Degrees for Education

SPECIAL EDUCATION/ COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
Professor Robert Rhodes, department head

Professors De Leon, Gallegos; Associate Professors Brown, Chinn, Derer, Lopez, Stout; Assistant Professors Brobeck, Duseau, Klasner, Poel, Rhein, Salas, J. Wood

(575) 646-2402
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science in Education
MAJOR: Special Education Communication Disorders

The Department of Special Education/Communication Disorders offers two undergraduate programs that prepare professionals to work with exceptional populations in school, community, hospital, and residential settings. The Special Education program prepares students to provide appropriate educational services to individuals with disabilities. The Communication Disorders program provides training for students interested in speech-language pathology or audiology.

MAJOR: Special Education
The undergraduate program is designed to prepare students for licensure in special education. Students receive training in a broad based curriculum appropriate for teaching and other career options related to special education and developmental disabilities. In addition to special education course work, students complete an academic teaching field and may elect to pursue course work in a variety of focal areas including early childhood special education, developmental disabilities, or counseling and educational psychology. Dual licensure in special and regular education (elementary or secondary) may be obtained.

General education requirements are similar for all degree programs in the College of Education. Students should meet with an adviser to plan appropriate general education courses for a special education major. Students may get a dual license in special education and elementary education or in special education and secondary education.
Professional Education Courses (34 credits) SPED 350, Survey of Programs for Exceptional Learners 3
SPED 360, Curriculum, Methods, and Materials for Special Education 3
SPED 459, Approaches to Classroom Management for Exceptional Learners 3
SPED 463, Assessment of Exceptional Learners 3
SPED 470, Life Span Development and Transitions in Special Education 2
SPED 481, Practicum in Special Education 2
Two of the following courses: SPED 458, Intellectual Disabilities: An Introduction; SPED 466, The Learning Disabled Student; SPED 467, Behavior Disorders 6
SPED 482, Student Teaching 12
All special education students will choose a developmental psychology course (C EP 110G) and EMD 101.

OPTIONS:

All special education students must choose one of the following options:
Dual License in Elementary Education (50 credits) Complete the Language Arts Teaching Field or Requirements for Elementary Education majors 24
Complete the Elementary Education Major Requirements 18
C D 365, Language Acquisition for Non-Communication Disorders 3
EDUC 489, Elementary School Practicum 3
RDG 371, Instruction for Special Reading Needs 3

Dual License in Secondary Education (48 credits) Complete first teaching field requirements in one area 36 (min.)
C D 365, Language Acquisition for Non-Communication Disorders 3
EDUC 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, or 467, Secondary Methods (take course appropriate for teaching field 3
EDUC 489, Secondary School Practicum 3
RDG 371, Instruction for Special Reading Needs 3

Special Education and Focal Areas (Early Childhood-Special Education, Developmental Disabilities, or Counseling and Educational Psychology) (48 credits)

For detailed course work, see the Advisement Center.
Complete a second teaching field 24 (min.) C D 365, Language Acquisition for Non-Communication Disorders 3
RDG 371, Instruction for Special Reading Needs 3
Additional course work in one area of ECED-SPED, DD, or C EP. (See an adviser for details.) 24

General Requirements

See “General Requirements” in the “College of Education” section. Students must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program as a condition for enrolling in courses that lead to licensure.

MAJOR: Communication Disorders
The Communication Disorders curriculum provides specialized preparation for students who plan to enter a graduate program to become speech-language pathologists or audiologists. Students supplement their academic study of normal communication, communication disorders, and clinical management with observation and supervised clinical experience in the department’s Speech and Hearing Center. To begin the clinical practicum sequence (C D 321, C D 462,) a student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The undergraduate program provides approximately one-half of the academic requirements needed for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensure by the New Mexico State Department of Education. Certification and licensure at state and national levels requires completion of the master’s degree. Details regarding certification are available from the Department of Special Education/Communication Disorders.

Professional employment opportunities for speech-language pathologists and audiologists are numerous in school systems, community clinics, medical centers, hospitals, private practice, residential programs, and schools for individuals with disabilities.

Overview
“Teacher Leaders for Tomorrow’s Schools”

The Initial Professional Teacher Education (IPTE) programs at the University of Colorado Denver provides graduate and undergraduate licensing options in elementary and secondary education. At the graduate level, we also have licensing in special education. The IPTE programs also offers a unique option to complete a dual license in teacher licensure and special education.

The IPTE programs foster critically reflective inquiry about teaching and learning with a commitment to urban and diverse schools. Teacher candidates develop the skills necessary to work effectively with other adults on schooling issues and become leaders to affect change in education. The IPTE programs strive to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population of students, and to productively participate in and lead school renewal by applying democratic principles in educational settings.

The IPTE Programs are designed to:
Provide in-depth experiences in award-winning professional development schools from the beginning of study.
Prepare teacher candidates for a variety of settings through a combination of academic hands-on experiences.
Provide new teachers with knowledge and skills in areas with a need for highly trained professionals.
Results in candidates earning a Colorado Initial Teachers License.
Leads to a seamless transition into a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Psychology or Special Education.

Graduate Information Sessions
All prospective students who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree are requested to attend an information session to learn more about elementary, secondary and special education licensing. Attending this information session is an important part of the application process. Academic advisors will be available to review transcripts and provide pre-admission advising. In order to more effectively facilitate this process, please bring unofficial copies of all transcripts. Dates are subject to change, so please revisit this schedule periodically.

No registration for these sessions is required. Please see schedule below for upcoming dates. Please allow at least 3 weeks to prepare admission materials. Our next admission deadlines for Summer and Fall 2009 admission are January 15, February 15 and March 15, 2009. Please keep checking this site for updates to the room location.

The Lawrence Street Center is located at 1380 Lawrence Street. Metered parking is available on Lawrence or any other surrounding side streets. Cash only parking is available in the Denver Center Performing Arts parking structure. The light rail stop is at the Convention Center two blocks south of the building.

Month
Session Date Time Location
January 13th & 27th 1-2p.m. & 5:30-6:30p.m. (both days)
Lawrence Street Center,

Jan, 13-Room 745 for both sessions

Jan. 27-Room 700-day session; Room 745-evening session
February 10th & 24th 1-2p.m. & 5:30-6:30p.m.(both days)
Lawrence St. Center, Room 700-day session

Room 745-evening session
March 10th & 24th 1-2p.m. & 5:30-6:30p.m.(both days)
Lawrence St. Center, Room 700-day session

Room 745-evening session
April 14th & 28th 1-2p.m. & 5:30-6:30p.m.(both days)
Lawrence St. Center, Room 700-day session

Room 745-evening session
May 12th & 26th 1-2p.m. & 5:30-6:30p.m. (both days)
Lawrence St. Center,

May 12 Room 700-day session; Room 745-evening session

May 26-Room 700 for both sessions

If you have additional questions, please contact Meredith Lopez, School of Education and Human Development, Academic Advisor, at 303-315-4980, meredith.lopez@ucdenver.edu.

Undergraduate Information Sessions
Prospective students for undergraduate teacher education areas are invited to attend an information session to learn more about elementary and secondary undergraduate degrees and licensing. Sessions are at 1:00 p.m. and will last approximately one hour. Immediately following the information session, the undergraduate Education Academic Advisor will be available to meet individually with prospective students to review transcripts and provide pre-admission advising. In order to more effectively facilitate this process, please bring unofficial copies of all transcripts with you.

Times: 1:00 pm

Please see schedule below for upcoming dates.

Month
Session Date Location
Feb.
10th, Tuesday Lawrence Street Center, room 700
Feb. 23rd, Monday Lawrence Street Center, room 700
March 10th, Tuesday
Lawrence Street Center, room 700
March 30th, Monday Lawrence Street Center, room 700
April 14th, Tuesday Lawrence Street Center, room 700
May 12th, Tuesday Lawrence Street Center, room 700

You do not have to register to attend. Just show up with a copy of your transcripts for advisor evaluation. Dates are subject to change, so please revisit calendar periodically. If you are unable to attend a session time, you are invited to schedule an individual appointment with the Undergraduate Education Advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Advising office, 303-556-2555. For additional information contact, Stephanie Hamington at stephanie.hamington@cudenver.edu

For more information call the School of Education Student Services Center at 303-315-6300. The Lawrence Street Center is located at 1380 Lawrence Street. Metered parking is available on Lawrence or any other surrounding side streets.

Advising Sessions
Immediately after each information session, the IPTE Academic Advisors are available to review individual’s transcripts and discuss program requirements. Advisors are also available by appointment Monday through Friday.

All candidates must have a program advising form signed by a IPTE Academic Advisor before applying to the Initial Professional Teacher Education Program.

The IPTE Advising form is considered a contract among UCD, Colorado Department of Education and the student. This contract verifies that appropriate program pre-requisites have been taken or will be taken for elementary, secondary and dual special education programs. These courses constitute a student’s teachable body of knowledge. Individual advising sessions, after attendance at an information session are also available by appointment.
Elementary, Secondary & Special Education licensing programs
Meredith Lopez
Academic Advisor
meredith.lopez@cudenver.edu
303-315-4980

Program Options

IPTE Graduate Program
The graduate program is for individuals with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree who seek a Colorado Initial Teachers License in the following areas:

Elementary Education License (K-6) 40 semester hours
Secondary Education License (7-12) 37 semester hours
English
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Foreign Language (Spanish, French)
Special Education Generalist License and Endorsement (K-12) 58 semester hours
Dual General Education/Special Education IPTE teacher candidates may earn an initial license in elementary or secondary education with an additional endorsement in special education, or, an initial license in special education with an additional endorsement in elementary or secondary education.

IPTE Undergraduate Program

University of Colorado Denver offers an undergraduate teacher licensure option through a collaboration between the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and the Initial Professional Teacher Education (IPTE) Division of the School of Education and Human Development.

UC Denver offers an undergraduate program in the areas of:
Elementary Education
Secondary English
Secondary Math
Secondary Social Studies
Foreign Language (Spanish and French)

Undergraduate Teacher Candidates (TCs) begin their studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Major and Licensure Areas:
BA - Individually Structured Major
Elementary Education Licensure
BA - English Literature
Secondary English Licensure
BS - Mathematics
Secondary Mathematics Licensure
BA - History
Secondary Social Science Licensure
BA - Political Science
Secondary Social Science Licensure
BA - Spanish
Secondary Spanish Licensure
BA - French
Secondary French Licensure

Campbell University offers a B.S. in Middle Grades Education as well as a Lateral Entry Licensure only in Middle Grades and an M.Ed. The B.S. in Middle Grades Education at Campbell University is designed to prepare candidates to teach in a true middle school setting. Students successfully completing the program earn a Bachelor of Science degree and an initial or A-level licensure to teach one of four content areas in grades 6-9: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies. Candidates choose a secondary area of concentration from the four areas in which they earn an additional 18 credit hours. With these hours, they have a solid foundation in a secondary concentration area, enabling them to successfully pass the Praxis II exam for a dual license for 6th -9th grades.