Special Education: Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8), & add on Elementary Teacher Licensure, B.S.E.

Education

The Education Department offers programs in Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School and Special Education.

Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School and Special Education

Objectives for Programs in Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School and Special Education (Initial License)

The Education Department of Fitchburg State University fully recognizes and embraces the diversity and challenges that teachers face in today’s public and private schools. The comprehensive program of study is one which deliberately integrates and celebrates these challenges by providing an inclusive model for teacher preparation. Each course provides research-based methods to assess student needs in order to differentiate instruction. Techniques and strategies that address the needs of all learners in the inclusion classroom are emphasized. Courses have been specifically designed to provide teacher candidates with content and strategies to be knowledgeable, skillful, ethical, and caring educators in the 21st century.
 

The Department prepares its graduates to be teachers of Early Childhood (PreK-2), Elementary (1-6), Middle School (5-8), Special Education: Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) with Elementary Licensure, Special Education: Moderate Disabilities (5-12), and Severe Disabilities (all levels).

Program of Study

Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School (History, Humanities, Mathematics-Science, and General Science) and Special Education  majors graduate with two majors—one in Education and one in  Interdisciplinary Studies (IDIS).  See Interdisciplinary Studies Section for IDIS major requirements for Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, and Special Education majors.

Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School (History, Humanities, Mathematics-Science, and General Science) and Special Education majors are also required to complete an Interdisciplinary Studies minor in one of the following areas:

• African-American Studies Minor  
• American Studies Minor  
• Art Minor  
• Art History Minor  
• Asian Studies Minor  
• Biology Minor  
• Chemistry Minor  
• Entrepreneurship Minor  
• Earth Systems Science Minor  
• Geographic Science and Technology Minor  
• History Minor  
• Honors Minor  
• International Studies Minor  
• Italian Studies Minor  
• Literature Minor  
• Mathematics Minor  
• Music Minor  
• Neuroscience, Behavior, and Cognition Minor  
• Peace Studies Minor  
• Philosophy Minor  
• Political Science Minor  
• Professional Writing Minor  
• Psychological Science Minor  
• Social Science Minor  
• Sociology Minor  
• Spanish Minor  
• Studio Art Minor  
• Theater Minor  
• Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies  

Education majors place emphasis on college coursework that honors cultural, racial, linguistic, and social diversity.

Field-based experiences begin freshman year and are enhanced by strong departmental collaboration with exemplary schools and practitioners in the region. During their final year in the program teacher candidates enroll in a semester long professional experience. In the semester preceding practicum they participate in a minimum of a 125-hour or a 150-hour field-based experience that is linked to pedagogical courses. This allows candidates to readily apply what they are learning in the classroom setting. Many students enjoy opportunities to foster attitudes and skills for creative, collegial teaching in the diverse and changing environment of our McKay Arts Academy, an Innovation School on the University campus.

The Education Club, the Student Association of Massachusetts (S.E.A.M.), a student chapter of M.T.A., and the Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) Honor Society offer students the opportunity to grow professionally while meeting with students of similar interests.

Requirements for the Major in Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School and Special Education

In addition to the two majors, the Speaking/Listening requirement is met through the Practicum or Student Teaching experience.

Computer Literacy and Jr/Sr Writing Requirements are met through SPED 4300  or IDIS 4000  

Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities PreK-8 & add on Elementary Teacher Licensure

This program embraces an inclusive philosophy that emphasizes the similarities of all children and young adults. The faculty believes that to work effectively with children who have disabilities, one must be able to work with all children. Also, special educators must work closely with general education teachers. Therefore the program offers an elementary pre-practicum and practicum experience. This program prepares graduates to be teachers of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) in both general classroom and special education settings. Graduates of the program are eligible for both elementary and special education licensure. The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure required for this program are Communication and Literacy, General Curriculum, Mathematics Subtest and Foundations of Reading.
 

The plan of study is as follows: (See course descriptions for pre-practicum hours required)

• SPED 2210 - Understanding Diversity and Disability 3 cr.
• EDUC 2300 - Foundations of Inclusive Education 3 cr.
• SPED 3401 - Language Development and Speech 3 cr.
• EDUC 2630 - Literacy in the Pre-K to 8 Classroom 3 cr.
• EDUC 2640 - Language Arts: Theory to Practice PreK-8 3 cr.
• SPED 2800 - Strategies in Reading Instruction and the Assessment of Reading 3 cr.
• SPED 2880 - Science and Social Studies for Students with and without Disabilities 3 cr.

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• EDUC 2820 - Arts Integration: An Overview 1 cr.
• SPED 2950 - Students with Emotional and Autism Spectrum Disorders 3 cr.
• SPED 3400 - Teaching Mathematics to Students with and without Disabilities 3 cr.

Integrated Partial Practicum (IPP) (Senior Year)

courses taken concurrently

• SPED 2970 - Assessment of Students with and without Disabilities 3 cr.
• SPED 3100 - Integrated Partial Practicum (IPP) 4 cr.
• SPED 3720 - Classroom Management and Behavior Support 3 cr.
• SPED 4300 - Engaging Scholarship in Education 1 cr. (150 hr.) or IDIS 4000 - IDIS Capstone Seminar: Education  
• EDUC 3122 - Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) 3 cr.

Student Teaching (Senior Year)

courses taken concurrently

• EDUC 4550 - Collaboration: Co-Teaching, Building Communities, and Working with Families 3 cr.
• SPED 3860 - Practicum: Elementary (Gr. 1-6) 6 cr.
• SPED 3870 - Practicum: Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) 6 cr.

Total 57 credits

Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements

• *  BIOL 1000 - Introduction to Life Science 3 cr. or
• *  BIOL 1050 - Life Science for Educators 3 cr.

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• Art Elective 3 cr.
• ENGL 1100 - Writing I 3 cr.
• ENGL 1200 - Writing II 3 cr.
• English Literature elective 3 cr.

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• EXSS 1000 - Health and Fitness 3 cr. or
• EXSS 2060 - Exercise, Nutrition, and Heart Disease 3 cr.

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• HIST 1000 - World Civilizations I 3 cr. or
• HIST 1100 - World Civilizations II 3 cr.

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• HIST 1400 - United States History I 3 cr. or
• HIST 1500 - United States History II 3 cr.

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• MATH 1500 - Informal Number Theory 3 cr.
• MATH 1600 - Informal Mathematical Modeling 3 cr.
• MATH 2000 - Informal Geometry 3 cr.

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• MUSC 2000 - Commonwealth of the Arts 3 cr. or
• MUSC 2100 - Commonwealth of Ancient Arts 3 cr. or
• MUSC 2120 - Commonwealth of Asian Arts 3 cr. or
• MUSC 2130 - Commonwealth of the Arts: Classical through Contemporary 3 cr. or
• MUSC 2210 - Commonwealth of the Arts: Medieval to Baroque 3 cr.

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• IDIS 4000 - IDIS Capstone Seminar: Education 3 cr.

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• PSY 1200 - Lifespan Development 3 cr.

• *A BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, or GEOG elective with a SMT attribute (3 cr.)