Certificate in Special Education
Overview
Biola’s Certificate in Special Education — an online, 12-credit certificate offered at both the undergraduate and graduate level — will equip you as an educator to better serve students with special needs in the classroom. This program assists aspiring educators, general education classroom teachers who serve students with special needs, teachers who plan to later earn their Preliminary Education Specialist (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Instruction Credential, and administrators and curriculum specialists who desire to strengthen their special education expertise.
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Courses
Below are the course requirements for this academic program. For full program details, visit Biola's academic catalog.
Undergraduate Students
Courses for the certificate can be embedded into the liberal studies, multidisciplinary major, liberal studies, elementary education major, and can also be added to other majors at Biola. Courses from the certificate can also count toward the California Preliminary Education Specialist (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Instruction Credential. After taking LEDU 301: Introduction to Teaching, you can choose four of the five available courses.
| LEDU 361 | Issues in Special Education |
| This course provides a basic introduction to the history and educational philosophy of special education. It includes study of mild/moderate disabilities (specific learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, and emotional and behavioral disturbances). The course examines legal issues and laws pertaining to special education giving attention to school compliance and student and parent rights. Notes: Education Specialist Credential and Certificate candidates must pass with a grade of "B-" or higher. Grade Mode: A. | |
| LEDU 362 | Assessment and Evaluation of Exceptional Learners |
This course introduces the types and uses of assessments to identify the strengths and needs of exceptional learners and evaluate results to develop meaningful educational practice. It provides knowledge and skills necessary for selecting, administering, interpreting and reporting results of tests related to cognitive, affective, psychomotor and social development. Emphasis will be given to translating assessment data into making informed educational decisions. Lecture/Lab Hours: A 10-hour field practicum component is required. Notes:Education Specialist Credential and Certificate candidates must pass with a grade of "B-" or higher. Valid Certificate of Clearance and negative TB test results required for fieldwork. Grade Mode: A. | |
| LEDU 363 | Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs in Inclusive Settings |
The focus of this course is to provide teacher candidates with knowledge of learning disabilities including definitions, causes, and characteristics of learning disabilities in children. The course will provide students with the knowledge and skills to make accommodations and modifications (including adaptations with technology) for individuals with mild to moderate disabilities. Particular emphasis will be given to working on Student Study Teams to design instruction to meet the individual needs of underperforming students, to making referrals with appropriate documentation and to writing Individual Education Plans for students with identified learning disabilities. Lecture/Lab Hours: A 10-hour field practicum component is required. | |
| LEDU 364 | Behavior and Classroom Management for Students with Special Needs |
This course focuses on principles and procedures for modifying behavior in the classroom with emphasis given to the identification of factors that contribute to behavioral problems, systematic data collection, objective reporting, and implementation of various methods of reinforcement. Lecture/Lab Hours: A 10-hour field practicum component is required. Notes: Education Specialist Credential and Certificate candidates must pass with a grade of "B-" or higher. Valid Certificate of Clearance and negative TB test results required for fieldwork. Grade Mode: A. | |
| LEDU 369 | Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders |
This course offers an overview of student characteristics, theory and teaching applications for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Major theories, teaching approaches, trends, etiological and diagnostic issues, classroom structure and environmental arrangements, research based instructional strategies, and family involvement will be discussed. Lecture/Lab Hours: A 10-hour field practicum component is required. Notes: Education Specialist Credential and Certificate candidates must pass with a grade of "B-" or higher. Valid Certificate of Clearance and negative TB test results required for fieldwork. Grade Mode: A. | |
Graduate Students
The 12-credit Certificate in Special Education can be taken as a standalone program or can be applied to the M.S. in Special Education, M.A. in Teaching, M.A. in Education, or Special Education (Mild to Moderate Support Needs) Credential program. Including SEED 561 (a required course), you can choose three of the four available courses.
| SEED 561 | Issues in Special Education |
A basic introduction to the history and educational philosophy of special education. Study of mild/moderate disabilities (specific learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, and emotional and behavioral disturbances). Examination of legal issues and laws pertaining to special education, giving attention to school compliance and student and parent rights. Notes: Special Approval required. Education Specialist Credential and Certificate candidates must pass this course with a grade of "B-" or higher. This course is waived if LEDU 361 was taken as an undergraduate. Grade Mode: A. | |
| SEED 562 | Assessment and Evaluation of Exceptional Learners |
Introduction to the types and uses of assessments to identify the strengths and needs of exceptional learners and evaluate results to develop meaningful educational practice. Provides knowledge and skills necessary for selecting, administering, interpreting and reporting results of tests related to cognitive, affective, psychomotor and social development. Emphasis is given to translating assessment data into making informed educational decisions. Lecture/Lab Hours: A 10-hour field practicum component is required. Notes: Education Specialist Credential and Certificate candidates must pass this course with a grade of "B-" or higher. Valid Certificate of Clearance and negative TB test results required for fieldwork. This course is waived if LEDU 362 was taken as an undergraduate. Grade Mode: A. | |
| SEED 563 | Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs in Inclusive Settings |
Provides teacher candidates with knowledge of learning disabilities including definitions, causes, and characteristics of learning disabilities in children. Provides students' teachers the knowledge and skills to make accommodations and modifications (including adaptations with technology) for individuals with mild to moderate disabilities. Particular emphasis is given to working on Student Study Teams to design instruction to meet the individual needs of underperforming students, to making referrals with appropriate documentation, and to writing Individual Education Plans for students with identified learning disabilities. Lecture/Lab Hours: A 10-hour field practicum component is required. Notes: Education Specialist Credential and Certificate candidates must pass this course with a grade of "B-" or higher. Valid Certificate of Clearance and negative TB test results required for fieldwork. This course is waived if LEDU 363 was taken as an undergraduate. Grade Mode: A. | |
| SEED 564 | Behavior and Classroom Management for Students with Special Needs |
Focus on principles and procedures for modifying behavior in the classroom with emphasis given to the identification of factors that contribute to behavioral problems, systematic data collection, objective reporting, and implementation of various methods of reinforcement. Lecture/Lab Hours: A 10-hour field practicum component is required. Notes: Education Specialist Credential and Certificate candidates must pass this course with a grade of "B-" or higher. Valid Certificate of Clearance and negative TB test results required for fieldwork. This course is waived if LEDU 364 was taken as an undergraduate. Grade Mode: A. | |
| SEED 580 | Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders |
This course offers an overview of student characteristics, theory and teaching applications for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Major theories, teaching approaches, trends, etiological and diagnostic issues, classroom structure and environmental arrangements, research-based instructional strategies, and family involvement will be discussed. Lecture/Lab Hours: A 10-hour field practicum component is required. Notes:Education Specialist Credential and Certificate candidates must pass this course with a grade of "B-" or higher. Valid Certificate of Clearance and negative TB test results required for fieldwork. This course is waived if LEDU 369 was taken as an undergraduate. Grade Mode: A. | |