Curriculum
M. Ed. in Special Education1
Hours
Prerequisite/Initial Licensure 0-9
SPED 600 Survey of Special Education2
SPED 601 Designing Educational Interventions for Students with
Disabilities Accessing the General Curriculum3
EDHD 602 Human Development4
Core 15
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
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)5
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 Methods6
SPED 695 Advanced Applications in Special Education
or
SPED 691 Internship in Early Intervention7
and
SPED 692 Internship in Early Childhood Special Education7
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)8:
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 Assessment6
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 Program-
ming 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)5
or
SPED 694 Field Experience with Students with ASD
Total Hours Required 36
Notes:
1Students must select a program emphasis in one or more of the following: special education - general curriculum (which includes emotional disturbance, learning disabilities and mental retardation), early childhood special education (ECSE), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and/or special education-adapted curriculum.
2 SPED 600 is a 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.
3 SPED 601 is not required for students in early childhood special education.
4EDHD 602 is required for initial licensure for all specialization areas unless equivalent undergraduate or graduate coursework was previously taken.
5For initial licensure in special education - general curriculum and for special education - adapted curriculum, internship experiences at two levels of schooling are required.
6ECSE 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.
7For the ECSE endorsement, the licensure program includes internships in early intervention (birth-2 years) and early childhood (ages 3-5).
8 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.
