Master of Education in Elementary and Special Education

Course Description

Teacher candidates survey the philosophical, historical, and sociological influences upon which educational theories and practices are constructed, and explore a variety of the common issues, trends, and opportunities that professional educators face in the field. Teacher candidates prepare for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University by developing and strengthening the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students, including graduate level writing and research. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Fingerprint clearance not required.

Course Description

Teacher candidates survey how children and early adolescents grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas while understanding the implications for designing and implementing developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences. This survey of the seminal concepts, principles, theories, and research related to development of children and young adolescents will allow teacher candidates to build foundational knowledge for constructing learning opportunities that support individual students’ development, acquisition of knowledge, and motivation. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Fingerprint clearance not required.

Course Description

Teacher candidates are introduced to the educational needs of students with mild to moderate disabilities and their families, including the definitions, characteristics, prevalence, causes and educational approaches to these disabilities and disorders. Teacher candidates will identify cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional patterns of learning and development for students with mild to moderate disabilities. Teacher candidates also survey the special education process involving the application of various laws and regulations. Practicum/field experience hours: 6. Fingerprint clearance not required.

Course Description

Candidates examine the United States Constitution, and the constitution of the State of Arizona. From this foundational review, candidates will explore application of the United States Constitution and the constitution of the State of Arizona in educational contexts. Practicum/field experience hours: 3. Fingerprint clearance not required.

Course Description

Teacher candidates survey professional ethical principles, professional practice standards, law and regulations that guide special educators. Teacher candidates build upon the foundational knowledge to understand the multiple roles and complex situations of professional practice that require attention to a variety of legal, professional, and ethical issues. Practicum/field experience hours: 6. Fingerprint clearance not required. Prerequisite: SPD-500 or approved enrollment in the Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate.

Course Description

Teacher candidates survey theories and models for effective collaboration and communication with students with exceptionalities, colleagues, other school professionals, families and community members. In addition, teacher candidates apply collaboration and communication theories and models, incorporating technology, across a wide range of contexts to ensure active involvement in the education process for students with exceptionalities. Practicum/field experience hours: 6. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: SPD-510.

Course Description

Teacher candidates build foundational knowledge of planning instruction and assessment strategies designed to meet the needs of all students in an inclusive setting. Teacher candidates examine instructional planning based on the curriculum, knowledge of students, assessment data, learning theory, use of technology, and connections across the community. Formal and informal assessment strategies for planning, evaluating, and strengthening instruction for K-12 students are also examined. Practicum/field experience hours: 6. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: ESD-501 and SPD-521.

Course Description

Teacher candidates examine the process of assessment and eligibility in the inclusive classroom, along with the stakeholders involved. Teacher candidates build foundational knowledge of interventions such as RTI, MTSS, and the eligibility requirements for the disability categories identified by IDEA. This course reviews diagnostic assessments and how to incorporate the data for planning effective special education programs. Teacher candidates also develop knowledge and skills related to planning transitions for students with disabilities after high school, including legal requirements. Practicum/field experience hours: 6. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: ESD-530.

Course Description

Teacher candidates examine how to create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive and engaging learning environments so that all students become active and effective learners and develop emotional well-being, positive social interactions, and self-determination. Teacher candidates focus on classroom procedures, physical classroom space, positive behavior interventions and supports, functional behavior assessments, adaptive behaviors, behavior improvement plans, and collaboration with colleagues. Practicum/field experience hours: 8. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: ESD-530.

Course Description

Teacher candidates explore components of typical and atypical literacy development for students with exceptionalities. Coursework emphasizes research-based phonics development and the science of reading, including phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Teacher candidates focus on assessing developmental and other literacy concerns, including dyslexia, and differentiation strategies to support literacy development in students with exceptionalities. Practicum/field experience hours: 9. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: SPD-510 or ESD-530.

Course Description

In this course, teacher candidates examine the fundamentals of the legal, historical, and educational foundations of Structured English Immersion (SEI) and other instructional programs for English language learners. Theoretical principles of language acquisition and the role of culture in learning are examined. Methods of assessment are identified and analyzed. Teacher candidates identify strategies to promote English language development and improve student achievement. Through Universal Design for Learning they plan, deliver, and evaluate standards-based instruction for English language learners. Practicum/field experience hours: 15. Fingerprint clearance required.

Course Description

Teacher candidates examine fundamental concepts of physical, life, earth/space sciences, and health education. Teacher candidates build knowledge on a variety of age-appropriate inquiry-based instructional strategies to teach science, to build student understanding of personal and social applications, and to convey the nature of science for the practice of skills that contribute to good health. Practicum/field experience hours: 12. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: ESD-530.

Course Description

Teacher candidates build foundational knowledge on a variety of research-based instructional strategies to encourage individuals with mild to moderate disabilities to develop understandings and connections within content areas, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways. From this foundational knowledge, teacher candidates select, adapt and use research-based instructional strategies and interventions in academic and specialized curricula to advance the learning of students with mild to moderate disabilities with focused attention upon mathematics. Practicum/field experience hours: 12. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: SPD-550 or ESD-530 or approved enrollment in the Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate.

Course Description

Teacher candidates explore the language processing requirements of proficient reading and writing, including explicit, systematic, cumulative, and multisensory instruction that integrates listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, disabilities, such as dyslexia, are reviewed to understand how they affect the acquisition of reading skills and how they vary in presentation and degree. Teacher candidates select, adapt, and use research-based instructional strategies and interventions in academic and specialized curricula to advance the learning for all students, including those with mild to moderate disabilities, with attention focused on literacy and reading. Practicum/field experience hours: 12. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: (SPD-550 and SPD-578) or approved enrollment in the Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate.

Course Description

Teacher candidates examine a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of the major concepts and modes of inquiry from the integrated study of history, geography, the social sciences, and other related areas. Teacher candidates build foundational knowledge on promoting students’ abilities to make informed decisions as citizens of a culturally diverse democratic society and interdependent world. Teacher candidates integrate the content, functions, and achievements of the performing and visual arts as primary media for communication, inquiry, and engagement among students. Practicum/field experience hours: 12. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: ESD-530.

Course Description

Session A is the first of two 8-week sessions of the student teaching experience that includes practical classroom experiences, research, analysis, and teaching to support the creation of a Student Teaching Performance of Evaluation (STEP). Practicum/field experience hours: None. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in POS and content area; a 3.0 GPA; successful completion of state-mandated NES content area exams; and approval and placement by the College of Education Office of Field Experience. All paperwork for student teaching must be submitted by the due date the semester prior to student teaching. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Fingerprint clearance required.

Course Description

This course supports the special education clinical field experience through an eight (8)-week full-time student teaching experience. Candidates select a K-12 grade special education mild to moderate classroom to engage in the student teaching experience that includes practical classroom experiences, research, analysis, and teaching to support the creation of a teacher work sample related to special education services. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in POS and content area; a 3.0 GPA; successful completion of state mandated basic skills and content area exams; and approval and placement by the Office of Field Experience. Arizona residents will be required to take the Arizona professional knowledge and subject knowledge exams for mild to moderate K-12 grade special education. All paperwork for student teaching must be submitted by the due date the semester prior to student teaching. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Fingerprint clearance required.