The Special Education module provides students with the core competencies they need to be able to apply independently to Massachusetts for a license in Moderate Disabilities (PreK- 8 or 5 - 12).
These courses are specifically designed to provide opportunities for current students pursuing initial licensure or teachers with the appropriate licensure to earn and independently apply for an Additional License in Special Education. These courses are taken individually as part of the regular J-term or summer session PaGE (Professional and Graduate Education) course offerings. They may be taken in any order, at your own pace, with the exception of Practicum Two, which can only be taken after the successful completion of Practicum One. Enrollment in Practicum I and Practicum II is by permission of the instructor only.
Tuition: Cost is $680 per credit. There is also a lab fee associated with each practica. Current Mount Holyoke College MAT students may receive a significant scholarship.
In order to apply for your additional license, you need to complete all of the courses in this module and complete a State Competency Review, indicating how you have acquired subject matter knowledge for your particular license area, according to the Regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval 603 CMR 7.00. To complete your review, you will also need to pass certain Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
PreK - 8 required MTELs
- Communication and Literacy
- Foundations of Reading or Reading specialist subject matter
- General Curriculum multi-subject subtest
- Elementary Mathematics or General Curriculum mathematics subtest
5-12 required MTELs
- Communications and Literacy
- Foundations of Reading or Reading specialist subject matter
- Teaching subject test
How to Apply
1. Review the course descriptions to ensure that the dates and times fit with your schedule.
2. After you have made your course selection, go to the Online Application and create an account. Please do not try to use your PIN and password from a previous program or session; you will receive a new PIN and password. You can complete your application in more than one session if necessary.
3. Fill out the online application form and submit. You will receive a message by email within two business days with instructions to log in again and make payment by credit card or check. Registration will not be complete until payment is received. Please complete payment for your course selection(s) to ensure placement.
Course Descriptions
Title: X.SPED 436: Moderate Disabilities Practicum I
Instructor: Gwen Bass
Credits: 2
Dates: Fall semester.
Description: Students are expected to complete a supervised field experience of at least 60 hours in a self-contained special education classroom in a public school setting.
Title: X.SPED 438: Moderate Disabilities Practicum II
Instructor: Gwen Bass
Credits: 3
Dates: Spring Semester.
Description: Students are expected to complete a supervised field experience of at least 100 hours in an inclusive classroom in a public school setting. Placements can be located within or outside of the Five College area.
In addition to the field experience component, students attend course meetings one afternoon per week. The seminar sessions will provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their experience in the classroom as well as provide personalized supervision and guidance through the Candidate Assessment of Performance system.
Title: X.Sped 471 Legal Perspectives in Special Education
Instructor: Brent Nielsen
Credits: 1
Dates: J-Term.
Description: This course will review state and federal laws and regulations that represent the requirements for special education. Participants will be introduced to concepts including educational terminology for students with mild to moderate disabilities; preparation, implementation, and evaluation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); review of federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to special education and the history of special education.
Title: X.Sped 416 Interventions for Behavior and Classroom Management
Instructor: Gwen Bass
Credits: 1
Dates: J-Term.
Description: In this course students will review research, theories, and practices for responding to challenging behavior. Topics will include establishing effective rules and procedures, classroom- and school-wide behavior management systems, and approaches for addressing individual student behavior and developing relationships with children and support professionals to improve behavior across settings.
Title: X.SPED 463: Foundations of Reading
Instructor: Sarah Frenette
Credits: 4
Dates: Summer Session I: May 25 - June 29, 2017. Tuesdays & Thursdays. 5:00pm - 8:30pm.
Description: Reading development, assessment, comprehension and instruction are central to the course. Through a combination of readings, lectures and experiences, this course will provide students with the knowledge and skills to assess literacy needs and implement effective language arts instruction for all learners. The course includes a study of the writing process, with coverage of phonics, spelling, and grammar. The Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for English Language Arts and Literacy is addressed, as are all content objectives for the Foundations of Reading MTEL test required of Early Childhood, Elementary and Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 and 5-12) licensure candidates in the Commonwealth.
Title: X.SPED 426: The Inclusive Classroom
Instructor: Kate Coolidge-Bender
Credits: 2
Dates: Summer Session I: May 24 - June 28, 2017. Mondays & Wednesdays. 5:00 - 8:30pm
Description: This course surveys the etiology, diagnosis, and remediation of learning differences including dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, autism, as well as factors that influence a child's readiness to learn. Students present, discuss, question and exchange ideas that contribute to an overall understanding of special education in the field. With an emphasis on inclusion in schools, students explore the impact of current policies, assessments, and practices. The focus is on adapting the learning environment, classroom structures, and approach to teaching so that all children, regardless of learning strengths and needs are supported to reach their potential and achieve meaningful goals.
Title: X.SPED 481: Special Education Law: Transitions, Collaboration, & Applications
Instructor: Brent Nielsen
Credits: 2
Dates: Summer Session II: July 6 - July 27, 2017. Mondays & Wednesdays. 5:00 - 8:00pm.
Description: This course will review state and federal laws and regulations which represent the requirements for special education. Participants will be introduced to concepts including educational terminology for students with mild to moderate disabilities; preparation, implementation and evaluation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); knowledge of transition services and services provided by other agencies; review of federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to special education; and, strategies for building and maintaining collaborative partnerships with team members.
Title: X.SPED 441: Differentiated Instruction for Diverse Learners
Instructor: Amy Chang & Renee Greenfield
Credits: 2
Dates: Summer Session II: July 6 - July 27, 2017. Tuesdays & Thursdays. 5:00pm - 8:00pm.
Description: This course will focus on design or modification of curriculum, instructional materials, and general education classroom environments for students with moderate disabilities. Students will learn ways to prepare, adopt, and modify materials to promote access to the curriculum for students with disabilities to succeed in general education classrooms. Coverage will include instruction on assistive technology, including AAC, to support students with disabilities to learn in the least restrictive environment.
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