Certificate - Emotional Disturbance/Learning Disabilities/Mental Retardation (E1-CERG-SPLM)

Coursework (15-36 credits)

This certificate offers the required course work for teacher licensure in emotional disturbance, learning disabilities and mental retardation.

There are no pre-requisites in the coursework, but students are strongly encouraged to complete 1st tier courses before, or in conjunction with, 2nd tier courses and 2nd tier courses before, or in conjunction with, 3rd tier courses. All courses are offered every semester (fall, spring, summer) unless otherwise indicated.

First Tier

EDSE 501: Introduction to Special Education (3 credit hours)
EDSE 540: Characteristics of Students with Emotional Disturbance and Learning Disabilities (3 credit hours)
EDSE 542: Characteristics of Students with Mental Retardation (3 credit hours) (OR EDSE 547: Medical and Developmental Risk Factors for Children with Disabilities (3 credit hours) Offered in summer only.)

Second Tier

EDSE 502: Classroom Management and Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credit hours)
EDSE 503: Language Development and Reading (3 credit hours)
EDSE 791: Midpoint Portfolio (1 credit hours) (Must be taken concurrently with the fourth or fifth special education course. Available in fall and spring. May be offered in summer.)

Third Tier

EDSE 627: Psychoeducational Assessment (3 credit hours)
EDSE 628: Elementary Reading, Curriculum and Strategies for Mild Disabilities (3 credit hours) (OR -EDSE 626: The Inclusive Classroom (3 credit hours))
EDSE 629: Secondary Curriculum and Strategies for Mild Disabilities (3 credit hours)
EDSE 661: Curriculum and Methods: Severe Disabilities (3 credit hours) (Offered in fall only.)
EDSE 662: Consultation and Collaboration (3 credit hours)
EDSE 792: Final Portfolio (1 credit hours) (Must be taken concurrently with the last course in the program. )
EDSE 790: Internship in Special Education (3-6 credit hours) (Two experiences - elementary and secondary students with ED/LD/MR.)

It is recommended that internship be taken concurrently with EDSE 628, EDSE 629 and/or EDSE 661.

Students who are completing the Masters in Special Education in conjunction with their licensure program will need to complete the following courses to meet the MEd course requirements. The courses can be taken at any point in a student’s program.

Tuition Assistance and Grant Funding

Cohort program: The Special Education program works collaboratively with a number of Northern Virginia school divisions to offer special education certificates and degree programs to school employees using a cohort model. This model provides convenience to the students and forms a better link between academia and school realities. Additional benefits of the cohort model include tuition discounts, classes located in the students’ school divisions and course scheduling in alignment with school division calendars.

LIFE Graduate Assistantships: The Learning Into Future Environments (LIFE) Program is an innovative post-secondary program at Mason for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who desire a university experience in a supportive academic environment. Graduate students with a major in special education have an opportunity to work as instructors in the LIFE program which provides them with field experience in a supportive, supervised setting.

Instructional Assistant program: In conjunction with Fairfax County Public Schools , Mason offers a yearlong, paid Instructional Assistant (IA) Internship Program for Emotional Disabilities and Learning Disabilities

Graduate Research Assistantships: Part time positions are available for students interested in providing research support to faculty.