Minor in Special Education

Special Education Teachers: Special education teachers enjoy the challenge of working with students with disabilities and the opportunity to establish meaningful relationships with them. Special education teachers work with children and youths who have a variety of disabilities. A small number of special education teachers work with students with mental retardation or autism, primarily teaching them life skills and basic literacy. However, the majority of special education teachers work with children with mild to moderate disabilities, using the general education curriculum, or modifying it, to meet the child's individual needs. Most special education teachers instruct students at the elementary, middle, and secondary school level, although some teachers work with infants and toddlers.

Special education teachers use various techniques to promote learning. Depending on the disability, teaching methods can include individualized instruction, problem-solving assignments, and small-group work. When students need special accommodations in order to take a test, special education teachers see that appropriate ones are provided, such as having the questions read orally or lengthening the time allowed to take the test.

Employment: Special education teachers held a total of about 441,000 jobs in 2004. A great majority, about 90 percent, work in public schools. Another 6 percent work at private schools. Almost half work in elementary schools. A few worked for individual and social assistance agencies or residential facilities, or in homebound or hospital environments (U.S. Department of Labor, 2006). Some schools offer year-round education for special education students, but most special education teachers work only the traditional 10-month school year.

JMU Special Education Program: James Madison University's Exceptional Education Department is committed to the preparation of educators and others who teach and serve individuals with exceptionalities, and their families in a diverse society. We recognize and support the professional development of our students as a life-long endeavor and our programs are designed to develop and enhance each student's personal and professional growth as an effective, reflective, resilient educator.

The special education program is designed to prepare resilient educators who are advocates for students with disabilities, are qualified for the complexity of their professional roles, and are reflective problem-solvers. One goal is to enhance candidates' ability to withstand the pressures, engage effective problem-solving skills, and remain resilient in one of the most difficult fields of education. With an understanding of the organizational nature of schools, candidates are encouraged to implement practices learned in their preparation program. Another goal includes candidates' ability to implement research-based practices and positively influence current practice in the field. The program prepares candidates who understand the variety of potential special education roles in today's schools and through this understanding are able to advocate for individuals with exceptional learning needs and also for themselves as professionals.

Types of Programs Offered at JMU
5 Year Masters of Education (M.Ed.)* K-12*
Emotional Disturbance (ED)
Learning Disabilities (LD)
Mental Retardation (MR)
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)*
Non-Teaching Undergraduate Program (18 hr. minor)
Certificate Program in Autism

Program Descriptions

5 Year M.Ed Program

The undergraduate, pre-professional program in special education complements a professionally oriented master's degree program designed to prepare special education teachers. This program provides the requisite course offerings and experiences that form the foundation for admission to the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree program in special education. Completion of the M.Ed. program is required for K-12 licensure in special education with endorsements in emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, mental retardation, or Early Childhood Special Education. Graduates are prepared for special education roles in a variety of educational placement models and environments. Students completing the professional licensure program must meet a set of content and endorsement-specific criteria that has been established by the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as most other states. In order to meet these requirements, students are advised that they should major in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies (IDLS track 7), a major that provides students in the pre-professional program extended breadth and integration across the content areas of English/language arts, history/social studies, mathematics and the natural sciences and other majors that may be approved by the Program Coordinator.

Undergraduate Non-Teaching

This 18 credit, non-teaching minor program in special education is designed for students in other major fields who wish to acquire professional knowledge related to assisting individuals with disabilities but do not want to pursue Virginia teaching licensure.

Check our web site out for more information http://welcome.coe.jmu.edu/exceptionaled/special_ed.php

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