Special Education
Program Objectives
The Special Education program at Fitchburg State College offers the oldest and most comprehensive training in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In this program, emphasis is on research theory, content, and the ability to use strategies and resources in working with children and adults who have disabilities in the least restrictive or inclusive environment. The program embraces an inclusive philosophy that emphasizes the similarities of all children and young adults. The faculty believe that to work effectively with children who have disabilities, one must be able to work with all children. Also, special educators must work closely with general education teachers. Therefore the program offers an elementary pre-practicum and practicum experience.
This program prepares graduates to be teachers of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8), and teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (5-12), and teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities. With successful completion of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure; general curriculum, and successful completion of a practicum at the elementary level, students are also eligible for licensure as an elementary teacher (1-6).
Program of Study
The program has been developed with an underlying belief in the potential of individuals with disabilities. Teacher candidates are involved early in their program with field-based experiences and academic classes to help clarify career decisions and to develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to be effective special educators.
Special Education majors in the licensure tracks of Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8), Moderate Disabilities (5-12) and Severe Disabilities (All Levels) graduate with a double major in Special Education and Interdisciplinary Studies.
Teacher candidates who major in Moderate Disabilities (5-12) receive licensure for Special Education, 5-12. They complete a practicum in an inclusive classroom (5-12) and complete the Special Education practicum (5-12).
Those who major in Severe Disabilities (all levels who elect to earn elementary teacher licensure) complete two practicum placements: one working with students with severe disabilities and one as an elementary teacher (Grades 1-6) in the general education classroom.
In keeping with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Licensure requirements, graduates of the program are eligible for initial licenses.
Professional Opportunities
The Special Education Club which is a student chapter of the professional organization, the Council for Exceptional Children, offers students the opportunity to grow professionally while meeting college students with similar interests.
Requirements for Initial Teacher Licensures
For information about undergraduate requirements in teacher preparation, see the section titled: Teacher Preparation Programs (Undergraduate).
Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8), or Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (All Levels)
The Moderate Disabilities program prepares special educators to teach individuals with cognitive, social, language and academic problems who are included in general education classrooms or are in a variety of special education settings. Teacher candidates in this program are prepared to meet the licensure requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Education and for teacher of students with moderate disabilities (PreK-8). With successful completion of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure, General curriculum and Foundations of Reading, and successful completion of a practicum at the elementary level, students are also eligible for licensure as an elementary teacher (1-6).
The Severe Disabilities program addresses the needs of individuals who have severe disabilities, often with accompanying emotional and behavioral disorders. Curricula focuses on teaching life skills, so that individuals with severe disabilities can live as independently as possible in home, school and community environments. Teacher candidates are also prepared in the elementary curriculum and complete a pre-practicum in a severe placement and in an elementary classroom. Teacher candidates in this program meet the licensure standards of the Massachusetts Department of Education for teacher of students with severe disabilities. With successful completion of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure, General Curriculum, and successful completion of a practicum at the elementary level, students are also eligible for licensure as an elementary teacher (1-6).
Integrated Professional Pre-Practicum/Practicum (IPP-12 total credits)
The Integrated Professional Pre-Practicum/Practicum is a unique experience that fosters the continuous integration of theory and application. It involves a 12 credit block of theoretical courses and teaching in a public school setting (half days, four days a week).
Teacher candidates who are in the Moderate Disabilities program teach in the role of the elementary teacher (Grades 1-6) for half the semester and in the role of teacher of students with moderate disabilities for half the semester.
Teacher candidates who are in the Severe Disabilities program complete half semester in the role of the elementary teacher (Grades 1-6) and half of the semester in the role of teacher of students with severe disabilities (all levels).
Throughout the semester teacher candidates receive supervised support by college faculty and cooperating teachers. Teacher candidates return to campus for curriculum work (see below) that links theoretical content to teaching strategies.
Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) Licensure or Severe Disabilities (All Levels) Licensure
Prior to the Practica:
EDUC 1021 Orientation to Education
SPED 2100 Foundations in Special Education
SPED 2150 Introduction to Individuals with Disabilities
SPED 2522 Language Arts: Teaching and
Adapting Instruction
SPED 2530 Math/Science/Social Studies for the
Inclusive Classroom
SPED 3401 Language Development and Speech
SPED 3420 Math/Science/Social Studies for Students with Disabilities
SPED 3440 Reading/Learning Problems
SPED 2510 Students with Physical and Health Care
Needs (Severe only)
IPP Curriculum:
SPED 3500 Behavior Management
SPED 3550 Reading in Special Education
IPP Pre-Practicum/Practicum
(4 half days a week)
SPED 3665 IPP Pre-Practicum/Practicum-Elementary (Gr. 1-6) (half the semester)
SPED 3675 IPP Pre-Practicum/Practicum-Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) (half the semester) OR
SPED 3765 IPP Pre-Practicum/Practicum-Severe Disabilities (All Levels) (half the semester)
Student Teaching (Practicum): Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8), Elementary Teacher (Grades. 1-6), and Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (All Levels)
Teacher candidates in all licensure programs complete two practica, Monday through Friday, 4 half days in the schools. The practica are taken in conjunction with specified courses selecting 12 credits from the following:
Practica
SPED 3860 Practicum: Elementary (Gr. 1-6) 6 cr.
SPED 3870 Practicum: Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) 6 cr.
OR
SPED 3840 Practicum: Severe Disabilities (All Levels) 6 cr.
SPED 3845 Practicum: Severe Disabilities II (All Levels) 6 cr.
Moderate Disabilities Course
SPED 4001 Assessment of Students with Moderate Disabilities 3 cr.
Severe Disabilities Course
SPED 4200 Program Development for Students with Severe Disabilities 3 cr.
External Requirements
Teacher candidates address both the speaking and listening requirements through the extensive training and feedback during the prepracticum and practicum experience.
Liberal Arts and Science Courses
ENGL 2900 Children's Literature (PreK-8) Elementary
GEOG 1000 Introduction to Geography
PSY 1100 General Psychology
PSY 2200 Human Growth and Development or
PSY 2210 Child Psychology or
PSY 2710 Learning Theory and It's Application
Teacher candidates must meet the Constitution Requirement by completing:
POLS 1000 or POLS 1500 or HIST 1400 or HIST 1500
An Interdisciplinary major is also required for licensure for Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) and for Severe Disabilities.
Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (5-12)
This program addresses the cognitive, emotional, social, language and academic problems of individuals in grades 5-12 who are included in general education classrooms and who are in special education settings. Teacher candidates who complete this licensure major in Special Education and a Interdisciplinary major.
Required Courses
Prior to the Practica
EDUC 1021 Orientation to Education 1 cr.
SPED 2100 Foundations in Special Education 3 cr.
SPED 2150 Introduction to Individuals with Disabilities 3 cr.
SPED 2522 Language Arts: Teaching and Adapting Instruction 3 cr.
SPED 2530 Math/Science/Social Studies for the Inclusive Classroom 3 cr.
SPED 3401 Language Development and Speech 3 cr.
SPED 3420 Math/Science/Social Studies for Students with Disabilities 3 cr.
SPED 3440 Reading/Learning Problems
SPED 3500 Behavior Management 3 cr.
SPED 3575 Strategies for Secondary Students
with Disabilities 3 cr.
SPED 3550 Reading in Special Education 3 cr.
IPP Curriculum:
SPED 3500 Behavior Management 3 cr.
SPED 3550 Reading in Special Education 3 cr.
IPP Pre-Practicum/Practicum
(4 half days a week):
SPED 3665 IPP Pre-Practicum/Practicum-Elementary (Gr. 1-6) (half the semester)
3 cr.
SPED 3676 IPP Pre-Practicum/Practicum-Moderate Disabilities (5-12) (half the semester) 3 cr.
Students who want moderate disabilities certification without dual certification in elementary would take:
SPED 3637 IPP Pre-Practicum/Practicum-Moderate Disabilities (5-12) for the entire semester 3 cr.
Student Teaching (Practicum): Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (5-12)
Teacher Candidates in Moderate Disabilities (5-12) complete two practica. Teacher Candidates are in the schools four half days a week.
SPED 3878 Practicum: Moderate Disabilities (5-12) Inclusive Classroom (half the semester) 6 cr.
SPED 3875 Practicum: Moderate Disabilities (5-12)
(half the semester) 6 cr.
Course
SPED 4001 Assessment of Students with Moderate Disabilities 3 cr.
External Requirements
Teacher candidates address the speaking and listening requirements through the extensive training and feedback during the pre-practicum and practicum experience.
Liberal Arts and Science courses
ENGL 2910 Literature for Young Adults
GEOG 1000 Introduction to Geography
PSY 1100 General Psychology or
PSY 2200 Human Growth and Development
PSY 2230 Adolescent Psychology
PSY 2710 Learning Theory and Its Application
Teacher candidates must meet the Constitution requirement by completing:
POLS 1000 or POLS 1500 or HIST 1400 or HIST 1500
An Interdisciplinary major is also required for licensure for Moderate Disabilities (5-12).
Minor in Special Education
Objectives for the Minor in Special Education
The Special Education minor is designed to meet the needs of several groups of students interested in working with children and adults with disabilities. The curriculum provides students with a background to work with individuals with disabilities in a wide variety of school and non-school settings, such as early intervention, recreation, vocational and housing. Students may select courses that would serve to prepare them for entry into advanced degree programs leading to licensure as a special education teacher. Students with career goals outside of the classroom setting may choose courses which complement and relate to their major field of study, such as psychology and human services.
Requirements for the Minor in Special Education
The minor requires 18 semester hours of course work. This total includes six hours of core courses, and 12 hours of electives. Students interested in pursuing graduate work toward licensure in special education will be encouraged to work closely with an advisor to select courses.
Required Courses (six credits)
SPED 2150 Introduction to Individuals with Disabilities 3 cr.
SPED 2510 Students with Physical and Health Care Needs or
SPED 3410 Language Development and Speech 3 cr.
Electives (12 credits)
SPED 2100 Foundations of Special Education
SPED 2522 Language Arts: Teaching and Adapting Instruction
SPED 2530 Math/Science/Social Studies for the Inclusive Classroom
SPED 3300 Current Issues in Special Education
SPED 3420 Math/Science/Social Studies for Students with Disabilities
SPED 3500 Behavior Management
SPED 3575 Strategies for Secondary Students with Disabilities or
SPED 3800 Secondary Programs for Adolescents (14-22) with Disabilities
SPED 3410 Language Development and Speech or
SPED 2510 Students with Physical and Health Care Needs
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