ECY-Special Education

ECY 535. Foundations of Early Childhood Special Education. 3 Hours.

This is the introductory graduate course in the early childhood special education program, which is designed to provide an overview of the field of early intervention/early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) and address policy issues, the importance of collaboration, and future directions. Candidates must develop competencies in the areas of historical and philosophical foundations of EI/ECSE, federal, state, and local laws and legal requirements, characteristics of young children with known or suspected disabilities, family-professional partnerships, service delivery options, recommended practices, current policy issues and trends, and professionalism and ethics. Another important aspect of this course is professional development and life-long learning. Candidates must demonstrate a number of research and technology skills such as: accessing resources to support graduate studies; conducting reviews of the early childhood special education resources and literature; using American Psychological Association (APA) professional style writing; utilizing technology to support graduate studies; and identifying professional development resources for life-long learning. Course content and assignments are designed to promote critical thinking, problem solving skills, evidence-based practice application, and resource identification.

ECY 536. Early Intervention and Preschool Curriculum and Methods. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to provide candidates with the knowledge, skills, methods, and attitudes necessary to deliver effective intervention/education to young children (birth through five) with known or suspected disabilities and their families from a variety of social, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. The course will include discussions and readings on topics central to an adequate understanding of the conceptual and theoretical foundations underlying current curriculum and methods for young children. Special emphasis will be placed on supporting families in all aspects of intervention. Attention will be given to developmentally and individually appropriate practices that facilitate inclusive environments. Candidates will be familiarized with instructional strategies and technologies. Course content and assignments will promote the use of critical thinking skills, problem solving, and technologies as they are applied to instructional programs for young children with known or suspected disabilities and their families. The course objectives will be assessed through completion of the course requirements and class participation. The content of this course is based on evidence-based practices, which integrate the best available research evidence with professional and family wisdom and values. Emphasized throughout this course are the following objectives: how to be a member of a transdisciplinary team in providing instruction, how to respond to cultural diversity, how to provide services in high-poverty communities and LEAs, and how to utilize evidence-based practices in all aspects of services. These priority areas will be addressed throughout the course.
Prerequisites: EDU 500 [Min Grade: C] and ECY 600 [Min Grade: C] and ECY 535 [Min Grade: C] and ECY 537 [Min Grade: C]

ECY 537. Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to prepare the candidate with knowledge and practical applications regarding the screening and assessment of young children with known or suspected disabilities (ages birth through eight). Both child-level and family-level assessment procedures will be emphasized. The candidate completing this course will be prepared to make professional decisions regarding the screening, assessment, program planning, and progress monitoring of young children with disabilities. Course content and assignments will promote critical thinking and problem solving skills. The content of this course is based on evidence-based practices, which integrate the best available research evidence with professional and family wisdom and values. Emphasized throughout this course are the following objectives: how to be a member of a transdisciplinary team in providing services in the natural environment, how respond to cultural diversity, how to provide services in high-poverty communities and LEAs, and how to utilize evidence-based practices in all aspects of assessment. These priority areas will be addressed throughout the course.

ECY 538. Physical and Health Care Support in Early Childhood Special Education. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to provide candidates with the knowledge, skills, methods, and attitudes necessary to deliver effective intervention/education to young children with physical and health impairments. The course will include discussions and readings on topics central to an adequate understanding of the conceptual and theoretical foundations underlying typical and atypical motor development and neurodevelopment. Candidates will become proficient in motor skill facilitation, positioning, handling, feeding and health care support. The course objectives will be assessed through completion of the course requirements and class participation.

ECY 539. Transdisciplinary Collaboration and Consultation in Early Childhood. 3 Hours.

This course is designed for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and ability to work collaboratively with other professionals who provide inclusive services to infants and young children with delays or disabilities and their families. Emphasis will be placed on working as members of teams, which include families, early childhood special education, and the related services of physical and occupational therapy. Topics include teamwork, group decision-making, team process, leadership, and communication, the evidence that supports these practices, and how such issues influence services for young children and their families. A significant portion of content/discussion will focus on the roles and functions of various disciplines (including family members) as team members. Case studies will be used in simulations of transdisciplinary teamwork in action.

ECY 600. Introduction to Exceptional Learner. 3 Hours.

An overview of exceptionality as it pertains to children and adults. Both high and low incidence populations will be examined. Each area of exceptionality will be reviewed in terms of etiology, diagnosis, prevalence, remediation, and educational strategies.

ECY 635. Foundations of Early Childhood Special Education. 3 Hours.

This is the introductory graduate course in the early childhood special education program, which is designed to provide an overview of the field of early intervention/early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) and address policy issues, the importance of collaboration, and future directions. Candidates must develop competencies in the areas of historical and philosophical foundations of EI/ECSE, federal, state, and local laws and legal requirements, characteristics of young children with known or suspected disabilities, family-professional partnerships, service delivery options, recommended practices, current policy issues and trends, and professionalism and ethics. Another important aspect of this course is professional development and life-long learning. Candidates must demonstrate a number of research and technology skills such as: accessing resources to support graduate studies; conducting reviews of the early childhood special education resources and literature; using American Psychological Association (APA) professional style writing; utilizing technology to support graduate studies; and identifying professional development resources for life-long learning. Course content and assignments are designed to promote critical thinking, problem solving skills, evidence-based practice application, and resource identification.

ECY 636. Early Intervention and Preschool Curriculum and Methods. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to provide candidates with the knowledge, skills, methods, and attitudes necessary to deliver effective intervention/education to young children (birth through five) with known or suspected disabilities and their families from a variety of social, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. The course will include discussions and readings on topics central to an adequate understanding of the conceptual and theoretical foundations underlying current curriculum and methods for young children. Special emphasis will be placed on supporting families in all aspects of intervention. Attention will be given to developmentally and individually appropriate practices that facilitate inclusive environments. Candidates will be familiarized with instructional strategies and technologies. Course content and assignments will promote the use of critical thinking skills, problem solving, and technologies as they are applied to instructional programs for young children with known or suspected disabilities and their families. The course objectives will be assessed through completion of the course requirements and class participation.

ECY 637. Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to prepare the candidate with knowledge and practical applications regarding the screening and assessment of young children with known or suspected disabilities (ages birth through eight). Both child-level and family-level assessment procedures will be emphasized. The candidate completing this course will be prepared to make professional decisions regarding the screening, assessment, program planning, and progress monitoring of young children with disabilities. Course content and assignments will promote critical thinking and problem solving skills. The content of this course is based on evidence-based practices, which integrate the best available research evidence with professional and family wisdom and values. Emphasized throughout this course are the following objectives: how to be a member of a transdisciplinary team in providing services in the natural environment, how respond to cultural diversity, how to provide services in high-poverty communities and LEAs, and how to utilize evidence-based practices in all aspects of assessment. These priority areas will be addressed throughout the course.

ECY 638. Physical and Health Care Support in Early Childhood Special Education. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to provide candidates with the knowledge, skills, methods, and attitudes necessary to deliver effective intervention/education to young children with physical and health impairments. The course will include discussions and readings on topics central to an adequate understanding of the conceptual and theoretical foundations underlying typical and atypical motor development and neurodevelopment. Candidates will become proficient in motor skill facilitation, positioning, handling, feeding and health care support. The course objectives will be assessed through completion of the course requirements and class participation.

ECY 639. Transdisciplinary Collaboration and Consultation in Early Childhood. 3 Hours.

This course is designed for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and ability to work collaboratively with other professionals who provide inclusive services to infants and young children with delays or disabilities and their families. Emphasis will be placed on working as members of teams, which include families, early childhood special education, and the related services of physical and occupational therapy. Topics include teamwork, group decision-making, team process, leadership, and communication, the evidence that supports these practices, and how such issues influence services for young children and their families. A significant portion of content/discussion will focus on the roles and functions of various disciplines (including family members) as team members. Case studies will be used in simulations of transdisciplinary teamwork in action.

ECY 670. Practicum in Early Childhood Special Education. 3-6 Hours.

Provides individualized field-based experiences to meet the unique needs of graduate candidates in ECSE. Students complete practicum experiences in settings that include children who present a wide range of disabilities within the 0-3, 3-5, 5-8 year age ranges. This practicum experience is tailored to the unique needs and experiences of each student.

ECY 672. Internship in Early Childhood Special Edu. 3-6 Hours.

Provides individualized field-based experiences that will meet the unique needs of ECSE candidates in the 5th year, nontraditional program. Students complete an internship in settings that include children who present a wide range of disabilities within the 0-3, 3-5, 5-8 year age ranges. This internship experience is tailored to the unique needs and experiences of each student.

ECY 689. Advanced Topics in Special Education/ School Psychometry. 1-6 Hour.

This course is designed to help candidates be scholars in the field of school psychology/psychometry. Candidates will learn the steps to explore, build on, and write about the literature on a topic in school psychology/psychometry. In this way, they will understand how to create new areas of scholarship to extend knowledge on a topic in their discipline.