Early Childhood Special Education Authorization

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This fifth-year professional certificate program is designed to meet the standards and competencies adopted by California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing. This two-semester program provides professional training to enable students to teach in Early Childhood Special Education programs for children with special needs ages birth through five years.

Note: Only nine units of graduate-level coursework from another institution can be petitioned to fulfill equivalent course requirements in the certificate program and this certificate can only be added to a clear credential.

Prerequisites

Baccalaureate degree in an interdisciplinary field related to Special Education (e.g., Child and Adolescent Development, Nursing, Human Services, Psychology, Kinesiology and degree programs with Adapted Physical Education emphases, etc.)
Minimum grade-point-average of 2.75
Background knowledge in typical child development and experience with young children
Met all Department prerequisites described in this catalog
Verification of a clear Education Specialist level II Credential

Study Plan

Core Requirements (21 units)

SPED 400 - Early Childhood Special Education (3)
SPED 421 - Working with Families of Individuals with Disabilities (3)
Adviser-approved Directed Teaching in Special Education Course (6)
SPED 514 - Infant Assessment and Intervention (3)
SPED 515 - Preschool Assessment and Intervention (3)
SPED 535 - Advanced Seminar: Early Childhood Special Education (3) (Web Class)

Electives

The nine elective units must meet the following criteria: (1) courses will have to diversify and expand upon the student’s previous higher education coursework or degree program; and (2) all selected coursework will have to be approved by the student’s program adviser.