Counseling and Special Education

Counseling and Special Education
(CED) (SPE)

For information, please contact
Dr. Richard Fox, Chairperson, 774-3205, 208 Rowe Hall

Department Website

Why Study Counseling and Special Education
Counseling and Special Education at CMU
Teacher Certification
Special Education Major - Teachers of Students with Cognitive Impairment
Special Education Major - Teachers of Students with Emotional Impairment
The faculty
CED Course Descriptions
SPE Course Descriptions

Why Study Counseling and Special Education?
The study of Counseling and Special Education will help you to develop a knowledge and understanding of individual differences, life span issues and working with others. The programs offered emphasize working with clients and students as individuals within a group setting and serving them throughout the life span. All programs provide experiential applications for students throughout the program. If you are interested in a career in counseling or in working with exceptional persons or in improving your skills in these areas, you should discuss your plans with a member of the Counseling and Special Education faculty.

Counseling and Special Education at CMU
The Department of Counseling and Special Education offers undergraduate special education majors on the Bachelor of Science degree, grades K-12. A program is also offered for teachers holding general elementary or secondary certification to become approved in the area of emotional impairment or cognitive impairment.

Courses are offered by the counseling program to assist students in personal growth and development, and to prepare graduates for careers as counselors.

The department also offers programs leading to a Master of Arts degree which prepare graduates for positions requiring counseling skills or advanced specialization and/or additional teaching endorsements in the areas of emotional impairment, learning disabilities, and cognitive impairment at the K-12 level.

See the Graduate Bulletin for a complete description of graduate programs.
(Top of page)

Teacher Certification
All programs are subject to changes in state certification rules and students should contact an advisor before pre-registration each semester. A student who plans to major in special education should contact the EHS Center for Student Services, 203 Ronan Hall, as soon as possible to initiate the Admission to Teacher Education process. Students must fulfill all requirements listed for Admission to Teacher Education programs as specified in the Teacher Certification section of this Bulletin.

All students preparing to become approved to teach in special education must also meet requirements for certification in general elementary or secondary education. The endorsements in cognitive impairment and emotional impairment, both K-12, require either an elementary or secondary education general education certificate. Students completing a special education endorsement will be eligible to teach special education students in grades kindergarten through twelve (or age 26).
(Top of page)

Before a major is signed the student must have earned a grade of C or higher in SPE 126 (3) Introduction to Special Education.

Effective Fall semester, 1990, students will be required to complete two student teaching assignments, one in Special Education during one semester and one in General Education during another semester. Application for student teaching must be made through the office of the Department of Teacher Education and Professional Development by the established deadline in advance of each placement, with approval recommended by Special Education prior to placement. Fall student teaching applications are due the preceding spring semester, and spring student teaching applications are due the preceding fall semester, by the established deadline.
(Top of page)

Special Education Major Teachers of Students with Cognitive Impairment
B.S. in Ed., Special Education Emphasis

A minimum 2.7 GPA (B-) must be earned in all teaching majors.

Core Courses (24 hours):
SPE 126 (3) Introduction to Special Education
*SPE 322 (6) Curriculum and Instruction for Students with Special Needs
*SPE 323 (3) Classroom Management for Students with Special Needs
*SPE 324 (6) Special Education Classroom-Based Assessment
SPE 470 (3) Career Development and Transition
SPE 550 (3) Teaching Culturally Diverse Students

Professional Sequence (15 hours):
*SPE 419 (3) Teaching the Student with Mild Cognitive Impairment
*SPE 521 (3) Teaching the Student with Moderate to Severe Mental Impairments
*SPE 522 (3) Field Experience-Mentally Impaired

Special Education Electives (6)
selected in consultation with an advisor.

* These are courses which require a C+ or better.

Total: 39 semester hours
(Top of page)

Special Education Major Teachers of Students with Emotional Impairment
B.S. in Ed., Special Education Emphasis

A minimum 2.7 GPA (B-) must be earned in all teaching majors.

Professional Sequence (15 hours):
*SPE 578 (3) The Emotionally Impaired Student
*SPE 579 (3) Teaching Students with Emotional Impairments
*SPE 581 (3) Field Experience-Emotionally Impaired

Special Education Electives (6)
selected in consultation with an advisor.

* These are courses which require a C+ or better.

Total: 39 semester hours
(Top of page)

The faculty: Matthew Burns, Wendy Folger, Richard Fox, Sherrel Lee Haight, N. Joan Hornak, Sherene McHenry, Twinet Parmer, D. Terry Rawls, Steven Russell, Suzanne Shellady, Janine Stichter, .
(Top of page)

Disclaimer