Felicity Crawford, Chair and Assistant Professor
Shoshanna Starr Collins, Instructor
John Crapps, Professor
Kathleen McDonough, Instructor
Hanna Rue, Instructor
Stephanie Cox Suarez, Associate Professor

Available Programs of Study:

• B.S, Special Education Major: Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities
• Minor, Understanding Autism

B.S. / Special Education: Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities / 40 credits

This is a nationally recognized program that leads to the Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) Initial license from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.. The program prepares professionals to work with children, in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, with mild to moderate disabilities who participate in inclusive, resource, or substantially separate classrooms in public or private schools. Students develop skills in inclusive curriculum design, creating a supportive classroom ecology, differentiating instruction,, understanding and managing behavior, collaborative problem-solving, and commitment to equity for all children in a multiracial and multicultural society. Students must participate in a faculty group interview prior to acceptance into the program. For information on teacher licensure, please refer to the Professional Certification and Licensure section of this catalog.

Course Requirements

Required Support Courses (Credits may apply to General Education Requirements) 36-40 credits

HDP 122/123	Human Growth and Development	4 credits
MAT 130/131 and 132 or
MAT 140/141	Concepts and Processes	8-12 credits
AST 150	Intro to American Government	4 credits
HIS 165	America through the Civil War or
HIS 167	America since the Civil War	4 credits
	One Global History course	4 credits
	Two Life and Physical Science courses	4 credits
	One Literature Course	4 credits

Program Requirements: 44 credits

EDU 201	Orientation to Educ. Programs	0 credit
HDP 290	Children with Specials Needs	4 credits
EDU 255	Racial and Cultural Identities	4 credits
SPE 264	Behavior Management	2 credits
SPE 346	Assistive Technology	2 credits
EDU 330	Elementary Mathematics	4 credits
EDU 337	Teaching Reading in Grades Pre-K-8	4 credits
SPE 392	Teaching Students with Diverse Learning Needs	2 credits

Special Education Practicum Core I: 12 credits

EDU 338	Teaching Nonfiction Literacy	2 credits
SPE 394	Curriculum, Learning & Special Needs	4 credits
SPP 460	Practicum I	4 credits
SPP 461	Seminar I	2 credits

Special Needs Practicum Core II 8 credits

SPE 481	Assessing Children with Special Needs	4 credits
SPP 470	Practicum II	3 credits
SPP 471	Seminar II	1 credit
Program Completion		2 credits
SPE 466	Special Education: Capstone	1 credit
SPE 467*	Special Education: Portfolio Development	1 credit

The MTEL (Communication and Literacy Skills Test [both sub-tests] must be completed prior to course selection for the first practicum. The General Curriculum [both subtests], and Foundation of Reading tests must be completed prior to course selection of SPE 467; students are strongly advised to complete SPP 470, Practicum II prior to taking the capstone course.

Minor in Understanding Autism / 16 credits

Understanding Autism is a 16-credit (4 course) interdisciplinary minor that is open to all Wheelock undergraduate students. The minor offers students the opportunity to understand the cognitive, language, social, emotional and physical aspects of individuals with autism. It introduces and examines current approaches and strategies that enable people with autism to communicate and participate fully in their lives. Students will explore current research-based interventions, teaching methodologies, services and programs as well as fully consider the personal stories of people with autism. Students will begin to develop professional skills to foster the development of effective programs and to advocate for individuals with autism and their families and communities.

Course Requirements

Prerequisites

HDP 120/121 or HDP 124/125	Human Growth and Development	4 credits
HDP 290	Children with Special Needs	4 credits

Program Requirements 16 credits

AUT 320	Foundations of Development in Autism	4 credits
AUT 322	Assessment and Intervention in Autism	4 credits
AUT 321	Family, Community & Inter-professional Collaboration	4 credits
AUT 350	Advanced Study in Autism	4 credits