COURSE CURRICULUM

A Special Education minor combined with a Master’s degree prepares students for a wide range of careers focused on supporting individuals with disabilities across educational and intervention-based settings. Graduates can pursue roles in areas such as autism intervention, educational diagnostics, and support for high-incidence disabilities, depending on their specialization and interests. In autism intervention, common career paths include Behavior Intervention Specialist, Special Education Teacher, and Early Intervention Specialist, where professionals work directly with children to develop communication, learning, and behavioral skills. In educational diagnostics, graduates may become Educational Diagnosticians or ARD Facilitators, roles that involve assessing student needs, developing individualized education plans, and coordinating services to support student success, along with opportunities as Special Education Teachers. For high-incidence disabilities, career options include Special Education Teaching, Paraprofessional roles, and Intervention Specialist positions, all focused on providing academic and behavioral support in inclusive or specialized classroom environments. The Master’s coursework is designed to build both theoretical understanding and practical skills needed for these roles. Students study Family Collaboration for Exceptional Learners, which emphasizes working effectively with families to support student development, and Developmental Disabilities and Autism Identification and Intervention, which focuses on recognizing and addressing developmental challenges. Other key courses include Behavioral Disorders: Characteristics, Identification and Intervention, and Collaboration with Parents, Paraeducators and Professionals, both of which highlight teamwork and coordinated support strategies. Classroom and Behavior Management Strategies for Exceptional Learners trains students in managing diverse learning environments, while coursework in applied behavior analysis (ABA) introduces evidence-based techniques for designing behavior intervention plans using scientific and ethical principles. The Educational Aspects of Exceptional Learners course provides a broad overview of how disabilities impact learning and how educators can adapt instruction to meet diverse needs. Overall, this program equips graduates with practical, research-based skills to support students with disabilities and work effectively in schools, clinics, and community-based educational settings.