Primary Special Education Certificate (Undergraduate)
Designed for John Carroll University primary education majors aspiring to become dually licensed as special educators and primary general education teachers, the online Primary Special Education Certificate equips educators with the knowledge and skills to support diverse learners in grades PreK-5, focusing on inclusive practices and evidence-based interventions. Completion of the certificate may lead to state licensure in Special Education.
Primary Special Education Certificate Learning Outcomes
- Inclusive Instructional Strategies: Apply evidence-based instructional strategies to design and implement effective, differentiated learning experiences for students with diverse needs.
- Behavioral Support Systems: Develop and employ positive behavior support plans and interventions to foster a safe and inclusive learning environment.
- Individualized Education Planning: Analyze student data to create, implement, and evaluate Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that meet federal and state compliance standards.
- Collaboration and Advocacy: Collaborate with families, school personnel, and community agencies to support students with disabilities, advocating for equitable access to education and resources.
Curriculum: 15 Credit Hours
- EDSP 203: Special Education Communication & Collaboration (3 credit hours) - This course addresses Teambuilding. Teambuilding covers Team Purpose, Stages of Team Development, Team Member Roles, Team Communication, Team Processes, and Team Leadership. More specifically, this course will look at the following: the issues and practices concerning family systems and role of family; models and strategies for consultation and collaboration; effective communication with families, school personnel; and, professional ethics, responsibilities and confidentiality. Learning Leaders experience self-assessment and interpersonal skills needed for teaming and collaboration in educational settings with parents, teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, and other specialists covering all exceptionalities and cultural settings as well as role playing, and small group practices in teaming and collaboration. Required field experience in diverse settings - 5 hours.
- Prerequisite: EDFD 110 Advance Human Development
- Equivalent taken at JCU Course: ED 2311 Child and YA Development
- EDSP 362: Mild/Moderate Support Services (3 credit hours) - Students in this course address service, transitional and resources issues, strategies, techniques used to integrate students with mild/moderate disabilities into diverse educational, social and community settings. Emphasis is on service delivery needs and issues for families; career vocational, health/medical and safety issues, training and intervention/prevention services; working with and guiding paraprofessionals; and support services for at risk students which includes legal aspects and responsibilities. First Aid and CPR training and certification required. Required field experience in diverse settings - 10 field hours.
- Prerequisite: EDSP 360
- Equivalent courses at JCU: ED 2110 School and Society & ED 2610 Exceptional Children
- EDSP 367: Special Education Behavior and Social Skills Management (3 credit hours) - This course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge to develop and implement instructional and behavioral plans and programs for students with emotional and behavior problems that address social skills; strategies for crises prevention and intervention; self-advocacy; procedures to increase self-awareness, self-management, self-control; self-reliance, and self-esteem; self-enhancing behavior in response to societal attitudes and actions. Students will be prepared to manage verbal and physical acting out behaviors. Required field experiences in diverse settings - 8 hours.
- Prerequisite: EDSP 380 Classroom Management
- Equivalent Courses at JCU: ED 2011 Foundations of Primary Education Note: This course includes Classroom Management
- EDSP 372: Communication Strategies & Techniques (3 credit hours) - This course will focus on understanding and implementation of everyday functional communication methods and techniques through various theories, systems and technologies for individual students with moderate and intensive needs; classroom strategies and techniques in learning environment; selection/implementation of augmentative or alternative communication devices/systems; adaptations/assistive technology; medical care and methods with technology/family support and resources. LAB field experience is required with documentation.
- Prerequisite: EDSP 370 M/I Characteristics & Strategies
- Equivalent courses at JCU: ED 2110 School and Society & ED 2610 Exceptional Children
- EDSP 393: ECSPED: Primary Curr & Pract (3 credit hours) - Students in this course will demonstrate the curriculum practices of selection, design, and development of P-5 primary intervention classroom methods/materials that are developmentally appropriate for individual/family activities; systematic instruction; assessment of development/progress; participation with interdisciplinary, interagency and intra-agency teams. Students will design/plan/implement process and strategies for transitions and demonstrate understanding of foundations of curriculum based in research-based practices. Required field experiences in diverse settings - 30 hours.
- Prerequisite: EDSP 391 Primary Learning & Theory & 392 Primary Observation & Assessment
- Equivalent Courses at JCU: ED 3011 Understanding and Utilizing Assessment, ED 2011 Foundations of Primary Education & ED 2431 Making Sense of Data in Education
Ready to Make a Difference?
Contact Dr. Debora Kuchey at kuchey@xavier.edu to learn more.