DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
Course Descriptions
SPED 100 Introduction to Special Education (4 credit-hours)
The goal of this course is to give the student on overview of the historical development of the field of special education and to understand the concept of special education and exceptional children. The content of this course covers different categories of disabilities such as mental retardation, visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical disability, emotional and behavioral disorders, learning disability and communication disorders. Also, this course provides information regarding a modern techniques of services delivery, and education for each category.
SPED 151 Assessment ad Diagnosis in Special Education (4 credit-hours)
This course is designed to give the student the skills and the basis understanding of the assessment process. It also covers the conditions required to use the assessment methods and the explanation of their results and how to make appropriate educational decisions.
SPED 160 Physical Handicaps (3 credit-hours)
This course is designed to introduce the student to area of physical disability and its causes, classification, and the unique characteristics and need of the physically disabled individuals.
SPED 170 Emotional Disturbance for Exceptional Children (3 credit-hours)
The course id designed to provide the student with basic knowledge of the area of emotional disturbance among exceptional children and it causes, classification, and diagnosis. It also covers certain aspects of emotional disturbance such as aggressive behavior, hyperactive behavior, and autistic behavior as well as service for this population.
SPED 180 Introduction to Rehabilitation of the Handicapped. (3 credit-hours)
This course is designed to introduce the student to the concept of rehabilitation and its relationship with special education. It covers subjects such as the importance of rehabilitation, the role of the rehabilitation specialist, and the new trends in the area of rehabilitation.
SPED 201 Behavior Modification (3 credit-hours)
This course is designed to introduce the student to the concept of behavior modification, it historical background, and its theoretical basis. It teaches how to use different behavior modification methods that can be use to teach nee behaviors or to reduce in appropriate behaviors.
SPED 202 Speech Disorders (3 credit-hours)
This course is designed to introduce the student to the concept of speech disorder, it types, characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment.
SPED 260 Public Awareness of Handicapping Conditions (3 credit-hours)
This course aims to provide the student with the following: The media used in the transmission of the awareness among the different sections of society. The focusing will be mainly on the procedure of the prevention.
SPED 295 Aids and Prosthesis for the Handicapped (3 credit-hours)
This course aims to provide the student with the following:
1) The different aids and prosthesis suitable for the various types of handicapped conditions. 2) The principles of the selection. 3) The methods of utilization.
SPED 371 Curriculum Development for Exceptional Children
(3 credit-hours)
This course is designed to provide the student with theoretical and practical background in the area of curriculum development for exceptional children.
SPED 385 Educating Exceptional Children in Regular Schools. (3 credit-hours)
This course aims to provide the student with the main principles of educating the certain types of handicapped students in regular schools. This could be achieved by providing the student with the following: 1- The concept of main streaming and its different methods and problems. 2- The programs by which the special education services can be introduce in regular schools such as: resources room, the itinerant teacher and teacher consultant. 3- The advantages and limitations of different systems. 4- The specific role of each regular and special classroom teacher in educating the handicapped students.
SPED 390 Working with Families of Exceptional Children (3 credit-hours)
This course is designed to provide the student with a background concerning the reaction of families toward different disabilities, guidance and counseling methods, and needs of familities.
SPED 392 English Texts and Terminology (2 credit-hours)
This course aims to provide the student with the following: The basic terminology used in the field of special education. This would be achieved by reading in certain English texts.
Majors Courses:
SPED 251 Introduction to Visual Impairment (3 credit-hours)
This is designed to introduce students to the visual system. What it is, what it does and how it works. It is to familiarize them with the terminology, etiology, incidence, prevalence, prevention and treatment of visual impairment. This course also helps students achieve a better understanding of visually handicapped children through the exploration of the physical, intellectual, motivational, emotional and social characteristics of these children throughout their different stage of growth and development. The need so visually handicapped children are highlighted in this course, as well as the approaches through which such needs are to be met. In general, this course is to give students a good theoretical background on the impact of visual loss on the individual and his life in society, in order to better enable the students to study educational and rehabilitative programs needed by visually handicapped children.
SPED 261 Braille (1) (3 credit-hours)
This course has the following purpose:
1- To provide the student with the basic skills in braille reading and writing to enable him to communicate in writing with the blind child, read his written work and correct it.
2- To familiarize the student with the equipment and devices used in Braille writing.
3- To give the student a brief historic background on the development of reading and writing for the blind.
4- To introduce the student to some of the problems associated with teaching Braille reading and writing to the blind, and offer some suggestions to deal with such problems.
SPED 301 Braille (2) (3 credit-hours)
This course is designed to help the student achieve the following objectives: 1) Mastery of Arabic Braille symbols. 2) Mastery of Braille reading and writing with simple as well as complex contractions. 3) Mastery of mathematical symbols use in elementary grades in the institutes of light according to the British code. 4) To become familiar with the new methods used to Braille reading, writing and production. 5) To become familiar with the problems commonly encountered in teaching Braille reading and writing to the blind, and also to become familiar with the suggestions offered to overcome such problems.
SPED 351 Orientation and Mobility and Daily Living Skills for the Visually Impaired (3 credit-hours)
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of the process involved in helping visually handicapped individuals develop orientation and mobility skills, as well as daily living skills. Techniques and factors influencing this process are discussed and, in the meantime, practical training is provided in this course.
SPED 401 Teaching Methods for the Visually Impaired (3 credit-hours)
This course has the following purposes: 1) To familiarize students with the different educational approaches, programs, strategies and theories along with thorough examination of their efficiency in teaching various subjects. 2) To train students to use the new technological devices used in the field of visual impairment. 3) To familiarize students with the problems and difficulties encountered by teachers in teaching visually handicapped children. 4) To help students acquire the necessary skills which not only enable them to assess and critique available materials, but also provide them with the ability to engage in innovative and creative activities that can ultimately lead to more effective methods, approaches and programs, and offer useful solutions, suggestions and alternatives which can be utilized in teaching visually handicapped children.
MINORS: SPED 254, 264, 304, 252, 262.
SPED 252 Introduction to Hearing Impairment (3 credit-hours)
This course aims at introducing students specializing in this area to the concepts and nature of the hearing impairment, its classification, causes, and identification and diagnosis methods. Special emphasis is put on the characteristics and needs of the hearing impaired, in addition to appropriate care services offered for them.
SPED 262 Language Development for the Hearing Impaired (3 credit-hours)
This course aims at introducing students to the basic concepts and definition of language and its development. It also aims at introducing him to the processes of language acquisition, development stage, and their implications for helping the hearing impaired acquire language skills special emphasis is put on the psycho educational theories of language development, and consideration of system in both oral and total communication philosophies.
SPED 302 Oral Communication Methods (3 credit-hours)
This course aims at realizing the following: The understanding of the communication process and its components with concentration on techniques for aiding development of intelligible speech in individuals with severe and profound hearing loses.
SPED 352 Total Communication Methods (3 credit-hours)
This course aims emphasizes development of skills in total communication for use in educational service delivery systems. Practice in simultaneous use of speech, finger spelling and the language of signs.
MINORS : SPED 251, 261, 254, 262, 264
SPED 253 Introduction to Mental Retardation (3 credit-hours)
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the basic knowledge in the field of mental retardation that includes basic definitions, causes, classification system as well as characteristics and needs. The other focus of this course is to increase students understanding of the approaches of services delivery systems and the historical development of these services.
SPED 263 Mental Retardation in the Perspective of Different Theories (2 credit-hours)
This course is designed to discuss the concept of mental retardation in the
perspective of different theories. Emphasis is placed on learning theories and their applications is educating and training mentally retarded students.
SPED 303 Educating the Educable Mentally Retarded (2 credit-hours)
This course aims to introduce students to special curricula, and educational programs for EMR with emphasis on the current trends of such programs.
SPED 313 Educating the Trainable Mentally Retarded (2 credit-hours)
The main goal of this course is to emphasize the rights of this group in educational and rehabilitational process through the introducing the students to the types of appropriate educational alternatives as well as educational and vocational curricula for TMR.
SPED 353 Adaptive Behavior Skills for Mentally Retarded (2 credit-hours)
Topics covered in this course include the concept of adaptive behavior and the dimensions of adaptive behavior skills as well as the type of maladaptive behavior problems and treatment procedures dealing with those problems. The other purpose of this course is to train students on the application of adaptive behavior scales to identify the degree and level of adaptive behavior of mentally retarded children.
SPED 403 Teaching Methods for the Mentally Retarded (3 credit-hours)
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the learning principle as they relate to instruction process of mentally retarded. Emphasis is placed on the individualized education program for MR as well as other teaching strategies such as behavior modification, and task analysis.. etc.
MINORS: SPED 255, 265, 254, 262, 264.
SPED 254 Introduction to Learning Disabilities (3 credit-hours)
The goal of this course is to study the field of learning disability from a historical point of view, introduce students to the characteristics and needs of students with learning disabilities including physical developmental, psychological, emotional, social, and academic characteristics of these students.
SPED 264 Learning Disabilities in Reading and Writing (3 credit-hours)
The goal of this course is to introduce the student to the nature of reading and writing, the types of learning disabilities in both reading writing and their connections.
SPED 304 Developmental Learning Disabilities (2 credit-hours)
The goal of this course is to introduce the student to the developmental learning disabilities in preschool level, and it's different types (congnitive, social, emotional and motor). It also covers the methods used to evaluate and remediate the disabilities.
SPED 314 Learning Disabilities in Perspective of Different Theories. (2 credit-hours)
The goal of this course is to study the theories related to learning disabilities from historical development along with the affect these theories and the consequent research have on understanding the nature of learning disabilities. It also presents the concept of learning disabilities in light of theory and the applications of these theories in teaching students.
SPED 354 Case Study in Learning Disabilities. (2 credit-hours)
The goal of this course is to:
1. Study in a comprehensive and precise way a student who has learning disabilities.
2. Evaluate and identify his disabilities.
3. Analyse the student's skills and develop an educational plan which contains the goals and skills that will be presented to the student.
SPED 404 Teaching Methods For Learning Disabled Students. (3 credit-hours)
The goal of this course is to introduce the student to the teaching methods for learning disabled students in different academic fields such as language, math social science and natural science. It is also concerned with the necessary skills and strategies for learning disabled students to increase their academic level and improve their social behavior.
MINORS: SPED 253,255,263,265,353.
GIFTEDNESS AND CREATIVITY.
MAJOR COURSES:
SPED 255 Introduction To Gifteness And Creativity. (3 credit-hours)
1) To give students general background on the concept of giftedness creativity and related theories.
2) To introduce students to tools and methods necessary for identifying the gifted and creative.
3) Identification of the characteristics and needs of the gifted and creative in light of recent differing theories.
SPED 265 Mental Abilities And Theories of Mental Structure. (3 credit-hours)
Course Objectives:
This course provides student with general background on mental abilities through the study of varying mental structure theories, especially that which uses factor analysis such as, the two-factor models multi-factors mode, the hierarchy model, and guilford's structure of intellect model. The students will also be introduced to the historical evolution of studying mental abilities and the classification of these abilities with a focus on differing abilities that contribute to creative thinking and in relation to general intelligence.
SPED 305 Problems Of The Gifted And Creative. (2credit-hours)
This course aims to provide students with general background on the most prevalent educational, psychological and social problems the gifted and creative may experience. The causes, preventative measures and dealing with existing problems will be discussed.
SPED 315 Educational Programs For The Gifted And Creative. (3 credit-hours)
Course Objectives:
1) To introduce students to the historical evolution of ways of educating the gifted and creative, the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
2) Introduce students to the educational programs for the gifted and creative, and the different options concerning these programs.
3) How to prepare teachers for the gifted and creative.
4) To examine the requirements for facilitating for the gifted and creative at home and in the society.
SPED 355 Developing of the Creative Abilities and Special Talents. (2 credit-hours)
Course Objectives:
The aim of this course is to introduce students to educational programs and varying procedures in developing creative abilities and special talents in children. Examples may be training of problem solving and enhancing imagination, the role of fine and performing arts, and the breaking away from restrictive thinking in these endeavors.
SPED 405 Case Study.
Course Objectives:
This course is to train students to identify the gifted and creative using psychological tests and measurements. There will also be in-depth case study.
MINORS: SPED 25,254,252,264,263.
Behavior / Emotional Disorders.
256 SPED Introduction to Behavioral and Emotional Disorders. (3credit-hours)
266 SPED Behavioral & Emotional Disorders in Perspective of Different Theories. (3 credit-hours)
306 SPED Behavior (3 credit-hours)
357 SPED Case study in Behavioral Emotional Disorders (3 credit- hours)
406 SPED Teaching Methods for children with Behavioral and Emotional Disorders.
480 SPED Field Experience in the area of Behavioral & Emotional Disorders. (3 credit-hours)