Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Teacher Credential

Build upon your ability to teach and inspire.

The educational specialist teacher credential prepares candidates to teach students with disabilities that include specific learning disabilities, mild to moderate intellectual disability, attention deficit and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, and serious emotional disturbance, for grades K-12, as well as in Adult Education.

This course of study has been approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

This credentialing program is offered by AU Los Angeles.

Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Teacher Credential

AT A GLANCE

• 12-month program*
• 2 classes, twice a week (Mon. and Thurs.)
• 4:00pm-10:00pm
• 19-20 courses
• 75 quarter units

*Participate in novice teaching for 2 quarters (10 weeks each quarter)

Program Overview

Schedule

The Education Specialist Mild/Moderate is designed to be completed in a 12-month period. Students attend classes on generally 2 evenings a week from 4–10 pm and participate in novice teaching for 2 quarters, or 20 weeks (10 weeks each quarter). Placements are made by the University and are sensitive to the geographic considerations of the student.

Candidates are placed in schools each of the 4 quarters, beginning with 10 hours of observation in the first quarter, followed by 10 days for the second quarter, and half-time field experiences for quarter 3, and full-time novice teaching for quarter 4. For those who are already school aides or teachers, your school might be a possible site for the novice teaching experience. Check with the Department for approval.

Curriculum

Quarter 1: Connecting

Systems: TEP 5360: Foundations of Social Justice Education
Access: TEP 5440: Child Development and Learning
Communication: TEP 5450: Language Development and Acquisition
Integration and Currency:  TEP 6010A: TEP 6010A: Social and Legal Dimensions of Special Education and TEP 6010B: Teaching and Accommodating Students with Disabilities

Quarter 2: Designing

Systems: TEP 5331: Field Practicum, TEP 5650: Adaptation Pedagogy and 5611 Assessment of Student Learning
Access: TESE 5410: Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
Communication: TESE 5380: Comprehensive Behavior Assessment and Positive Behavior Support
Integration and Currency: TEP 5070: Real World Math

Quarter 3: Evaluating

Systems: TEP/TESE 5120: Student Teaching with Proseminar
Access: TESE 5160: Understanding and Teaching Students with M/M Disabilities I and Communication: TEP 5050: Reading Instruction in Elementary School Classrooms
Integration and Currency: TESE 5090: Assessment in Special Education

Quarter 4: Reflecting

Systems: TEP/TESE 5122: Student Teaching with Proseminar
Access: TESE 5170: Understanding and Teaching Students with M/M Disabilities II and TESE 5180: Family Dynamics and Communication for Special Education Services
Communication: TESE 6010B: Individualized Education Design and Policy Implementation
Integration and Currency: TEP 6020: Advocating for Healthy Children