Transition to Teaching (T2T) in Mild Interventions

Program Overview

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Transition to Teaching in Mild Interventions

Unleash your potential as a special education teacher.

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding journey into special education? The University of Indianapolis' Transition to Teaching (T2T) licensure only program in Mild Interventions is your gateway to becoming a licensed special education teacher for grades PK-12. Designed for bachelor's degree holders, our program offers a unique blend of online learning and hands-on experience that will prepare you to make a lasting impact in the lives of students with mild and moderate disabilities.

Advantages

• Flexible Online Coursework: Balance your studies with your current commitments.
• Experiential Learning: Gain confidence through hands-on classroom experiences.
• Expert Faculty: Learn from seasoned professionals passionate about special education.
• Comprehensive Preparation: Develop the skills to become a highly-effective special education teacher.

A vibrant learning community

At UIndy, we believe in creating a supportive, engaging environment that nurtures your development as an educator:

• Knowledge Cafe: Access a treasure trove of resources and materials to design lessons, plan interventions, and build your expertise.
• Monthly Happy Hours: Join faculty and special education professionals for lively conversations, games, and networking opportunities. It's learning with a twist of fun!
• Community of Practice: Connect with fellow aspiring teachers, share experiences, and build lasting professional relationships.

ABOUT THE TRANSITION to teaching (T2T) in Mild Interventions (Licensure only program)

Program Length and format

The program is 24 credit hours across four semesters. All classes are offered online.

Fast-Track to Licensure

Complete the program in just 15 months and earn your initial teaching license in mild interventions.

Real-World Experience

Engage in authentic field experiences in actual school settings, applying your learning in real-time.

Personalized Support

Work closely with a highly-skilled university coordinator and a mentor teacher who will guide your growth.

Pathway to Advanced Degree

Apply your T2T courses toward a Master of Arts in Special Education.

Courses

EDUC 504 - Reading Foundations

This course focuses on PK-12 literacy curriculum and instruction driven by informal and formal literacy assessment. Emphasis is placed on creating classrooms that encourage exploration and communication of ideas using developmentally appropriate practice. Literacy will focus on explicit, hands-on instruction in print concepts, oral language, phonological awareness, letter knowledge, phonics, linguistics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension as well as strategies for content and disciplinary literacy. The role of writing to learn is also addressed, with specific strategies and applications appropriate to various content areas. This course integrates unit and lesson planning and includes field implementation.

EDUC 519 - Systemic Interventions for Students with Reading Difficulties

In this course, candidates will focus on assessment and intervention with children experiencing literacy difficulties for a variety of reasons. In this course, candidates will use the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to design and differentiate curriculum and assessments in order to build the literacy skills for all learners, including students with mild disabilities, high abilities, twice-exceptional, and English language learners (ELLs). Special emphasis will be placed on dyslexia/dysgraphia, language-based disabilities, ELLs, and other common neuro-divergences in the elementary literacy classroom (e.g., autism, ADHD, behavioral difficulties). Candidates will learn to ground interventions in student motivation, choice, and voice, focusing on merging meaningful, interesting content with explicit skills instruction. Emphasis will be placed on high-quality teacher-child relationships and positive perceptions of all children in order to individualize and differentiate.

EDUC 526 - UDL and Co-Teaching

In this course, candidates will explore the history, issues, and challenges of inclusion as a societal ideology and one in which students with disabilities are educated alongside typical students in the general education classroom. Methods such as co-teaching will be studied as a way to create full-inclusion schools and classrooms. Legal and ethical requirements related to educational equity, health and safety, confidentiality, reporting, record keeping, and accountability will be explored. Candidates will visit schools that promote different inclusion models and speak to experts in the field of special and general education. In addition, candidates will be exposed to unique challenges of inclusion such as how to teach and build inclusive STEM projects and activities that meet the expectation of having ‘low floors, high ceilings, and wide walls.’ The course applies toward a license in mild interventions. This course includes a field component.

EDUC 527 - High Leverage Practices in Special Education

This course will address evidence-based practices and interventions when students are not making progress as indicated by progress monitoring measures. Candidates will explore the interconnectedness of problem-solving frameworks, data analysis, and high leverage practices to address learning challenges for students with exceptionalities. Candidates will come away with a deep understanding of how to apply a problem-solving framework to analyze student needs and pair these needs with high leverage practices to address the learning needs of their students.

EDUC 528 - Field Experience in HLPs & Systemic Intervention

This course is paired with EDUC 527: High Leverage Practices in Special Education and EDUC 519: Systemic Interventions. Through this course, students will work closely with an on-site mentor teacher and field supervisor to apply the concepts of EDUC 527 and EDUC 519 in an immersive school setting experience. The mentor teacher and field supervisor will provide supervision and feedback to the candidates as they work to apply concepts of special education.

EDUC 568 - Student Teaching in MI

Observation, participation, and student teaching under the supervision of a Cooperating Teacher (CT) and the direction of the University Supervisor (US). Student teaching provides candidates with an opportunity to integrate the theories, methods, and techniques of the teaching-learning process in an elementary or secondary classroom setting. Throughout this experience, student teachers will demonstrate and document their readiness to qualify for an Indiana teaching license.

EDUC 572 - Introduction to Students with Mild Disabilities (3 credit hours)

This course introduces the characteristics, history, and identification of students with mild disabilities. Particular attention is devoted to understanding disability as a social construct, the impact of labels on children and families, and the concepts of cultural competence and normalization. Strategies of working collaboratively with other professionals and families to optimize the child's outcomes in the inclusive classroom and community are stressed.

EDUC 576 - Classroom Management through Positive Behavior Support (3 credit hours)

This course presents a framework for creating an instructional environment based on positive behavior support and school wide discipline. Knowledge and skills of proactive classroom management to promote the academic, behavioral, and social success of students are presented. These approaches range from the techniques of self-management to collaborative problem solving. Functional assessment and analysis as methods to determine causes of challenging behavior and academic failure are stressed. An overview of conflict resolution curricula is provided with strategies to prevent and manage school-based crises.

EDUC 577 - Family and Professional Collaboration (3 credit hours)

This course examines the dynamics of empowerment as a means of developing effective school-family partnerships. Starting from a "system of care" perspective, effective strategies for supporting families as they negotiate educational challenges and for promoting collaboration among the various professionals serving learners and their families are discussed. Required field-based assignments are designed to help participants identify and understand community-based resources beyond their individual school settings.

EDUC 578 - Field Experience in Special Education & Classroom Management

This course is paired with EDUC 572: Introduction to Special Education and EDUC 576: Classroom Management through Positive Behavior Support. Through this course, students will work closely with an on-site mentor teacher and field supervisor to apply the concepts of EDUC 572 and EDUC 576 in an immersive school setting experience. The mentor teacher and field supervisor will provide supervision and feedback to the candidates as they work to apply concepts of special education.

EDUC 589 - Exit from Program Portfolio

In this 0.5 credit hour course, candidates develop and submit the Exit from Program Portfolio, Pearson’s edTPA. Candidates will complete a series of training modules designed to guide them through compiling each task of the edTPA. Candidates will also receive training on overarching concepts in the edTPA, such as understanding and infusing academic language into their teaching. This course is required for all School of Education initial preparation programs.

Admission Requirements

• A completed online application form.
• 500 word (maximum) statement of purpose highlighting your interest in the program and how it will benefit your practice.
• A current CV/resume.
• Current teaching license, if applicable.
• Official academic transcript from a regionally accredited college or university.
• GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

Tuition & Aid

• View Graduate Tuition Rates
• Financial Aid for Graduate Students

The University of Indianapolis is participating in a tuition assistance program through the Indiana Special Education Assisted Licensure Program. Financial aid is available for students seeking a master's degree.

Your Journey Starts at UIndy

Embark on a transformative experience that will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and support network to excel as a special education teacher. At UIndy, we're not just preparing teachers; we're nurturing compassionate educators ready to make a difference in the world of special education.

Ready to take the first step? Contact us today to learn more about how you can join our next cohort of aspiring special education teachers!