Curriculum

Students must select a program emphasis in one or more of the following: special education - general curriculum (which includes emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, and intellectual disabilities), early childhood special education (ECSE), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and/or special education-adapted curriculum.

Total Hours: 36

Prerequisite/Initial Licensure (0-9 credits)

SPED 600 Survey of Special Education
(Prerequisite for students who lack background in special education. SPED 600 (or its equivalent) is required for all students seeking eligibility for the provisional license in special education.)

SPED 601 Designing Educational Interventions for Students with Disabilities Accessing the General Curriculum
(Not required for students in early childhood special education)

EDHD 602 Human Development
(Required for initial licensure for all specialization areas unless equivalent undergraduate or graduate coursework was previously taken.)

Core (15 credits)

EDCI 617 Foundations and Curriculum of American Education
SPED 620 Language Development/Instruction and Assistive Technology
SPED 625 Positive Behavioral Interventions
SPED 675 Collaboration in Special and General Education
SPED 680 Research Seminar in Special Education

Specialization, dependent upon endorsement goals (15-24 credits)

Special Education General Curriculum (includes E/BD, LD, MR)

SPED 605 Characteristics of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
SPED 606 Characteristics of Youth w/Learning Disabilities and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders
SPED 616 Psychoeducational Assessment
SPED 635 Social, Functional, and Transition Programming
SPED 644 Academic Instruction for Students with Disabilities
RDNG 625 Survey of Effective Reading Methods
SPED 695 Advanced Applications in Special Education
or
SPED 696-697 Internships (3-6)
(For initial licensure in special education - general curriculum and for special education - adapted curriculum, internship experiences at two levels of schooling are required.)

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)

SPED 605 Characteristics of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
SPED 651 Designing Comprehensive, Family-Centered Programs for Infants and Preschool Children with Disabilities
SPED 653 Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum and Interventions for Infants and Preschool Children with Disabilities
SPED 660 Assessment of Young Children with Developmental Delays
SPED 662 Medical and Therapeutic Interventions for Children with Disabilities
RDNG 625 Survey of Effective Reading Methods
(ECSE and special education - adapted curriculum candidates must complete RDNG 625 unless prior equivalent coursework has been completed. Special education - adapted curriculum candidates must complete SPED 616 unless prior equivalent coursework has been completed.)
SPED 695 Advanced Applications in Special Education
or
SPED 691 Internship in Early Intervention
(For the ECSE endorsement, the licensure program includes internships in early intervention - birth-2 years - and early childhood - ages 3-5.)
and
SPED 692 Internship in Early Childhood Special Education
(For the ECSE endorsement, the licensure program includes internships in early intervention - birth-2 years - and early childhood - ages 3-5.)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Completion of SPED 670, 671, 672, and 694 constitutes completion of the Lynchburg College Certificate in ASD, a program of study recognized by the Virginia Autism Council. Note that no current VDOE endorsement that corresponds to the specialization in autism is available.

SPED 605 Characteristics of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
SPED 670 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
SPED 671 Instructional and Behavioral Assessment and Programming for Students with ASD
SPED 672 Medical and Sensory Aspects of ASD
SPED 694 Field Experience with Students with ASD

Special Education Adapted Curriculum

SPED 605 Characteristics of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
SPED 616 Psychoeducational Assessment
(ECSE and special education - adapted curriculum candidates must complete RDNG 625 unless prior equivalent coursework has been completed. Special education - adapted curriculum candidates must complete SPED 616 unless prior equivalent coursework has been completed.)
SPED 635 Social, Functional, and Transition Programming
SPED 665 Daily Living Skills for Students with Significant Disabilities
SPED 666 Designing and Implementing Adapted Curriculum for Students with Significant Disabilities
RDNG 625 Survey of Effective Reading Methods
SPED 670 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
SPED 671 Instructional and Behavioral Assessment and Programming for Students with ASD
SPED 672 Medical and Sensory Aspects of ASD
SPED 695 Advanced Applications in Special Education
or
SPED 698-699 Internships (3-6)
(For initial licensure in special education - general curriculum and for special education - adapted curriculum, internship experiences at two levels of schooling are required.)
or
SPED 694 Field Experience with Students with ASD