Mar 29, 2024  
2005-2006 School of Graduate and Professional Studies Catalog 
    
2005-2006 School of Graduate and Professional Studies Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Special Needs - Initial Licensure


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Graduate Programs

Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) & (5-12)

The curriculum for the Special Needs programs leading to licensure in Moderate Disabilities addresses theories of language development, including differences between first and second language acquisition, and the effects of disabilities on learning, vocabulary development and diagnosis and assessment of that development, theories, concepts, and methods of assessment, educational terminology for students with mild to moderate disabilities, study of individualized Education Programs, curriculum development for students with mild to moderate disabilities, behavioral management principles, innovative practices emphasizing students with special needs, and the required pre-practicum and practicum experiences as described below. The course descriptions also provide further details about coverage of the above topics.

The moderate disabilities programs (preK-8 and 5-12) are designed in two different tracks:1) a 21-credit post-baccalaureate program that leads to Initial Licensure, and an optional 15 additional credit program to obtain a Masters degree in Initial Licensure, 2) a 36-credit Appropriate Master’s Degree Program for a Professional License.

General Information Special Needs (Pre-K-8, 5-12)


The program in Special Needs prepares professionals to work with children with moderate disabilities at the Pre-K and 5-12 levels who participate in integrated or self contained classrooms. These Programs Lead to Initial and Professional Licensure in Moderate Disabilities (Pre-K-8, 5-12).  The programs meet the following common core objectives by:

  • Providing students with a view of cognitive development of children and adolescents, learning theory for all learners, the philosophical implications for the regular education integration model (REI), and the utilization of behavioral management principles.
  • Making students aware of educational terminology for students with mild to moderate disabilities and knowledge of services provided by other agencies.
  • Providing opportunities for identification and remediation of various mild to moderate disability conditions.
  • Providing experiences in the field to enhance observational skills and an awareness of curriculum adaptation.
  • Providing opportunities to develop assessment skills and in particular, reporting, informal information: sensory motor checklists, pre-school screening, receptive and expressive language development.
  • Providing opportunities to develop experience to adapt curriculum goals, create materials, select technologically appropriate tools and prepare, implement, and evaluate individual education programs (IEPs).
  • Providing opportunities to integrate and federal regulations pertaining to special education.
  • Providing experiences for students to view the role of families and the community-at-large in dealing with various mild to moderate disabilities conditions of all learners.

The distinction between the different grade level licensures (i.e., Pre-K-8 and 5-12) lies in:

  • The entrance requirements (e.g., prior course work and provisional licensure);
  • The number of clock hours and the grade level for the practicum experience; and
  • Assignments within courses that address the grade level at which the student is pursuing licensure.

Specific Admission Requirements


  • application form and fee;
  • statement of professional goals;
  • official transcripts of all academic work (at a minimum a Bachelor’s degree);
  • two letters of recommendation;
  • a passing score on the communication & Literacy test (MTEL)
  • a copy of all Massachusetts teacher license, if any; and
  • official score on either the Miller’s Analogy or GRE.

Program of Study


Notes: Courses required for obtaining Initial Licensure in Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8, 5-12) are marked below with (*).

Pre-practicum courses are marked below with (**)

Practicum placements will be appropriate to the level of the license sought, PreK-8 or 5-12 and will meet the required clock hours for those levels and are marked below with (***).

Comprehensive Examination


Total Degree Requirements - Credits: 36


Completion of the Program


To successfully exit from the Special Needs program for Initial Licensure in Moderate Disabilities, students must successfully complete all of the required courses and fieldwork. In addition, teachers seeking a license as a teacher of students with moderate disabilities for Prek-8 must pass the General Curriculum test in addition to passing the Communication & Literacy and the Foundations of Readings tests. Those seeking this license for 5-12 must pass either the General Curriculum test or a subject matter test in one of the core academic subjects taught in 5-8 or 8-12 (such as History) in addition to passing the Communication & Literacy and the Foundations of Reading Tests. Students may be advised to take additional subject matter courses for meeting the above DOE requirements.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Graduate Programs