Program Overview

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Moderate Disabilities Program

Initial License

The Moderate Disabilities Program is designed for candidates who possess a bachelor's degree and wish to obtain an Initial Licensure in Grades PreK-2, PreK-8, or 5-12. The purpose of the program is to address the skills required of special education teachers as they provide challenging yet developmentally appropriate instruction/curriculum that enables individuals with moderate disabilities to become independent and self-sufficient functioning adults.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Moderate Disabilities Program, the candidate will be able to:

• Articulate, discuss, and show an understanding of the developmental milestones and learning challenges of students with moderate disabilities and its impact on student learning and self-efficacy.
• Identify, examine, deduce, and create learning environments that are safe, culturally responsive, competent, and inclusive, so that students with moderate disabilities can develop self-awareness, self-determination, and establish positive social skills.
• Identify, use, and interpret multiple sources of assessment data for making appropriate educational decisions for students with moderate disabilities.
• Compare, contrast, decide, select, and adapt instructional strategies that are undergirded by best practices (including assistive technology) and are used to improve and strengthen student learning outcomes.

What You'll Learn

Learn how to identify, evaluate, and adapt teaching strategies for students with moderate disabilities.

Future Studies

Candidates who complete the Moderate Disabilities program have a firm foundation that can be built upon with graduate and doctoral degrees in education.

Career Opportunities

The Moderate Disabilities program prepares students for an initial license teaching to a broad scope of age groups, including PreK-8 and 5-12.

Degree Requirements

PreK-2 Track:

Foundational Courses

• EDU5420: The Culturally Responsive Practitioner
• EDU5410: Introduction to Special Education (25 hours*)

Professional Area Courses

• EDU5430: Differentiating Instruction and the IEP Process (25 hours*)
• EDU5525: Social Emotional Learning and Behavioral Interventions in PK-2 Classrooms
• EDU5515: Early Literacy Instruction in the Inclusive Classroom (25 hours*)
• EDU5560: Mathematic Instruction for Diverse Learners (25 hours*)
• EDU5550: Language Acquisition and Literacy

Specialty Area Course

• EDU5610: School and Community Support of Families
• EDU6600: Assessment, Methods, and Materials for Teaching Special Education

PreK-8 Track:

Foundational Courses

• EDU5420: The Culturally Responsive Practitioner
• EDU5410: Introduction to Special Education (25 hours*)

Professional Area Courses

• EDU5430: Differentiating Instruction and the IEP Process (25 hours*)
• EDU6610: Behavior Management
• EDU5510: Literacy Instruction in the Inclusive Classroom (25 hours*)
• EDU5560: Mathematic Instruction for Diverse Learners (25 hours*)

Specialty Area Course

• EDU6600: Assessment, Methods, and Materials for Teaching Special Education

5-12 Track

Foundational Courses

• EDU5420: The Culturally Responsive Practitioner
• EDU5410: Introduction to Special Education (25 hours*)

Professional Area Courses

• EDU5430: Differentiating Instruction and the IEP Process (25 hours*)
• EDU6610: Behavior Management
• EDU6661: Literacy in the Content Areas for Middle & Secondary Schools (25 hours*)
• EDU6672: Middle and Secondary School Methods in Mathematics (25 hours*)
• EDU5600: Post Secondary Options through Collaborative Educational Planning

Specialty Area Course

• EDU6600: Assessment, Methods, and Materials for Teaching Special Education

Licensure Track

• EDU 6624: Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP) Seminar
• EDU 6839/6840: Practicum in Education I/II: Moderate Disabilities

Degree-Only, Non-Licensure Track

• EDU 6638/6639: Field-Based Research I/II: Moderate Disabilities
• EDU 6622/6623: Field-Based Action Research I/II

Master of Education Degree or CAGS Awarded

• Total credits: 36-39
• Licensure Track: 36 credits
• Degree only, Non-licensure Track: 33 credits

Additional Program Notes

All licensure candidates have the option to take EDU 6625: Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement Course for Teachers. SEI is not a requirement for practicum nor obtaining your degree. This is a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requirement to obtain your licensure.

Course Descriptions

EDU5410 - Introduction to Special Education (3)

This course investigates the developmental factors and influences that impact child growth and learning for the special needs child. Identification processes of children who have special needs and the pedagogical study of clinical interventions and cognitive aids are explored to aid special education children. State regulations (Chapter 766) and Federal requirements (IDEA) will be covered in depth, as well as the creation of documentation of the Individual Education Plan (IEP).

EDU6610 - Behavior Management (3)

Students will engage in a survey of current practices of classroom management for regular and special needs students. Theory, materials, and practical applications will be included. Special attention is given to communication, observation, group and class management skills.

EDU6600 - Assessment, Methods, & Materials for Teaching in Special Ed. (3)

This course involves learning techniques for teaching and assessing students with special needs both in and out of the general education environment. Class sessions will be devoted to lectures, demonstrations, discussions, audio-visual material, and topics of particular interest within the area of assessment.

EDU6624 - Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP) Seminar (3)

The seminar sequence is taken concurrently with the culminating/practicum semester to integrate specific topics and competencies with the Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP).

EDU6625 - Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement Course Teachers (3)

This course will provide a comprehensive model for instruction for preparing teachers to work with English language learners, (PreK-12) in all classrooms.

EDU6661 - Literacy in the Content Areas for Middle and Secondary Schools (3)

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.

EDU6672 - Middle and Secondary School Methods in Math (3)

This graduate level course examines theoretical and developmental models of mathematics instruction in order to prepare candidates to plan and implement effective instruction based on the diverse cognitive, language, and developmental needs of students.

EDU6839/6840 - Practicum in Education: Moderate Disabilities (9)

The practicum requirement for initial licensure in MA for those employed as classroom teachers in the field in which they are seeking licensure.

EDU6622/6623 - Field-Based Action Research I/II (3)

This is a research and statistics based course that leads to the completion of an APA formatted classroom based research project.

EDU5420 - The Culturally Responsive Practitioner (3)

This course looks at what it means to be a culturally responsive practitioner.

EDU5430 - Differentiating Instruction and the IEP Process (3)

This course explores the IEP process and the specific requirements for completing the sections of the document.

EDU5510 - Literacy Instruction in the Inclusive Classroom (3)

This course explores the knowledge and skills required to instruct students in learning how to read and to assess one’s reading skills.

EDU5560 - Mathematical Instruction for Diverse Learners (3)

This course explores the concept of how children learn math, the critical issues in math education, and the mathematical content and pedagogy needed to educate diverse learners.

EDU5600 - Post Secondary Options Through Collaborative Educational Planning (3)

This course explores the IEP transition assessment and person-centered planning for students with disabilities in preparation for their exit from the PK-12 system to the adult service system, workforce, military, or further education at either 2 or 4 year colleges.

EDU5525 - Social Emotional Learning and Behavioral Interventions in PK-2 Classrooms (3)

This course focuses on the application of research-based social-emotional learning practices to develop pro-social early learning environments.

EDU5515 - Early Literacy Instruction in the Inclusion Classroom (3)

This course focuses on exploring effective instructional strategies for the teaching of reading following the guidelines of current Science of Reading Research.

EDU5550 - Language Acquisition and Literacy (3)

This course provides an overview of the research associated with first and second language acquisition.

EDU5610 - School and Community Support of Families (3)

This course addresses family-centered approaches to early childhood special education and transition for young children with disabilities.