Education – Special Education
SPED 5310 (3-3-0) Introduction to Exceptional Learners
(SPED 4310; EDUC 5310)
Learning styles and effective teaching strategies for exceptional learners using the application of research on identification, assessment, teaching, and technology of the full range of exceptional learners including disabled and gifted-and-talented learners. This 5000-level course is cross-listed with a 4000-level course and includes specific graduate course requirements which reflect appropriate deeper learning experiences and rigor in the higher-level course.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer, Online.
SPED 5315 (3-3-0) Introduction to Exceptional Learners and Montessori Foundations
This course focuses on the Medical-Scientific Montessori philosophy and methods used in inclusion classrooms. Knowledge of the Montessori methodology and how it is applied to children with various disabilities, as well as the typically developing children, and gifted children is presented.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Summer, Periodically.
SPED 5320 (3-3-0) Pedagogy of Special Education
(SPED 4320; EDUC 5320)
This course addresses effective methods and practices for teaching students with disabilities to include learner characteristics, learner needs, and the delivery of instructional strategies, resources, and supports to ensure student success. This 5000- level course is cross-listed with a 4000-level course and includes specific graduate course requirements which reflect appropriate deeper learning experiences and rigor in the higher-level course.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Periodically, Online.
SPED 5330 (3-3-0) Legal, Procedural, and Program Practices in Special Education
(SPED 4330; EDUC 5330)
This course examines the identification, assessment, and instruction of students with special needs. Emphasis will be placed on the presentation of special education roles, placement alternatives, legal implications, current status, and trends in special education. An analysis of the categories of exceptionality, characteristics, and terminology will also be presented. This 5000- level course is cross-listed with a 4000-level course and includes specific graduate course requirements which reflect appropriate deeper learning experiences and rigor in the higher-level course.
Requisites: EDUC/SPED 5310 Introduction to Exceptional Learners.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer, Online.
SPED 5333 (3-3-0) Clinical Experiences in Correcting Reading Difficulties (S-L)
(SPED 4333; READ 4333/5333)
Directed experience in diagnosing and correcting reading problems of the individual child through field experience. This course contains a field-based service-learning component. This 5000-level course is cross-listed with a 4000-level course and includes specific graduate course requirements which reflect appropriate deeper learning experiences and rigor in the higher-level course.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring.
SPED 5334 (3-3-0) Studies in Diagnosing and Clinical Correction of Reading Difficulties (S-L)
(READ 4334/5334)
An intensive study of the scientific-based diagnostic and prescriptive techniques, utilizing best practices to identify specific strategies for enhancing the acquisition of reading skills. Directed field experience in diagnosing and correcting targeted reading issues will be required. This course contains a field-based service-learning component. This 5000-level course is cross-listed with a 4000-level course and includes specific graduate course requirements which reflect appropriate deeper learning experiences and rigor in the higher-level course.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Online.
SPED 5350 (3-3-0) Educating Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities
This course addresses current research and best practices for supporting students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. Emphasis will be placed on identification, a continuum of supports, positive behavioral interventions, and effective instructional strategies.
Requisites: Meet DBU Graduate School admissions requirements.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Online.
SPED 6010 (0-12-0) Defense of Degree
Because of Dallas Baptist University’s quest for meaningful assessment of graduate candidates, a defense of degree is required in all College of Education Graduate Programs. The defense of degree is a capstone collection of signature assessments and artifacts with reflections that demonstrate a candidate’s personal growth, development, and acquisition of knowledge, skills, and dispositions.
Degree-seeking students in the College of Education will be expected to present their Defense of Degree to the Educator Preparation Board for assessment as evidence of program success during their final semester. Candidates are to follow the Defense of Degree guidelines provided by the College of Education.
Requisites: Student is in last semester of MED in Special Education Program.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
SPED 6020 (0-2-0) Educational Diagnostician Seminar
This course is designed to assist students in preparing for the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES), for State Educational Diagnostician Certification distributed by Pearson Testing Service and the Texas Education Agency. The course will focus on content and sample question from the authorized preparation manual for the State Educational Diagnosticians Examination. Information will be utilized from a variety of sources that support the Texas Educational Diagnostician Standards found in the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 238.83. Students must score a minimum of 85% on the TExES Practice Tests in order to be authorized by the College of Education to take the State Examination. ($205 Test/ Materials fee required.)
Requisites: Concurrent or previous enrollment in SPED 6342
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
SPED 6320 (3-3-0) Current Trends in Special Education
This course will provide students a study of the contemporary and controversial issues within the field of special education. The course will contrast historical perspectives with current best practices, legal issues, and current controversies in the identification, assessment, and instruction of students in special education.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Periodically, Online.
SPED 6330 (3-3-0) Comprehensive Assessments
This course will cover the core competencies in the area of special education assessment. The course will focus on the theory, problems, ethical standards, and techniques of administering individual tests of intelligence. Students will develop proficiencies in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of assessment tools to write reports and link assessment results to evidence- based recommendation, interventions and learning strategies for the purposes of developing individual education programs. This course also reviews determination of learning disabilities.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Periodically.
SPED 6342 (3-3-0) Individual Diagnostic Practicum (160 hours) (S-L)
This course will focus on opportunities for candidates to prepare for certification as an educational diagnostician in the Sta of Texas. Candidates will be required to demonstrate competencies in their professional duties as educational diagnosticians, as identified in the Educational Diagnostician Standards found in the Texas Administrative Code Chapter 239, Subchapter C, Rule 239.83.
This course is designed to provide practical, real-world challenges using the skills and knowledge students have developed through their graduate program coursework. In the Individual Diagnostic Practicum, emphasis is placed on participation in the Full and Individual Evaluation process for assessing and evaluating, determining eligibility, developing instructional and behavioral recommendations/interventions, collaborative professional relationships, and compliance with legal requirements defined in both IDEA and the Texas Commissioner's Rulers, Chapter 89, Chapter AA Special Populations through the report writing process. This course contains a field-based service-learning component.
Students will be required to document 160 hours of Practicum Experiences in the course, reflecting experiences across the following: Identification and Assessment, Curriculum, Instruction and Intervention, Professional Responsibilities, and Analysis and Response, which incorporates formal and informal data collection interpretation.
To receive credit, a candidate must earn a final grade of B (3.0, minimum) in the practicum/internship. If not, the course will need to be repeated.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
SPED 6360 (3-3-0) Supervision of Special Education Instruction
This course provides a study of philosophical foundations, principles, and practices of effective special education supervision in public schools. Attention is given to the supervisory methods used to improve specialized instruction at all grade levels.
Requisites: Permission required of MED Special Education Director.
Offered: Periodically.
SPED 6370 (3-3-0) ARD Facilitator Practicum (S-L)
This course focuses on opportunities for learners to use the knowledge, understanding, and skills in the field of special education with emphasis on Admission Review and Dismissal facilitation. This course provides the framework for effective communication with educators, professionals, and families to develop effective plans for students in Special Education. Graduate students learn about the Special Education process, the various types of ARDs, and the purpose for each. They learn about developing effective individual education plans including goals, objects, determining process, accommodations and modification. The graduate students gain in-depth understanding of the Least Restrictive Environment and educational placements for students with disabilities. The students in the course utilize the state and federal requirements for ARD meetings, IEPS, and educational placements. This course contains a field-based service-learning component.
Requisites: Taken in last semester of MED with ARD Facilitator Specialization.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Online.