Introduction
Candidates of the program are prepared for careers as intervention specialists who provide enhanced social skills of those with a disability, reinforcement-based behavioral interventions, inclusion strategies, and assistive technology to individuals with exceptionalities. Each of our degree programs prepares candidates to successfully pass the Ohio licensure exam which will result in the corresponding Intervention Specialist Licensure. The YSU student chapter of Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) participates in multiple college, university, and community events to advocate for individuals with exceptional learning needs.
Welcome
Our Special Education (Mild-Moderate Licensure) program is designed to prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to best serve in schools and agencies in the area. Our Special Education program seeks to meet the educational and service needs of Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Our program is exemplified by the quality and diversity of classroom instruction, field experiences, program options, student, faculty, and graduates in the community. YSU has a long history of producing accomplished graduates who have served the area as Special Education teachers, Intervention Specialists, and Special Education Professionals. We have a strong connection with our alumni, program supervisors, schools and agencies, and others who support students with exceptional learning needs in the Youngstown area.
Undergraduate candidates will find a unique educational experience that prepares them for employment and/or advanced study in Special Education. For more information, review our website and contact Special Education faculty with any questions.
Jake J. Protivnak, Ph.D.
Department Chairperson / Associate Professor
3312 Beeghly College of Education
(330) 941-1936
jjprotivnak@ysu.edu
Program Director
For specific questions about the Intervention Specialist (Mild/Moderate) Licensure Option in Special Education program, please contact the program director:
Jennifer S. Vaschak, MS, Ed
3312 Beeghly College of Education
(330) 941-1931
jvaschak01@ysu.edu
Intervention Specialist License (K-12)
The Intervention Specialist program requires a minimum of 124 s.h. The BS in Education degree requires the courses listed on the curriculum sheet. Licensure also requires passing the Ohio Assessments for Educators Exams prior to student teaching.
The specific coursework required in the Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate Disabilities degree is as follows:
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Core Competencies | 16 | |
| Writing 1 (requires a B average) | ||
| Writing 2 (requires a B average) | ||
| Introduction to Language | ||
| Communication Foundations | ||
| Foundations of Middle School Mathematics 1 | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 6 | |
| Music Literature and Appreciation | ||
General Education Elective | ||
| Natural Sciences | 7 | |
Science Elective | ||
Science Elective + Lab | ||
| Social Science | 6 | |
| General Psychology | ||
| Turning Points in United States History 1 | ||
or HIST 2606 | Turning Points in United States History 2 | |
| Social and Personal Awareness | 6 | |
| Introduction to Health and Wellness in Contemporary Society | ||
| Lifespan Development | ||
| Electives | ||
| Majors are required to have a minimum of 3 additional elective hours. Recommended courses include: | 3 | |
| Turning Points in United States History 1 | ||
| Turning Points in United States History 2 | ||
| Literature for Middle School Readers | ||
| Writing for Middle School Teachers | ||
| American Government | ||
| The Dynamic Earth | ||
| Physical Science for Middle and Secondary Education | ||
| Professional Education Requirements in Special Education | 16 | |
| Introduction to Education | ||
| Education and Society | ||
| Psychology of Education | ||
| Foundations of Middle School Mathematics 2 | ||
| Introduction to Becoming a Teacher First Year Experience Course BCOE | ||
| Reading Course Requirements in Special Education | 12 | |
| Reading Application in Content Areas, Middle Years | ||
| Phonics in Reading Instruction | ||
| Developmental Reading Instruction and Literature Strategies PreK-9 | ||
| Literature for Young Children | ||
or ENGL 3704 | Literature for Middle School Readers | |
| Curriculum Content Requirements for Teaching Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilites | 26 | |
| Individuals with Exceptionalities in Society | ||
| Characteristics and Needs of Children and Youth with Mild/Moderate Disabilities | ||
| Intervention and Remediation of Receptive/Expressive Language Dysfunction | ||
| Education for Children and Youth with Emotional and Behavior Needs | ||
| Assessment and Referral of Exceptional Children and Youth for the Intervention Specialist | ||
| Diagnosis and Intervention in Mathematics for Special Education | ||
| Transition Planning, Social Skill Development and Health-Related Issues | ||
| Mild/Moderate Disabilities Practicum | ||
| STEP Block | 14 | |
| Classroom Management for Exceptional Children and Youth | ||
| Cross-Curricular Interventions | ||
| Service Coordination, Collaboration, and Consultation for Students with Special Needs | ||
| Assessment and Instruction in Reading Internship, PreK-9 | ||
| Student Teaching | 12 | |
| Supervised Student Teaching: Mild Moderate/Disabilities | ||
| Student Teaching Seminar for Special Education | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 124 | |
All courses meeting requirements specified on this page require a minimum "C" grade. Exceptions are ENGL 1550 Writing 1 and ENGL 1551 Writing 2, which require a "B" average. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE PREREQUISITE FOR EACH COURSE.
STEP
All students seeking licensure in an area of special education must complete STEP (Special Teacher Education Program). The program is an intensive field-based experience conducted in cooperation with local elementary and secondary schools. STEP is scheduled during fall and spring semesters. Students are committed to an 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. schedule. Because STEP is a full-time commitment, students are advised not to plan any outside work during that period, nor will they be permitted to take any concurrent course work.
In STEP, theory and methods instruction takes place at the university and onsite teaching takes place in the public schools. Students learn to observe, diagnose, prescribe for, and teach exceptional children individually and in small and large groups. Field experiences are carefully planned and closely supervised and evaluated daily to insure that students will develop needed competencies. The emphasis is on individualized instruction adapted to the unique needs of each child.
Junior or senior students planning to take STEP must submit an application one year in advance to BCOE Room 2101 by September 15 for fall STEP, or February 15 for spring STEP. Contact the Beeghly College of Education academic advisors for minimum STEP prerequisites. It is best to take STEP one or two semesters prior to student teaching.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3 |
| FOUN 1501 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| Natural Science with Lab | 4 | |
| TCED 1500 | Introduction to Becoming a Teacher First Year Experience Course BCOE (FYE Requirment) | 3 |
| MATH 1564 | Foundations of Middle School Mathematics 1 | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| Natural Science Elective | 3 | |
| PSYC 1560 | General Psychology | 3 |
| MATH 2665 | Foundations of Middle School Mathematics 2 | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPED 2630 | Individuals with Exceptionalities in Society (field experience required) | 3 |
| HIST 2605 or HIST 2606 |
Turning Points in United States History 1 or Turning Points in United States History 2 |
3 |
| MUHL 2621 | Music Literature and Appreciation | 3 |
| PSYC 3758 | Lifespan Development | 3 |
| TERG 3710 | Reading Application in Content Areas, Middle Years (field experience required) | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 3715 | Characteristics and Needs of Children and Youth with Mild/Moderate Disabilities (field experience required) | 3 |
| Art & Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| PSYC 3709 | Psychology of Education | 3 |
| COUN 1587 | Introduction to Health and Wellness in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| ENGL 2651 | Introduction to Language | 3 |
| English Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 18 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPED 5828 | Education for Children and Youth with Emotional and Behavior Needs (field experience required) 3 | 4 |
| SPED 5866 | Assessment and Referral of Exceptional Children and Youth for the Intervention Specialist (field experience required) 3 | 3 |
| SPED 5867 | Intervention and Remediation of Receptive/Expressive Language Dysfunction (field experience required) 3 | 3 |
| TERG 3701 | Phonics in Reading Instruction | 3 |
| FOUN 3708 | Education and Society | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 5851 | Transition Planning, Social Skill Development and Health-Related Issues (field experience required) 3 | 3 |
| SPED 5853 | Diagnosis and Intervention in Mathematics for Special Education (field experience required) 3 | 3 |
| SPED 5868 | Mild/Moderate Disabilities Practicum (field experience required) 3 | 4 |
| TERG 3702 | Developmental Reading Instruction and Literature Strategies PreK-9 (field experience required) 3 | 3 |
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPED 4854 | Cross-Curricular Interventions (field experience required) 3 | 4 |
| SPED 5835 | Classroom Management for Exceptional Children and Youth (field experience required) 3 | 4 |
| SPED 5864 | Service Coordination, Collaboration, and Consultation for Students with Special Needs (field experience required) 3 | 3 |
| TERG 3703 | Assessment and Instruction in Reading Internship, PreK-9 (field experience required) 3 | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 4849 | Supervised Student Teaching: Mild Moderate/Disabilities (field experience required) 3 | 10 |
| SPED 4869 | Student Teaching Seminar for Special Education (field experience required) 3 | 2 |
| Semester Hours | 12 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 124 | |
| 1 | Electives Second Year Spring Semester: Select one of the following: ENGL 3703 Literature for Young Children, ENGL 3704 Literature for Middle School Readers, ENGL 3705 Young Adult Literature |
| 2 | Electives Third Year Spring Semester: Select one of the following: HIST 2605 Turning Points in United States History 1, HIST 2606 Turning Points in United States History 2, ENGL 3704 Literature for Middle School Readers, ENGL 3739 Writing for Middle School Teachers, POL 1560 American Government, GEOL 1504 The Dynamic Earth, PHYS 2607 Physical Science for Middle and Secondary Education. |
| 3 | Upper Division Required |