Historical development and present status of individuals with disabilities and those who are gifted. Focus on communication, parent involvement, finance, legal issues, ethics/professionalism and trends in special education.

Basic issues in dynamics of learning and evaluation related to exceptionality. Emphasizes understanding learning and evaluation processes for purposes of individual and group educational planning.

Develop skills in intrapersonal/interpersonal dynamics in serving exceptional learners. Focus on communication, collaboration and consultation in the context of multicultural educational settings along a continuum of special education.

Study of components of effective schools and the relationship to child, family, community and professionals. Roles of special educators and different service delivery models presented and analyzed.

Provide theoretical framework in transition process from school to adult life including historical/legal, planning, curricular, interagency, self-determination and parent/family aspects of transition.

Explore issues in assessment related to exceptional children. Emphasis placed on principles, purposes, and processes of assessment related to programming in special education.

Introductory course designed for regular classroom teachers with information about various disabilities and the gifted/talented. Emphasis on identifying, accommodating and adapting for students in inclusive settings.

The special education Teacher Candidate will be provided opportunities to observe, analyze and reflect on issues including diversity, professionalism, rights and responsibilities, and instruction in a K-12 classroom. S/U graded.

A variety of workshops on special topics within the discipline. Goals and objectives will emphasize the acquisition of general knowledge and skills in the discipline. Repeatable, under different subtitles.

Provides effective strategies to educate all students, particularly at secondary level. Overviews special education process and inclusive education models; characteristics, transitional needs, and culturally/linguistically different exceptional learners and their families.

This course is designed to provide the historical and legal foundations of special education and the educational implications for educators of students with exceptionalities.

This course provides an overview of learning environments, collaboration and consultation among teachers, related services professionals, and families, and emphasizes culturally appropriate communication strategies.

Students gain knowledge and skills for selecting, adapting, and using assessments, developing Individualized Education Programs, and planning instruction within a continuum of service delivery models.

Update skills and knowledge of professionals in the discipline. Goals and objectives will be specifically directed at individual professional enhancement rather than the acquisition of general discipline knowledge or methodologies. S/U or letter graded. Repeatable, under different subtitles.

Includes an overview of persons with profound needs and their families including their characteristics and needs. Programmatic issues are also emphasized in relation to current research.

Emphasizes the assessment - intervention - evaluation approach for learners with profound needs. The use of developmental/ behavioral/ecological assessment approaches as well as transdisciplinary approaches are emphasized.

Prerequisite: Full admittance to PTEP or certification at undergraduate level required. Review methodological approaches to serving individuals with profound needs and their application; emphasizes teaching strategies, consultation techniques and accessing multi-agency resources.

Prerequisite: Full admittance to PTEP or certification at undergraduate level required. Reviews teaching approaches to serve students with profound needs at the prevocational/ vocational levels and application of approaches; emphasis on residential-employment competencies and transition from school to work.

Designed to synthesize experience and coursework in the area of educating students with profound needs. Emphases are on issues, research, classroom application and consultation.

Consent of Instructor. Includes research and policy relative to the learners with profound needs. Ethics of conducting research with these individuals, current research results and relevant public policy are the main foci.

Prerequisite: Full admittance to PTEP or certification at undergraduate level required. Entails supervised clinical experience with young and older individuals with profound handicaps. Daily supervision by a master teacher with overall supervision by UNC faculty is provided. S/U graded. Repeatable, maximum of 12 credits.

Prerequisites: Regular admission into one of the Special Education Severe Needs Programs, or completion of one of the programs. Introduce instructional and assessment issues related to the education of linguistically diverse students with low incidence disabilities.

The course promotes in-depth reflection on collaboration with families of young children using a case method of instruction. Family systems perspectives and family centered approaches are emphasized.

The course explores theory and application of assessment methods in Early Childhood Special Education. Cross-disciplinary approaches, matching assessment procedures to the intended purpose, and linked assessment/planning systems are emphasized.

The course will explore typical and atypical patters of early child development; biological, cultural, and environmental influences; and implications for appropriate practice in Early Childhood Special Education.

The course explores recommended practices for inclusive education of young children with developmental concerns. Developmentally appropriate, individally responsive, cross-disciplinary, and evidence-based practices are emphasized across developmental domains.

The course explores efficacy research, state and federal policies and systems, nationally recommended practices, and advocacy processes that support high quality services in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE).

Prerequisites: EDFE 130 and passed PLACE/PRAXIS text. In their practicum experience, students build on knowledge and competencies gained throughout their master's program to synthesize their knowledge and apply recommended practices in ECSE settings.

Prerequisites: Pass ECSE PLACE or PRAXIS II, Pass Elem Content PLACE or PRAXIS II or documented Elem Ed License, Completion of PTEP courses (if any), Instructor consent. Students build on knowledge and competencies gained throughout their master’s program to synthesize their knowledge and apply recommended practices in EC/ECSE settings for children birth to 3 years of age.  Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.

Prerequisites: Pass ECSE PLACE or PRAXIS II, Pass Elem Content PLACE or PRAXIS II or documented Elem Ed License, Completion of PTEP courses (if any), Instructor consent. Students build on knowledge and competencies gained throughout their master’s program to synthesize their knowledge and apply recommended practices in EC/ECSE settings for children 3-5 years of age. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.

Prerequisites: Pass ECSE PLACE or PRAXIS II, Pass Elem Content PLACE or PRAXIS II or documented Elem Ed License, Completion of PTEP courses (if any), Instructor consent. Students build on knowledge and competencies gained throughout their master’s program to synthesize their knowledge and apply recommended practices in EC/ECSE settings for children 5-8 years of age. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.

Required laboratory arranged. Gain ability to understand the use of adapted materials and techniques in teaching independent living to individuals with visual disabilities. Emphasis given to recreational areas. Repeatable, maximum of 2 credits.

Historical perspectives and current educational services for the student with visual impairment and deaf-blindness across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on growth and development and psychosocial effects of visual impairment.

Prerequisite: EDFE 120 or EDFE 125  or certification at undergraduate level required. Discuss causes, characteristics, educational implications and instructional methods for student with visual/multiple disabilities. Learn effective teaming and collaborative planning strategies.

Study literary and nemeth codes, basic abacus operations. Techniques of teaching literacy skills to students with visual disabilities are included.

Philosophy and history of cane instruction, dog guides and other methods of travel. Techniques in developing orientation skills and pre- cane mobility instruction. Gross motor and concept development are presented.

Prerequisite: EDFE 120 or EDFE 125  and EDSE 546 or certification at undergraduate level required. Consent of instructor. Required laboratory arranged. A study of methods involved in general navigation and environmental awareness relating to severe vision needs. Travel techniques are gained while working under simulated conditions. Repeatable, maximum of four credits.

Anatomy and physiology of the eye, medical and educational assessment of low vision and functional implications of various eye conditions. Techniques to develop use of functional vision.

Prerequisites: EDSE 541 and EDSE 548. Assessment procedures related to learners with visual impairments. Determination of learning needs and appropriate learning media. Relationship of assessment, IEP development and placement.

This course is designed to provide the historical, legal, and cultural foundations of deaf education and the educational implications for the teacher and student who is deaf or hard of hearing.