED 700. Research Project         3 credits
This course focuses on conducting independent research with an emphasis on action or classroom based methodology. Students must conduct research project and report their findings through a written document that meets the department guidelines. An oral presentation of this research must be presented to the university at large. Prerequisites: Completion of 90% of required course work, EDUC 710, 711.

SPED 720. Special Topics    1–3 credits
A study of current specialized topics in the field of special education. Prerequisite: SPED 210 or equivalent.

SPED 750. Curriculum Development and Design   3 credits
Course focuses on aspects of special education curriculum in the schools including historical foundation, curriculum planning implementation and evaluation, principles of curriculum organization, outside forces impacting on the curriculum and future trends. Prerequisite: Currently held licensure in special education or permission of instructor.

SPED 751. Staff Development in the Schools        3 credits
Course will focus on skills in modes of intervention diagnosing problems and identifying target groups as part of the staff development process designed to improve schools. Students will be concerned with planning, conducting, and evaluating staff development programs. Prerequisite: Currently held licensure in special education or permission of instructor.

EDUC 552. Diagnostic and Prescriptive Techniques of Teaching Reading     4 credits
Diagnostic and prescriptive techniques for classroom teachers of reading. Corrective techniques appropriate for less severe reading disabilities; writing diagnostic and progress reports; parent interviews; designing prescriptions for teaching, tutoring and evaluating children in clinical setting. Lecture and laboratory. Graduate students will be required to fulfill all 452 requirements as well as design a K-12 reading inventory and prepare a case study on the client assigned. Prerequisites: One foundation course in reading and at least two years teaching experience. Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

EDUC 556. Teaching Adolescents with Reading Disorders     3 credits
Assessment of adolescent reading and study skills in various content areas.  Methods and materials used in teaching developmental reading and study skills in junior high through senior high school content courses.  Prerequisite: Admission to licensure program or permission of instructor.

EDUC 700. Applied Research and Statistics                         5 credit
This course will provide graduate students with skills for conducting applied research in theK-12 settings including rationale and types of applied research, selected methodology and ethics. Students will be able to apply descriptive statistics and inferential statistics to analyze data.  Students identify a problem, develop a statement based on a review of the literature, and design a methodology to address the problem.  Prerequisite:  Completion of licensure concentration area or permission of instructor.

EDUC 710. Research Methods      3 credits
This course will provide students with basic skills in conducting educational research including rationale, types of research methodology and ethics.

EDUC 711. Research Statistics      3 credits
This course is an introduction and application of descriptive statistics, correlation estimation, and hypothesis testing through the use of the t, ANOVA, and Chi-Square.

EDUC 712. Field-based Research Project          3 credits
This course focuses on conducting independent research with an emphasis on action or classroom based methodology. Students must conduct research project and report their findings through a written document that meets the department guidelines. An oral presentation of this research must be presented to the university at large.  Students will prepare a manuscript for possible publication in a professional journal or submit a presentation to a professional conference at the national level.  Prerequisite:  Completion of licensure concentration area or permission of instructor.

EDUC 715. Teaching Culturally Diverse Students in Special Education Settings  
2 credits
Designed to assist special education teachers in developing the understanding of issues surrounding cultural and gender diversity within special education settings. Prerequisites: SPED 210 or equivalent, graduate status, or permission of instructor.

EDUC 720. Special Topics in Education    1–3 credits
This course will focus on current specialized topics in the field of education.

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