Course Descriptions

(Schedule of course offerings subject to change)

EDUC 502 FOUNDATIONS IN URBAN AND MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
This course equips teachers with a sound knowledge base in multicultural education. It provides both definition and rationale. Through readings, class discussions, blackboard participation and written assignments students will explore and analyze the impact that such issues as equity, ethnicity, sociocultural and linguistic background, ability, gender and race have on student learning. Students will develop perspectives on diversity and a frame of reference for providing equitable opportunities for all students to learn and succeed in schools and society. While this course focuses more on developing dispositions and understandings needed to effectively work with diverse populations, applications to the classroom will be made when appropriate. By the conclusion of the course students will be able to articulate a personal philosophy of multicultural education that demonstrates a thoughtful consideration of the historical and social development of this field (3 credits).

EDUC 506 LANGUAGE, COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY
This course examines cognitive development and language acquisition across cultures. Through the supplemental use of various technologies the course focuses on issues of bilingualism and dialectal difference and their relationship to language development. The course explores language diversity as it relates to classroom instruction (3 credits).

Students choose the appropriate methods course based on their academic major: 

• EDUC 510 TEACHING ENGLISH IN MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOL 
• EDUC 511 TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES IN MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOL
• EDUC 512 TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOL 
• EDUC 514 TEACHING SCIENCE IN MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOL

Each course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach an academic discipline effectively in middle and high school.  Students study generic principles of middle and secondary teaching, specific content and approaches in the teaching of subject areas and practical application of these principles and knowledge.  Additionally, faculty from the appropriate Liberal Arts and Science department conducts content area meetings. The course emphasizes the unique nature of the adolescent learners and explores developmentally appropriate strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners. Emphasis will be placed on the role of New York State and Common Core Learning Standards in planning and implementing instruction (3 credits).

EDUC 515 PRACTICUM IN ADOLESCENT EDUCATION
In conjunction with middle/secondary curriculum courses, students observe and teach their primary discipline in a middle school. Field supervisors observe and confer with students individually. The practicum teacher will be observed formally at least once during the semester (3 credits).

EDUC 526 STUDENT TEACHING IN ADOLESCENT EDUCATION
Students teach for one semester in a nearby secondary school under the supervision of cooperating teachers and teacher education and liberal arts faculty. Placements are made in inclusive or general education classrooms. Field supervisors observe and confer with student teachers individually. In addition, students and faculty meet regularly in a coordinating seminar to review field experiences, to synthesize current practice with prior learning and to prepare for employment and further professional study. During the semester students receive additional support from a mentor in his/her major area of study. Content area meetings are designed to address the individual needs of each student teacher. Ongoing communication between the liberal arts mentor and seminar leader supports the development of the necessary knowledge and competencies of the pre-service student (3 credits).

EDUC 527 BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SKILLS INSTRUCTION
This course provides candidates with strategies based on behavior analysis and other psycho-educational learning theories/models and as they relate to managing measurably effective classrooms. Emphasis is on the elements of effective instructional planning (i.e., antecedents and consequences of student behavior) that prevent management problems, condition intrinsic motivation to learn, and foster social competence of all students in the inclusive classroom. The foundational knowledge base of the definition, concepts, and principles of ABA for improving students’ academic, emotional, behavioral, and social skills will be addressed. In addition, coverage will include the philosophical assumptions and dimensions of research-based models. Candidates will learn how to differentiate evidence-based from non-evidence-based behavior management practices. (3 credits)

EDUC 602 RESEARCH FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS
This course introduces strategies for designing and conducting single-subject research in special education. Competencies include coverage of independent and dependent variables for research, measurement tactics, experimental design (including data analysis), graphical presentation and evaluation of results, ethical care pertaining to human subjects, establishing generality of results, and ensuring the integrity of research procedures. The methods discussed are not specific to any disability or age level; rather, they are a general set of methods for conducting and interpreting single-subject research.

This course has two basic goals: To expose students to the principles of basic behavior analytic research methodology and to have students plan and design a research proposal. Emphasis is placed on the role of research for the teacher of students with developmental disabilities. It is expected that candidates striving to be professionals in the special education field will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to distinguish between legitimate claims of intervention efficacy and to draw conclusions of research findings in accordance with the Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts. (3 credits)

EDUC 620 TEACHING LITERACY IN INCLUSIVE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS
Teaching Literacy in the Inclusive Secondary Classroom examines literacy as part of the total communication process within the secondary classroom.  This course is designed to assist students in understanding the language and literacy process as it applies to teaching in the middle and high schools. Particular attention is paid to reading and writing in the content areas and instructional strategies to support students’ literacy development. The course will focus on ways in which reading, writing, speaking, and listening are developed and used within the learning of discipline specific curriculum including adaptations for culturally diverse and exceptional learners. The course develops connections between knowledge of the literacy process, using language to support learning, and effective instruction incorporating reading and writing.

This course develops the pre-service teacher’s ability to carry out the specific teaching functions and to achieve the professional standards as prescribed by the New York State Education Department and Common Core Standards for College and Career Readiness.  Students completing this course will understand the concepts of balanced literacy instruction and the integration of reading, writing, speaking and listening for learning within the classroom (3 credits).

EDUC 702 EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEARNER
is an all-encompassing course that addresses myriad concerns that emerge for early adolescents as they bridge the gap between elementary school and senior high school. Delineated in the course work are robust definitions about middle level education as a particular and unique aspect of K-12 schooling. In describing who that middle level student is, characteristics are described, critical transformations are explained and generalizations emerge for the middle level educator. In addition, attention is given to six critical attributes of the traditional middle school concept including: clustering students (houses, families, and academies), core teaching teams, blocks of time, advisor/advisee program, interdisciplinary curriculum, and peer mediation. In closing, the course highlights the varied, yet critical roles of middle level advocates from teachers and parents to administrators and community leaders (3 credits).

EDUC 712 STRATEGIES FOR INCLUSION OF SPECIAL LEARNERS
This course is designed to help candidates instruct students with learning and behavior problems (including autism spectrum disorders, speech and language impairments, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbance/ behavioral disorders, and ADHD) using research- or evidenced-based practices to address both curricular/instructional and social behavioral challenges in the least restrictive environment. Applied behavior analytic tactics, techniques, methods, and procedures covered in this course are derived from the concepts and principles of behavior taught in EDUC 527. Candidates will learn how to individualize and accurately implement fundamental elements of behavior change and specific behavior change procedures in order to facilitate students’ access to the general education curriculum. (3 credits)

EDUC 714 PRACTICUM IN ASSESSMENT AND INSTRUCTION OF SPECIAL LEARNERS
This course is designed to provide candidates with information on standardized and informal assessment procedures and materials and on research-based effective strategies for teaching students with mild to moderate learning and behavior problems. Emphasis is on assessment in literacy and mathematics and appropriate use of instructional technologies including assistive technology. Focus will also be on those strategies of differentiated instruction that can be effectively implemented or modified within the general education program. Candidates will learn a variety of methods for the identification and assessment of academic and social-behavioral problems; behavioral assessment; analysis of the outcomes of instruction/interventions; descriptive, preference and skill assessments; including the use of practical behaviorally-based assessment tools such as checklists, rating scales, structured observation tools, and curricular behavioral assessments (e.g., criterion-referenced assessment). (3 credits)
^{Students will complete a fifty hour field experience.}

EDUC 716 LIFE SPAN SPECIAL EDUCATION: TRANSITION FROM BIRTH TO ADULTHOOD
This course prepares teacher candidates to select behavior analytic intervention strategies and plan for their possible unwanted behavior change effects in order to help maximize human development from birth to adulthood. Candidates will learn how to select and implement individualized behavioral and curricular intervention strategies and behavior-change systems in order to teach, maintain, and generalize skills across home, school, and community settings via organizational behavior management (OBM). Emphasis will be placed on how students develop and learn by examining the process of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, language, and career development among students who vary by gender, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic level, English proficiency, and diverse levels of ability. Issues covered include the educator’s role on how to develop curriculum as well as support and maintain group change that is developmentally appropriate and culturally meaningful to facilitate successful transition from pre-school to post-school activities; including postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), independent living, and/or community participation (as described by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services May 2017 document entitled “A Transition Guide To Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities).”  (3 credits)

EDUC 728 TEACHING ACROSS THE CONTENT AREAS: PEDAGOGY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND SOCIAL STUDIES
This course introduces teacher education candidates to the strategies and techniques of how to effectively teach subject content in ELA and social studies to diverse student populations. The goal of the course is to equip teacher education candidates with the skills and knowledge to help adolescents with disabilities achieve their intellectual and vocational “potential” (3 credits).

EDUC 729 TEACHING ACROSS THE CONTENT AREAS: PEDAGOGY IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
This course introduces teacher education candidates to the strategies and techniques of how to effectively teach subject content in math and science to diverse student populations. The goal of the course is to equip teacher education candidates with the skills and knowledge to help adolescents with disabilities achieve their intellectual and vocational “potential” (3 credits).

EDUC 751 STUDENT TEACHING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
Students teach for one semester under the supervision and mentorship of cooperating teachers and teacher education faculty. Placements are in special education settings. Faculty observes and confers with student teachers individually. In addition, students and faculty meet each week in a coordinating seminar to review field experiences, synthesize current practice with prior learning and to prepare for employment and further professional study. Prospective student teachers plan for field placements during the registration period prior to student teaching (3 credits).