SPECIAL EDUCATION COURSES
ASSOCIATED COLLEGES OF CENTRAL KANSAS (ACCK) COURSES
SPED 210
Introduction to Infants, Children, and Youth with Special Needs
This class is a survey of federal and state mandates for special education,
including an overview of categorical exceptionalities delineated in the
laws; service delivery systems; advocacy groups; the concept of natural
environments and least restrictive environments; and the purpose and
function of the IFSP and IEP. The class, which is required for all students
seeking endorsement in education, is designed to introduce all preservice
teachers to mild and moderate disabilities. The course also serves as a
foundation for additional special education coursework. It is a prerequisite
for SPED 325, 330, 338, and 348. Fall.
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM
SPED 338
Foundations of Early Childhood Intervention
3 hours
This class offers an overview of early childhood education for infants,
toddlers, preschool and primary-aged children with special needs. It
includes history, philosophical concepts, populations served, identification
and service delivery, professional roles, resources, and current trends and
issues. This course is a prerequisite to SPED 358. Prerequisite is SPED
210; EE 295 is strongly recommended. (Fall)
SPED 345
2 hours
Behavior Management
This class offers techniques for developing academic and social behaviors
of infants, toddlers, children, and youth, with a focus on those with special
needs. Intervention strategies in the home and community are also
discussed. No prerequisites. This class must be taken before student
teaching in Special Education. (Fall and Spring)
SPED 349
3 hours
Communication Development & Communication Disorders
This class offers a survey of normal and atypical language development,
assessment, bilingual education, contributions of the educator to
overcoming language problems, and the relationships between oral
language and reading and writing. There are no prerequisites for this
course. (Interterm and Summer)
SPED 380/678 Topics in Special Education (variable secondary title)
1 hour
This class deals in depth with a specific topic related to infants, toddlers,
children or youth with disabilities or developmental risk conditions and/or
their families. (Summer)
SPED 391
3 hours
Methods for Assessing & Facilitating Infant/ Toddler
Development
This class covers ongoing assessment linked to program planning for
infants and toddlers, including those who are typically developing as well
as those with risk conditions and disabilities, and their families.
Techniques are demonstrated and practiced for assessing child and family
needs, IFSP development, selection of developmentally appropriate
methods and materials, individual and group care in natural environments,
and transition between services. Skills for working with families are
emphasized. This class must be taken concurrently with SPED 392. SPED
338 must be taken previously or concurrently. (Fall)
SPED 392
1 hour
Early Practicum in Assessing and Facilitating Infant/
Toddler Development
This field experience provides opportunities to observe and practice
assessment, care, education, and intervention techniques with typically
and atypically developing infants and toddlers and their families. It must
be taken concurrently with SPED 391. (Fall)
SPED 393
3 hours
Methods for Assessment and Intervention with
Preschool- and Kindergarten-aged Children
This class covers ongoing assessment linked to program planning for
intervention with preschool- and kindergarten-aged children with risk
conditions and disabilities and their families. Techniques are demonstrated
and practiced for assessing child and family needs, development and
implementation of IFSPs/IEPs, selection of developmentally appropriate
methods and materials, organization of instruction within various service
delivery models using least restrictive arrangements, and transition
between services. This class must be taken concurrently with SPED 394.
SPED 338 is a prerequisite. (Spring)
SPED 394
1 hour
Early Practicum in Assessment and Intervention with
Pre-school- and Kindergarten-aged Children
This field experience provides opportunities to observe and practice
assessment and intervention techniques with typically and atypically
developing preschool- and kindergarten-aged children and their families.
It must be taken concurrently with SPED 393. (Spring)
SPED 461
2-7 hours
Practicum in Intervention with Infants, Toddlers, and
Their Families
This class offers a supervised experience in working with allied
professionals and parents to facilitate the development of infants and
toddlers with disabilities. Prerequisites include acceptance in the ACCK
Special Education program. Prerequisite courses are SPED 338 and SPED
358. SPED 359 is strongly recommended. For students without previous
education certification, this class constitutes student teaching. (Fall,
Interterm, Spring)
SPED 462
2-7 hours
Practicum in Intervention with Preschool-Aged Children
This course offers a supervised experience in working with allied
professionals and parents to assess, plan instructional programs, and teach
preschool-aged children with disabilities. Prerequisites include acceptance
into the ACCK Special Education program. Prerequisite courses are SPED
338 and SPED 358. For students without previous education certification,
this class constitutes student teaching. (Fall, Interterm, Spring)
MULTI-CATEGORICAL PROGRAM-ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL
SPED 220
Field Experience in Services for Students w/ Special Needs
1 hour
An early field placement for directed observation of special education
teachers working with elementary- or secondary-level students with
mild/moderate disabilities. (Fall, Interterm, Spring, and Summer)
SPED 325
4 hours
Foundations of Services for Students with Special Needs
This course addresses the cognitive, behavioral, educational, and medical
models for explaining the etiology, definition, and characteristics of
children and adolescents with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and
mental retardation. Techniques for consulting with allied professionals,
parents, and students are included in this course. Students must have taken
SPED 210 prior to or concurrently with this course. This course is a
prerequisite to SPED 351, 355, and 330. (Fall and Spring)
SPED 330
2 hours
Assessment of Students with Special Needs
The purpose of the course is to enable the teacher trainee to use
appropriate assessment procedures in order to contribute to eligibility,
placement, and curricular decisions for students who may need special
education services. Content includes the study of instruments and
techniques used to assess developmental and educational progress. This
class must be taken concurrently with SPED 335. Prerequisite is SPED
210; SPED 325 must be taken previously or concurrently. (Fall and
Spring)
SPED 335
1 hour
Assessment Practicum
This supervised field experience provides opportunities to work with
general and special education professionals to assess student needs and
plan educational experiences to meet those needs within consultative
service delivery models. This class must be taken concurrently with SPED
330. (Fall and Spring)
SPED 345
2 hours
Behavior Management
This class offers techniques for developing academic and social behaviors
of infants, toddlers, children, and youth, with a focus on those with special
needs. Intervention strategies in the home and community are also
discussed. No prerequisites. This class must be taken before student
teaching in Special Education. (Fall and Spring)
SPED 349
3 hours
Communication Development and Communication Disorders
This class offers a survey of normal and atypical language development,
assessment, bilingual education, contributions of the educator to
overcoming language problems, and the relationships between oral
language and reading and writing. There are no prerequisites for this
course. (Interterm and Summer)
SPED 351
4 hours
Methods for Teaching Adolescents with Special Needs
This course covers both general and specific methods used by special
educators to teach adolescents with disabilities. The course includes IEP
development, instructional planning, and selection of instructional
methods to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities, behavior
disorders, and mental retardation. In addition, techniques for selecting
appropriate methods and delivering content, social, prevocational, and
vocational instruction on the basis of diagnostic information will be
demonstrated. This class is a prerequisite to SPED 495 and SPED 498.
This class must be taken concurrently with SPED 375. (Spring)
SPED 355
4 hours
SPED 360
2 hours
Methods for Teaching Children with Special Needs
This course covers both general and specific methods used by special
educators to teach children with disabilities. The course includes IEP
development, instructional planning, and selection of instructional
methods to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities, behavior
disorders, and mental retardation. In addition, delivering content, social
and prevocational instruction on the basis of diagnostic information will
be demonstrated. This class is a prerequisite to SPED 490 and SPED 498.
This class must be taken concurrently with SPED 375. (Spring)
Career, Transitional, and Vocational Programs for
Adolescents with Special Needs
This course covers career, transitional, and vocational programs for
adolescents with disabilities. Teachers will be trained to provide students
with disabilities with career, transitional, and vocational preparation and
options. The relationship of each of these programs to the IEP will be
addressed and the role of both special education teachers and vocational
specialists in providing services to meet the IEP will be explained.
Prerequisites include SPED 210 and 325. (Fall and Interterm)
SPED 366
1 hour
Methods for Students with Complex Needs
This course introduces general and specific methods used by special
educators to teach students with moderate to severe disabilities and/or
challenging health needs. The course includes instructional planning and
the selection of instructional methods to meet the needs of students with
complex disabilities. SPED 351 or 355 must be taken concurrently.
(Spring, alternate years)
SPED 375
2 hours
Methods Practicum
This class provides a supervised teaching experience with children or
adolescents in special education. This course will emphasize instructional
techniques and interventions presented in SPED 351 and/or 355. Students
will participate in IEP development, lesson planning, and instruction. It
must be taken concurrently with SPED 351 or 355. (Spring)
SPED 380/678 Topics in Special Education (variable secondary title)
1 hour
This class deals in depth with a specific topic related to infants, toddlers,
children or youth with disabilities or developmental risk conditions and/or
their families. (Summer)
SPED 490
6-8 hours
Student Teaching: Children with Special Needs
This course provides a supervised teaching experience with elementarylevel students in special education. The class will include experience in
making appropriate adaptations in the learning environments, materials,
and instructional strategies. Prerequisites include SPED 210, 220, 325,
330, 335, 345, 355, and 375. (Fall, Interterm, and Spring)
SPED 495
6-8 hours
Student Teaching: Adolescents with Special Needs
This course provides a supervised teaching experience with secondarylevel students in special education. The class will include experience in
making appropriate adaptations in the learning environments, material,
and instructional strategies. Prerequisites include SPED 210, 220, 325,
330, 335, 345, 351, and 375. (Fall, Interterm, and Spring)
SPED 497
4-6 hours
Practicum with Adolescents with Special Needs
This class provides a supervised teaching experience with adolescents who
receive special education services for specific learning disabilities,
behavior disorders, and mental retardation. This course includes
experience in making appropriate adaptations in the learning
environments, materials, and instructional strategies for adolescents with
mild to moderate disabilities. The class is taken by students who have
previously taken SPED 490 and wish to receive certification to teach in
special education at both elementary and secondary levels. Prerequisites
include SPED 210, 220, 325, 330, 335, 345, 351, 355, 360, and 375. (Fall,
Interterm, Spring)
SPED 498
1 hour
Senior Seminar
This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to reflect
on their student teaching experience and professional role with peers,
ACCK faculty, and as special educators. It deals with ethical issues,
advocacy, and professionalism in the changing context of special
education. Special education faculty and interested education faculty
alternate in guiding discussion on selected topics. Student teaching is
prerequisite to or may be taken concurrently with this class. (Fall and
Spring)
INDIVIDUALIZED COURSES AVAILABLE
SPED 295/495 Field Experience
1-4 hours
SPED 299/499 Independent Study
1-4 hours
SPED 388
1-12 hours
Experience-Based Education
SPED 445
1-4 hours
Readings and Research