Special Education
The Special Education (K-12th grade) major provides initial preparation in teaching students with mild to moderate disabilities in general and special education settings, including resource classrooms. Program course work focuses on foundations and legal aspects of the profession, characteristics, learning/language differences and identification of mildly-moderately disabled learners (primarily attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, emotional disabilities, learning disabilities and mental disabilities), procedures for special education planning, teaching strategies, assessment, behavior management in learning environments, professional and ethical practices, and collaboration.
Curriculum Highlights
- Freshman
- Introduction to Education
- Sophomore
- Introduction to Exceptional Learners
- Characteristics: Emotional Disabilities
- Mathematics for Teachers
- Educational Psychology
- Teaching Reading
- Educational Procedures: Mildly Disabled
- Junior
- Materials & Methods: Mildly Disabled
- Assessment in Special Education
- Characteristics: Mental Disabilities
- Teaching Math: Mild Disabilities
- Characteristics: Learning Disabilities
- Teaching Techniques (5-12)
- Behavior Management
- Senior
- Teaching Bible Principles
- Child Psychology
- Directed Teaching: SPED
- Diagnostic & Prescriptive Reading
For further details see complete major information:
Special Education Personal Opportunity Profile
You may also contact Admissions (1.800.BJ.AND.ME) to receive a printed copy of this information.
Key Courses
Introduction to Exceptional Learners In this class you will study the history of and current trends in special education. The exceptionalities of mental retardation, learning disabilities, physical impairments, speech problems, hearing and visual impairments, and giftedness are discussed.
Characteristics of Learning Disabilities In this elective class, you will study the characteristics and causes of learning disabled students, with emphasis on various definitions of learning disabilities, delineation of specific learning disabilities, and appropriate procedures for the identification and classification of students.
Directed Teaching Here you will have a chance to "try your wings" by teaching under the supervision of an experienced teacher. You will begin gradually and work into handling a teacher's normal load.
Materials and Methods: Mild Disabilities You will develop skills in the diagnosis and remediation of academic, behavioral and social skills in mildly disabled learners. Special emphasis will be given to understanding the essential elements of teaching, basic scope and sequence of academic skills, instructional accommodations and evidence-based strategies in special education at the elementary and secondary levels.
Behavior Management In this class you will learn concepts and strategies of behavior management in special education settings for mildly-moderately disabled students. Both behavioral and affective approaches are presented with discussions and readings focusing on basic behavioral principles, preventative techniques, behavior enhancement and reduction techniques, and use of rewards and punishment.
Career Opportunities
You will have many opportunities of service and ministry to choose from as you look for a place to teach. We receive over three times as many requests for teachers as we have teachers to fill those requests. And, in the future, the number of teaching opportunities will increase as we, as a nation, face a national teacher shortage, particularly in special education. You will be qualified to help meet this need and train young people both in the states and abroad.