This course explores the process of collaboration and problem solving between students with disabilities, teachers, their families, and outside agencies. It provides an overview of IDEA requirements for students with disabilities. This course will also prepare students to plan for the transition of adolescents and young adults with disabilities from school to future careers, continuing education, and independent living.

This course is designed to provide teachers with a foundational knowledge of classroom management and behavioral intervention for mild to moderate behavioral challenges. It will also provide strategies to support teachers with diverse classes, including students with disabilities. Prevention and intervention strategies will be examined as outlined in multi-level systems of support (MLSS). Students will utilize behavioral assessments and will acquire resources for successful intervention with problem behaviors.

This course asks students to re-examine their role as one who generates change in the education system by engaging in self-reflection and self-assessment of his/her current classroom best practices. In addition, students will be asked to develop a plan for future professional growth and development, including their pedagogical strengths and their opportunities for improvement. Students will develop of professional development plan as their path to continuous improvement as an educator.

Effective educational leaders are skilled with interpretation and application of educational research in their local contexts. This course introduces educators to the foundations of educational research and enables them to think strategically when examining the literature about a problem of practice. Students will develop an awareness of the APAs conventions of writing and citation practices that are used across the social sciences. The course culminates with students writing a formal literature review that investigates a self-selected problem of practice.

This course embodies two discipline principles articulated in four areas: philosophy of human behavior, proven prevention factors, behavior change, school-wide and classroom response to disruptive behavior.

In this course, students will be introduced to exceptional learners, and investigate instructional practices that can be used in general education classrooms to improve outcomes for students with and without disabilities. The course will focus on educating students in the least restrictive environment (LRE), and will learn to utilize differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all students. Models of co-teaching will be examined, as well as cooperative learning, heterogeneous grouping, multicultural education, social skills training, and technology applications.

In this methods course, students will plan instruction for learners with disabilities. Course content will include assessment, instruction and instructional design, and establishment and maintenance of case records. Students will use assessment data to design goals and objectives in the development of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Students will adapt curriculum and instruction to accommodate diverse student needs. Prerequisites: 613, 614

Typically, this is the culminating course in the Master of Arts in Education program. It provides advanced study on a topic or emerging issue in American education. It is designed to interrogate contemporary issues and their influences on teaching and learning. Students will develop a broad understanding of the different societal and cultural facets that impact PK-12 education. A four-day residency on the Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI campus is required; commencement takes place on the final day of residency.

This course will focus on the diverse literacy needs of children within the regular education classroom. State and federal legislation concerning inclusion of children with disabilities and the concept of "least restrictive environment" will be studied. An exploration of personal and societal biases will allow teachers increased self-awareness in teaching a divergent population. Appropriate best practices for enhancing literacy in all children will be presented.

Students will intern in a field experience with kindergarten children integrating prior early childhood coursework through the preparation of interdisciplinary units designed and delivered in a kindergarten environment. Field experience reflections addressing the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards will be compiled into a field experience portfolio. Restricted to students admitted to the early childhood endorsement/licensure program. May be repeated for credit.