Certificate in Special Education
Description
The Graduate Certificate in Special Education prepares certificate candidates to work with students with a wide range of diverse needs. Trinity’s program focuses on evidence-based instructional strategies and data-driven best practices to enhance the skills needed to help those with varying social and learning abilities in today’s inclusive classrooms. Educators learn to develop effective behavioral interventions, differentiate instruction, and provide appropriate accommodations. Coursework will explore the intersecting relationships of school, home, and community and how they can work together to ensure all students meet their full potential.
Trinity has small class sizes for individualized attention and faculty teach foundational knowledge in an applied format, integrating students’ work and life experiences with the course information. All courses can apply towards a Master’s Degree in Special Education at Trinity.
Trinity’s faculty have extensive experience in a variety of special education areas and the courses are designed to provide the content knowledge and skills needed to enhance education opportunities for students with special needs.
Program Requirements
Core Requirements (18 credits)
EDCC 510 Human Growth and DevelopmentReviews theory and research in human growth and development over the life span. Emphasis is given to the interdisciplinary nature of human development, particularly the relationships among the biological, cognitive, social, and psychological domains. Critical life events and their adjustments from the prenatal period through adulthood are discussed, stressing the interaction between the developing person and a continually changing world. This course contains a field component.
3 credits
EDCC 530 Education of Exceptional Children and YouthSurveys major areas of exceptionality and legislated standards for special education and related services for students with special needs. Topics include inclusive education and collaboration between special educators, regular educators, related service providers, volunteers and parents. Also individual education programs (IEP) are examined in relation to students' needs and learning styles. The field experiences and observations are integral components of this course.
3 credits
EDCC 541 Foundations of Education and the Art of Teaching and LearningExamines current theory and practice in the processes of teaching and learning. These processes are embedded in human development, learning and motivational theories, and learning assessment. The social/cultural factors that have an impact on teaching and learning are also studied. This course will focus on topics of interest for educational psychologists as well as teachers and other professionals working with students. The course reviews theories of learning and styles of teaching from the most traditional to the latest innovations in the field. Classroom management techniques and strategies are studied and teacher candidates are required to analyze these and develop a classroom management plan. Field observations are a component of this course.
3 credits
EDCC 606 Assessment and Preparation of Individualized Learning PrescriptionsThis course provides a general background in assessment and evaluation issues, strategies, and techniques. Assessments as well as criteria for selecting assessments, inventories, for TESOL (listening, speaking, reading and writing), Special Education (diagnostic and individual evaluations), Elementary Education and Secondary Education. Development of assessments and evaluation tools along with rubrics is included. This course provides review of measurement statistics and practice with the administration, scoring, and interpretation of commonly used norm-referenced instruments and procedures for determination of eligibility for special education. Comparisons are made with informal assessment results, and ways to communicate results are discussed . Writi ng a formal report based on multiple data points is explained and detailed. The IEP process, from referral to eligibility determination and placement, is examined. Extensive field component with hands-on activities are an integral component of the course. A grade of B or higher is required to advance.
3 credits
Prerequisites: EDCC 510 and EDCC 541
EDTE 630 Human Relations and Career Education in Special EducationThis course examines contemporary trends and issues in career education and various strategies and methods established to provide for, and to improve the delivery of, appropriate educational and vocational services for students with disabilities as well as personal/social adjustment. A major focus is on the importance of transition planning. Parent/family and professional collaboration in multicultural settings is stressed. The field experience and practica assignments are integral components of this course. A grade of B or higher is required to advance.
3 credits
Prerequisites: EDCC 510, EDCC 530, and EDCC 541
EDTE 691 Practicum in Special EducationThis course requires candidates to fulfill clinical fieldwork requirements associated with licensure in special education. The internship requires candidate to complete clinical fieldwork associated with the following areas: IEP development; Assessment and Evaluation; Collaboration (with other professionals as well as with parents and families); Culture, Language, Race/Ethnicity (as it is associated with disability issues); and Instructional planning and implementation for students with diverse learning needs.
3 credits
Prerequisites: EDCC 510, EDCC 530, & EDCC 541
Program Policies
Transfer Credit Policy: Transfer credits may be accepted for a post-baccalaureate certificate program if they meet the student’s planned degree program just as they are for graduate degree programs. Students may transfer up to six total credits in alignment with the certificate curriculum. All other Trinity transfer credit policies apply.
Stackable Credentials: Trinity certificate courses may be applied to degree programs depending on the graduate degree program. Students enrolled in degree programs at Trinity may simultaneously pursue a certificate and these courses will count toward both credentials.
Academic Standing: Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the post-baccalaureate certificate program and may count no more than one course in which a “C” was earned toward the post-baccalaureate certificate. Courses in the certificate programs are repeatable. Satisfactory academic progress is a criterion for the award of financial aid. Students not making academic progress will be referred to their academic advisor for academic counseling. All other Trinity academic policies and procedures apply to certificate courses.