BSU
Catalog Home | Professional Education
Program | Professional Education Course
Desciptions
BSU
Catalog Home | Professional Education
Program | Professional Education Course
Desciptions
If you want specific information on a particular Special Education program you should contact the coordinator of the program.
Dr. Hal Gritzmacher
Special Education Master’s Degree
218-755-4046; hgritzmacher@bemidjistate.edu
Dr. James Mastro
Developmental Adapted Physical Education
218-755-3772; jmastro@bemidjistate.edu
Dr. Karenlee Alexander
Emotional Behavioral Disorders
218-755-3767; karenlee@bemidjistate.edu
Ms. Judy Olson
Specific Learning Disabilities
218-755-3749; jlolson@bemidjistate.edu
Licenses Available: As of September 1, 2001, BSU offers only the Specific Learning Disabilities, Emotional Behavioral Disorders, and Developmental Adapted Physical Education license programs. The requirements for these three programs are available through the department Web site, the Graduate Catalog, or special education faculty. The Mild to Moderate Mental Impairment license and the Early Childhood Special Education license programs were dropped and are no longer offered through BSU.
Content Test: All individuals applying for an initial special education teaching license after September 1, 2001 will have to meet the new State special education license requirements, which includes taking a content competency test in special education. For further information, contact Dr. Gritzmacher.
Practicum Revisions: Significant changes to the licenses were made at Bemidji State University. The most prominent was that the culminating practicum experience was eliminated from the program. In its place, a series of early and on-going experiences are required. Although the courses in the new licenses may appear similar in name and content to the courses in the old program, practicum experiences have been embedded in the new licensure courses. The new license requires students to fulfill a series of early and on-going experiences. Students will have to either take the new courses or complete a practicum experience. BSU has determined that individuals who have taken more than 50% of their courses in the old licensure program will not meet the new program requirement of an early and on-going experience. Consequently, students not meeting this requirement will be have to complete a separate practicum experience to meet the requirement for licensure after September 1, 2001.
Enrollment Caps: The Department of Professional Education has established caps for both undergraduate and graduate classes. As of fall 2001, all special education instructors will adhere to the caps. The caps for double numbered courses (ED 3600/5600, ED 3608/5608, ED 3640/5640, ED 3650/5650, ED 4715/5715, ED 3620/5620, and ED 3630/5630) are 25 students. The caps for 6000 level courses (ED 6230, ED 6237, ED 6610, ED 6620, ED 6630) are 20 students. The caps for 6000-level seminar or assessment classes (ED 6608 and ED 6609) are 15 students. Because instructors will be holding to the cap sizes, students should enroll early to secure enrollment in a class.
Prerequisites Enforced: In the new licensure programs, there are a minimum number of course prerequisites. These prerequisites will be check the first class session and students not having the appropriate prerequisites will be dropped from the course.
Students may elect to take some special education courses while working on their undergraduate degree in early childhood education, elementary education, or secondary education. All special education courses taken at the undergraduate level will apply to BSU's graduate special education license programs.
Please note that special education electives do not substitute for a specialty area for elementary education majors. These courses should appear on Grad Plans as electives.
ED 3600 Study of the Learner with Special Needs (3 credits)
(This course must be taken first. It is the prerequisite for all special education courses.)ED 3640 Due Process in Special Education (2 credits)
(This course should be taken with ED 3600 or as soon as possible after ED 3600.)
After taking ED 3600, students may elect to take any of the following courses. However, it is highly recommended that students take either ED 3620 or ED 3630.
ED 3608 Mathematics for Learners with Special Needs (2 credits)
ED 3620 Teaching the Learner with Specific Learning Disabilities I (3 credits)
ED 3630 Teaching the Learner with Emotional Behavioral Disorders I (3 credits)
ED 3650 Collaborative Techniques for Special Educators (3 credits)
ED 4715 Curriculum Techniques with Special Populations (3 credits)
Contact Dr. James Mastro for further information
The Special Education Intern Program is for undergraduate and graduate students who wish to participate in a teaching experience in a special education classroom setting. The participating schools include Bemidji Public Schools and other area schools, and the settings range from elementary to secondary. These are paid experiences and they may be used to fulfill practicum requirements in many of the special education courses in the licensure and master's program. Interns will be supervised by appropriately licensed special education teachers from the LEA.
Procedure for Application and Participation in the Special Education Intern Program:
The Special Education Interns are paid $10.30 per hour. The schedule and responsibilities are determined during the interview with Mr. Huttemier. Hours are flexible, but students should try to develop a schedule that allows for consistent year-long participation in the program. Mr. Huttemier will give priority to students with blocks of free time who can participate at least three days per week. Please note that the hours accrued during the Intern Program cannot be substituted for either the Elementary or Secondary Student Teaching.
Individuals who have a four-year degree other than elementary or secondary education but want to enter the teaching profession and special education should inquire about the Non-Teaching Degree Program. There are two components to the Non-Teaching Degree Program. First, individuals will need to complete the Standards of Effective Practice block of courses, which is 33 credits. These courses are required for all individuals seeking licensure through Bemidji State University. Second, individuals will need to complete all the courses in the specific learning disabilities or the emotional behavioral disorders license. Upon completion of both the Standards of Effective Practice block of courses and the special education licensure courses, the individual will do a 12 credit student teaching experience in special education (ED 4840) which is required in the Standards of Effective Practice block of courses.
The Standards of Effective Practice
ED 3100 Introduction to the Foundations of Public School Education (3 credits)
ED 3110 Educational Psychology (3 credits)
ED 3140 Human Relations in Education (2 credits)
ED 3350 Pedagogy: Planning for Instruction (4 credits)
ED 3750 Adaptation and Management: Designing the Learning Environment (3 credits)
ED 4799 The Professional Teacher (1 credit)
ED 4800 Standards of Effective Practice (3 credits)
ED 4840 Student Teaching - Special Fields (12 credits)
HLTH 3400 Health and Drugs in Society (2 credits)
Subtotal 33 Credits