Teacher Education Special Education (TESE)
TESE 816D – Practicum in Special Education 3-6 credit hours
This course is designed to provide practicum experience in the endorsement and graduate programs of Special Education Generalist or Advanced Practitioner. Candidates are expected to have an on-site supervisor in addition to supervision by university faculty. Candidates are expected to document direct contact with students with disabilities in their endorsement area. This course is intended to be taken toward the end of your program of study.Department Consent Required
Total Credits Allowed: 24.00
TESE 830 – Consult & Collaboration with Families & Agencies Serv Individuals with Disabilities 3 credit hours
This course provides an examination of programs and support services for people with disabilities with emphasis on relationship building, promoting inclusivity and its impact on the school environment. The course highlights the significance of learning and responsive teaching methods while also touching upon confidentiality concerns, the need for self-expression, and ethical decision-making skills in educational settings. It stresses the value of working and resolving conflicts in achieving outcomes and creating supportive professional learning environments. Candidates will implement strategies grounded in evidence-based research to demonstrate professional development and conduct for diversity and inclusivity in their work.TESE 837P – Medical Aspects of Individuals with Disabilities 3 credit hours
This course provides teacher candidates with a general knowledge of the medical conditions seen in students with disabilities. It will familiarize candidates with terminology, medications, procedures, equipment, and evidence-based interventions used for students with medical complications. Professional responsibilities regarding medical conditions will be covered.TESE 840 – Bilingual Special Education 3 credit hours
Candidates will learn about the latest research on the education of English language learners with disabilities, including their identification, assessment, and instruction. Special emphasis will be placed on creating effective Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that incorporate culturally responsive teaching practices in the continuum of educational placements.TESE 861P – Legal Issues in Special Education and IEP Development 3 credit hours
This course provides students with the knowledge and understanding of the history and federal regulations in the field of special education. Professional ethics and code of conduct will be emphasized. Students will explore the foundations for various mandated activities such as parents' rights, IEP components and monitoring, special education placement procedures, and mandated timelines. This course will emphasize the processes and procedures required to meet the State and Federal guidelines for providing appropriate Special Education Services to children with disabilities. The main focus will center on understanding the connection between the legal background and history and mandated requirements within the field.TESE 862 – Formal and Informal Assessment in Special Education 3 credit hours
This course introduces the assessment process in special education, emphasizing procedural safeguards, data collection through informal and standardized methods, and critical issues in assessment. Candidates will explore the psychometric properties of standardized tests and gain hands-on experience in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of selected instruments. The course also includes a comprehensive focus on Response to Intervention (RtI) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).TESE 863 – Research-Based Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities 3 credit hours
This course is designed to provide teacher candidates the knowledge of a wide range of evidence-based academic instructional strategies for students with disabilities. Teacher candidates will learn to synthesize and evaluate research on instructional techniques for classroom application. Candidates will apply their knowledge of lesson development and classroom management strategies in their field placement. Contains a field component.TESE 864P – Field Experience in Special Education 1 credit hour
This course is designed to provide practical application of learned skills from previous classes. Teacher candidates will complete this in a K-8 special education setting for a total of 50 clock hours. Candidates will develop a unit plan and will design and implement lesson plans.TESE 867 – Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning 3 credit hours
This graduate-level course is designed for candidates to explore and practice the function-based behavior process for creating a Functional Behavior Analysis and Behavior Intervention Plan. Candidates will gain knowledge of ethical standards for behavior management, crisis intervention, and will research evidence-based intervention strategies for the classroom. Positive behavioral support will be highlighted. This course contains a functional assessment/intervention field component.Department Consent Required
TESE 872 – Strategies for Teaching Students with Intellectual Disabilities 3 credit hours
This course prepares candidates to support individuals with intellectual disabilities through targeted evidence-based interventions in the life skills areas, including in the community. Strategies for developing study skills, evaluating alternate curricula, assessment planning, designing accommodations and modifications to foster inclusion in general education will be emphasized. Key focus areas include understanding federal and state transition laws, effective transition planning, interagency collaboration, and utilizing resources and services to support successful transitions to post-school education and employment.TESE 875P – Preparing Adolescents for the Post-Secondary World 3 credit hours
This course is designed to prepare teacher candidates to work with various populations of adolescents with exceptionalities in inclusive settings. This course will prepare candidates for their role in the transition planning process, the students' post-secondary outcomes (post-secondary education, employment or training, independent living), and the impact on the family systems.TESE 879P – Teaching Social Skills to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder 3 credit hours
This course offers a thorough exploration of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), equipping candidates with essential knowledge and tools to support individuals with autism in various settings. Candidates will learn about the characteristics, identification, and diagnosis of ASD, as well as evidence-based instructional strategies, social skills training, and communication interventions tailored to individual needs. The curriculum covers effective teaching techniques, the impact of autism on families, and transition strategies throughout the lifespan. Topics include assistive technology, motor skills development, academic interventions, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Candidates will also investigate research on social skills deficits and educational needs, focusing on tools that foster success.TESE 880 – Critical Issues in Special Education 3 credit hours
This course provides students with the knowledge and understanding of the critical issues facing the field of Special education. Professional ethics and code of conduct will be emphasized.TESE 881 – Characteristics and Strategies for individuals with Emotional and Behavioral Health Disorders 3 credit hours
This course provides candidates with an in-depth coverage of the identification process, etiologies and characteristics associated with disorders that are categorized as learning disabilities or behavior disorders. This course will examine evidence-based research for working with students that have behavioral and emotional disabilities. Interventions appropriate for the three tiers of intervention will be explored.TESE 882 – Applied Behavior Analysis 3 credit hours
This course provides an in-depth examination of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Candidates will examine the history and development of ABA as well as the use of ABA in the education of and research with individuals with disabilities.TESE 883 – Intervention Strategies for Individuals with Behavioral & Emotional Disabilities 3 credit hours
This course will examine research effective strategies and interventions for working with students that have behavioral and emotional disabilities. Interventions appropriate for the three tiers of intervention will be explored.Prerequisite: TESE 881
TESE 885 – Inclusion and Differentiation Strategies for the 21st Century Classroom 3 credit hours
The course trains teacher candidates with the knowledge and skills of the instructional needs of students with exceptionalities (disabilities and giftedness) as well as those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in integrated settings. Special education referral process, MTSS, Section 504, analysis of instruction/environment and its impact on learning, assignment/assessment modification, behavioral issues, and evaluation of student learning will be the emphasis. Evidence-based intervention strategies to differentiate instruction will also be discussed.TESE 888 – Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports 3 credit hours
This course presents the latest in practices and research in the field of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS). Students will be exposed to the PBIS model and how it fits into MTSS, creating proactive learning environments through universal support systems and interventions, assessing and monitoring behavior in the school and classroom, and targeted supports for all students with behavioral needs.