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Online MEd in Special Education Curriculum

Curriculum Details

30 total credit hours required

Sharpen your classroom skills and learn to better understand students’ needs with the online MEd in Special Education program from Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). This program consists of 16-week terms (with the exception of summers), can be completed in 1-2 years, and is taught by expert faculty dedicated to your success.

In this 10-course program, you’ll study cultural issues of families in distress, counseling diverse populations, multicultural education, computer-based instructional technology, and more. You’ll learn the best ways to give your students the care they need and prepare to advance to a Class A certification in Alabama.

Core Courses (Must choose 6 advisor approved ESPE 6000 level courses)

Credits

Work with your advisor to select ESPE 6000 level courses.

Designed to demonstrate: (1) competency in the educational context of computers; (2) competency in the knowledge of computer systems; (3) competency in the knowledge of software; and (4) skill in computer use.

Core Courses (Must choose 6 advisor approved ESPE 6000 level courses) – Choose one of the following

Credits

A basic research course designed to evaluate research design, methods and experimentation in education and related areas.

Candidates conduct an in-depth research-related project in consultation with the instructor.
Prerequisite: FNDS 6610, Education specialist standing.

Elective Courses (Must choose 1)

Credits

Examination of and training in collaborative teaching in educational settings. Participants will study interpersonal relationships with other professionals in the school setting and with families of students with exceptionalities. Included are evidenced-based best practices in collaboration, the fundamentals of group processes, and skills needed for collaboration.
Prerequisite: ESPE 6200.

The advantages and limitations of curriculum and instructional strategies for teaching basic mathematics and reading skills to students with exceptionalities. Students will learn about modifications and accommodations of basic mathematic and reading instruction to integrate learners into the general curriculum. This course will focus on evidence-based reading instruction for students with exceptionalities. Basic mathematics strategies for teaching students with exceptionalities will be covered. The course provides the tools to individualize instruction in a variety of school environments based on assessment, effective planning, and instructional design.

Course includes factors impacting family relationships, with special emphasis on child/parent interactions, child abuse, neglect and exploitation; family structure, attitudes and multicultural issues of selected diverse populations will be examined. This course meets CAST certification requirements.

Provides opportunities for students to understand the effects of attitudes, experiences, ethnicity and other cultural factors on the counseling process and relationship. Also includes counseling strategies for client populations experiencing loss, victimization, discrimination or other specific concerns.

This course is designed to embrace students’ comprehension of urban/rural schooling with particular attention to the following: 1) relationship between the urban context and educational policies and practices in urban/rural schools; 2) along with a service learning component in urban/rural schools, the historical, socioeconomics, and political factors influencing urban education; and 3) the distribution of opportunity in cities and their schools; and effective pedagogical and organizational practices that close the achievement gap, including multicultural education, the development of positive school cultures and the use of community service and resources.

Introduction to the social and cognitive foundations of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination and how these biases effect education. The focus will be on awareness of why prejudice develops and its pervasiveness in the educational community.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Designed to demonstrate: (1) competency in the educational context of computers; (2) competency in the knowledge of computer systems; (3) competency in the knowledge of software; and (4) skill in computer use.

Elective Courses – Choose one of the following

Credits

A basic research course designed to evaluate research design, methods and experimentation in education and related areas.

Candidates conduct an in-depth research-related project in consultation with the instructor.
Prerequisite: FNDS 6610, Education specialist standing.

Practicum Courses (Early Childhood)

Credits

Enrollment limited to Traditional MEd ECSE majors only.
This practicum provides opportunities for Traditional Master-level ECSE majors to practice applications of content knowledge and skills that the courses and other experiences of the advanced preparation emphasize in a variety of developmental settings. The opportunities lead to appropriate culminating experiences in which candidates demonstrate their proficiencies through problem-based tasks or research that are characteristic of their professional specialization.

Practicum Courses (Collaborative Teacher K-6)

Credits

Enrollment limited to Traditional MEd Collaborative K-6 majors only.
This practicum provides opportunities for Traditional Master-level Collaborative Teacher K-6 majors to practice applications of content knowledge and skills that the courses and other experiences of the advanced preparation emphasize in a variety of developmental settings. The opportunities lead to appropriate culminating experiences in which candidates demonstrate their proficiencies through problem-based tasks or research that are characteristic of their professional specialization.

Practicum Courses (Collaborative Teacher 6-12)

Credits

Enrollment limited to Traditional MEd Collaborative K-6 majors only.
This practicum provides opportunities for Traditional Master-level Collaborative Teacher K-6 majors to practice applications of content knowledge and skills that the courses and other experiences of the advanced preparation emphasize in a variety of developmental settings. The opportunities lead to appropriate culminating experiences in which candidates demonstrate their proficiencies through problem-based tasks or research that are characteristic of their professional specialization.

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