The specialization in Mild/Moderate Special Education prepares intervention specialists to develop, implement, and evaluate individualized programs for children and adolescents ages 5 through 21 who have special academic and social adjustment needs. These individuals are typically identified as having a specific learning disability, mild/moderate mental retardation, or mild/moderate behavioral disorders. At Cleveland State University, students who are working to earn intervention specialist licensure demonstrate diagnostic skills and competencies in the assessment of learners’ academic and social needs. These skills are applied in the development and delivery of instruction in regular and special education classrooms.

Beginning with their initial professional education class, students create and continue to develop professional portfolios. These are used to assess student progress and to demonstrate professional development, eventually becoming a showcase for a student’s teaching competence.

Having met current curriculum guidelines set by the Council for Exceptional Children, the Special Education Program is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and approved by the Ohio Department of Education.

For 2004-05, the College of Education and Human Services reports a 99 percent passage rate on the national Praxis II qualifying teacher licensure exam for special education. For the same time period, corresponding passage rates on Praxis II Principles of Teaching and Learning Tests for all students in the College ranged from 90 to 100 percent. Moreover, during their initial two years of employment, all program graduates passed the Praxis III Classroom Performance Assessment needed to advance from a two-year provisional to a five-year professional teaching license as a Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialist.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Employment opportunities for Cleveland State University graduates with Ohio intervention specialist licensure to work with students with mild/moderate educational needs are plentiful in Ohio and nationwide. Upon graduation with licensure, new teachers are highly qualified to teach children through grade 6 and are licensed to work with students in kindergarten though the 12th grade. Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialists are employed by both public and private schools.

PROGRAM

Click here to see the current academic year's Undergraduate Catalog requirements for the Special Education Intervention Specialist: Mild/Moderate major .

NOTE: The requirements listed below are unofficial. For official requirements, determine your catalog rights, and go to the undergraduate catalog that matches those rights. (The following requirements are ONLY for students whose FIRST semester at CSU is Fall 2011 or Spring 2012. For students who started BEFORE the 2011-2012 school year AND who have been enrolled during at least one of the past three semesters, including summer, please see your undergraduate catalog).

Full acceptance to the program requires completion of 30 semester hours of course work with a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or better. Likewise, proficiency in English and mathematics is required as demonstrated by successful completion of ENG 101 and a college-level mathematics course with a minimum grade of C.

In addition to general education requirements, special education majors in the mild/moderate licensure program complete 73 hours of professional education courses that include field experiences, a practicum, and student teaching. Students meet professional standards by maintaining a 2.50 overall grade point average and a 2.75 grade point average in professional education courses. Classes that do not require fieldwork are frequently offered in the evenings. Students must be available for field placements in area schools during the day.

RECOMMENDED SEQUENCE FOR MILD/MODERATE INTERVENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM

Students are required to complete 120-134 semester hours of course work that includes university, college and major field requirements. Adhering to the recommended sequence outlined below provides a balanced workload and ensures that students will have the proper prerequisites and knowledge to benefit from these courses.

First Semester (16-17 credits) ASC 101 Introduction to University Life ENG 101 College Writing I MTH 127 Math for Elementary and Middle School Teachers I HIS 101 or 102 Western Civilization Non-Western Requirement * Second Semester (17 credits) ENG 102 College Writing II MTH 128 Math for Elementary and Middle School Teachers II BIO 106 Human Biology in Health and Disease BIO 107 Human Biology Lab PSY 220 Child Development EDB 200 Teaching as a Profession Third Semester (18 credits) ART 252 or 253 Intro to Western Art GEO 100 Intro to Geology GEO 101 Intro to Geology Lab EDB 300 Educational Technology EDB 301 Social Foundations of Education EDB 302 Psychological Foundations of Education MTH 129 Math for Elementary and Middle School Teachers III Fourth Semester (19 credits) PSY 221 Adolescent Psychology EDC 300 Diversity in Educational Settings SPH 229 Speech and Language Development ESE 400 Intro to Special Education EDL 300 Phonics Assessment and Instruction EDL 301 Beg/Int Reading Instruction and Assessment Fifth Semester (16-17 credits) ESE 402 Introduction to Mild/Moderate Educational Needs EDL 305 Content Area Literacy Arts and Humanities/African American Requirements * ECE 415 Math Instruction in PreK-3 ECE 417 Science Instruction in PreK-3 Sixth Semester (17-18 credits) ESE 411 Management and Interventions for Severe Behavior ESE 416 Life Skills and Career Planning in SED ESE 421 Assessment for Instructional Needs HPR 101 Wellness as a Lifestyle PED 456 PE for Children with Special Needs Arts and Humanities Requirement-Literature Course * Seventh Semester (15 credits) EST 377 Practicum – Mild/Moderate ESE 412 Collaboration Parents and Professionals ESE 422 Assmnt Based Curriculum and Instruction EDL 312 or 313 Literature-based Reading Eighth Semester (12 credits) EST 487 Student Teaching-Mild/Moderate

Credits 1 3 4 4 3-4 Credits 3 4 3 2 3 2 Credits 4 3 1 2 3 3 2 Credits 3 3 3 4 3 3 Credits 4 3 3-4 3 3 Credits 4 2 4 1 3 3-4 Credits 4 4 4 3 Credits 12

* Course may be used to meet university requirements in more than one area.

The semester course load outlined above may be reduced to accommodate required field experiences and/or personal scheduling needs. This can be accomplished by registering for summer classes and/or extending to five years the time needed to complete program requirements.

For more information, contact:
Education Student Services Center
Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid Avenue, RT 1401
Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
Phone: 216.687.4625
cehs.csuohio.edu

For official requirements for a degree in this major, see the Undergraduate Catalog.