University of Nebraska at Kearney
College of Education

1994-96 UNK Undergraduate Catalog

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders

Courses (SPED)

234. Individuals with Exceptionalities - 3 hours

This course is a study of the causes, characteristics and educational implications for individuals with exceptional needs. The course also introduces students to the historical development, relevant legislation and litigation, and trends and issues in the field of special education. Understanding students from culturally diverse backgrounds will also be explored.

308. Introduction to Learning Disabilities - 3 hours

Prerequisite: SPED 234 or department permission. This course is designed to focus on the identification, characteristics, historical and legal aspects of students with learning disabilities. Students will study and critique current research related to learning disabilities and how it affects teaching practices. An emphasis will be placed on how learning disabilities affect students academically (e.g., reading, language, math, writing) and socially.

312. Families, Professionals, and Collaborative Consultation - 3 hours

Prerequisite: SPED 234 or department permission. This course provides the skills for collaboration with families and with other professionals. It provides knowledge concerning family systems, the impact of having a child with special needs in the family, and legal and procedural safeguards regarding exceptional children and their families. Communication and teaming skills will be practiced.

333. Mainstreaming the Exceptional Child - 3 hours

This is a survey course of exceptional children and youth. Emphasis will be on the regular classroom teacher's role in the mainstreaming process. The effects of teachers' attitude and behavior as it relates to exceptional children/youth will be explored. It will cover exceptional students from preschool through adult in relation to methods and alternatives for providing the optimal education opportunities for each individual.

367. Behavior Analysis and Intervention Strategies - 3 hours

This course is designed to identify and describe various intervention strategies for increasing and maintaining appropriate student behaviors and for decreasing or eliminating inappropriate behaviors. Class members will accurately recognize, observe, record and chart inappropriate behaviors, determine behavioral objectives, employ the least restrictive intervention, and foster self-management skills.

376. Program Management in Special Education - 3 hours

Prerequisites: SPED 234 and SPED 308 or SPED 410 or department permission. This course is designed to familiarize the student with the roles and responsibilities of the resource teacher. Federal and state legislation, policies, and procedures affecting individuals with disabilities will be reviewed. Special education delivery models and the roles of educators, service personnel, paraeducators, public and private agency personnel, and administrators will be discussed. An emphasis will be placed on writing Individual Educational Plans, modifying curricula, designing an in-service, completing forms and documents, organizing student records, and applying consultation skills.

400. Introduction to Gifted Education - 3 hours

This course is concerned with the nature and needs of gifted and talented students and the implications that these special characteristics have upon their education. Included in the course will be discussion and activities dealing with the definition, historical and philosophical views of gifted education along with the identification of behavioral characteristics, social-emotional problems, differentiation of curriculum, and exemplary programs.

406. Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education - 3 hours

Prerequisite: It is recommended that PSY 453 be taken prior to this course. Philosophical and legal bases for early intervention, and current trends, issues, policies and procedures are examined. Factors related to developmental risk or delay and to atypical developmental processes are presented, along with intervention models and curricular adaptations.

410. Introduction to Mental Retardation - 3 hours

The course will provide an extensive study of the classification, causes, and social, behavioral, adaptive, and learning characteristics of individuals with mental retardation. Contemporary issues in prevention, diagnosis, placement alternatives, education, and training, and societal reactions to individuals with mental retardation.

415. Intervention Methods: Three to Five Years - 3 hours

Prerequisite: SPED 406 and ELED 362 or departmental permission. This course will provide knowledge required to manage programs and to adapt teaching strategies, curricula, and materials for preschool and kindergarten children with disabilities emphasizing those with mild to moderate disabilities. Students will acquire the methodology to promote domain specific development, functional skills, and child-child interactions in group settings. Field experience is included.

425. Intervention Methods: Birth to Two Years - 3 hours

Prerequisites: SPED 406, SPED 367, and PSY 453 or department permission. This course will provide knowledge and skills to intervene with infants and toddlers, emphasizing those with moderate to severe disabilities. Included are medical and physical aspects of developmental delay and the influences of these conditions on all developmental processes. Family focused intervention strategies will be planned and implemented by the student in field experiences.

445. Assessment of Young Children: Birth to Five - 2 hours

Prerequisite: SPED 446A and SPED 406 or departmental permission. This course prepares students to evaluate assessment tools for young children, determine their appropriateness for various purposes, write and interpret evaluation reports, and translate assessment results into intervention goals and strategies. In field experiences students will administer tests and interpret and report the results.

446A. Foundations of Educational Assessment of Individuals with Disabilities - 2 hours

Prerequisites: SPED 234, 308, 410, 312, 367 and Senior standing or department permission. The course is designed to introduce students to the assessment process in special education. Specific topics include: procedural safeguards; assessment purposes; data collection via informal and standardized procedures; issues in assessment; psychometric properties of standardized tests; administration procedures; scoring, and report writing.

446B. Instrumentation for Educational Assessment of Individuals with Disabilities - 2 hours

Prerequisites: SPED 234, 308, 410, 312, 367 and Senior standing or department permission. The course is designed to assist students in developing competencies in the selection, administration, scoring, and interpretation of test results of assessment instruments appropriate for use with students with disabilities. Seminar presentations will include lecture material; data gathered by class members on the purpose, standardization, and statistical properties of specific tests; in-class demonstration of test administration; discussion of scoring procedures; interpretation of test results; and the development of instructional objectives.

455. Elementary Methods for Mild Disabilities - 3 hours

Prerequisites: SPED 234, SPED 308, and SPED 312 or department permission. This course is designed to prepare students to teach elementary students with mild disabilities. The course emphasizes appropriate instructional methods, materials, and techniques for modifying curriculum for elementary students with mild disabilities, specific learning disabilities, or behavior disorders.

466. Secondary Methods for Mild Disabilities - 3 hours

Prerequisites: SPED 234, SPED 308, and SPED 312 or department permission. This course is designed to prepare students to teach adolescents with mild disabilities. The course emphasizes appropriate methods and materials for secondary learners. Students will also learn how to develop individualized transitional plans.

475. Methods for Moderate Disabilities - 3 hours

Prerequisites: SPED 234, SPED 312, and SPED 410 or department permission. The course is designed to enable students to learn about specific instructional methods and techniques for teaching individuals with moderate disabilities. An emphasis will be placed upon age appropriate methods and materials, full inclusion models, the use of technology, and functional curricula.

499. Independent Study in Special Education - 1-3 hours

Prerequisite: Permission of Special Education/Communication Disorders Department. Designed to serve students seeking endorsement in Special Education and those who desire additional study in their area of specialization.

Graduate Courses

800P Introduction to Gifted Education, 3 hrs.;
801P Identification of Gifted and Talented, 3 hrs.;
802P Curriculum Development -Gifted Education (Materials and Methods), 3 hrs.;
803P Curriculum Development II--Gifted Education, 3 hrs.;
804 Program Design for Gifted/Talented Education, 3 hrs.;
805P Practicum in Gifted Education, 3 hrs.;
808 Introduction to Behavior Disorders 3 hrs.;
810P Introduction to Mental Retardation, 3 hrs.;
812 Families, Professionals, and Collaborative Consultation, 3 hrs.;
815P Intervention Methods: Three to Five Years, 3 hrs.;
818P Introduction to Learning Disabilities, 3 hrs.;
819 Methods for Learning Disabilities, 3 hrs.;
820P Nature and Needs of Individuals with Disabilities, 3 hrs.;
825P Intervention Methods: Birth to Two Years, 3 hrs.;
844A Testing Theory, 1 hr.;
844B Verification Instrumentation, 1 hr.;
844C Differential Diagnosis, 1 hr.;
844D Interpretation and Applications of Test Data, 1 hr.;
845P Assessment of Young Children, 2 hrs.;
850 Practicum in Special Education, 6 hrs.;
855P Elementary Methods for Mild Disabilities, 3 hrs;
860P Special Topics, 1-3 hrs.;
865P Early Intervention for Young Children with Special Needs, 3 hrs.;
866P Secondary Methods for Mild Disabilities, 3 hrs.;
867 Behavior Analysis and Intervention Strategies, 3 hrs.;
875P Methods for Moderate Disabilities 3 hrs.;
876P Program Management in Special Education, 3 hrs.;
890P Independent Study in Special Education, 1-3 hrs.;
893P Seminar in Special Education, 3 hrs.;
896 Thesis, 3-6 hrs.

See Graduate Catalog for course descriptions.

Courses (CDIS)

110. Speaking English for Non-Native Speakers of English - 3 hours

Designed for students with limited English proficiency. Provides practice in pronunciation of American English and comprehension and use of conversational language, including idioms, slang, homonyms, prepositions, vocabulary, grammar, and rules of discourse. Individual assistance will be arranged.

210. Survey of Communication Disorders - 3 hours

Nature, causes and treatment of communication disorders as an educational field for Communication Disorders majors, special education and elementary education majors, and others who desire a knowledge of communication disorders, speech/language pathology and audiology as professional disciplines. Prerequisite for other speech pathology courses. Observation hours required.

211. Orientation to Practicum - 3 hours

Prerequisite: CDIS 210. Familiarizes students with basics of clinical interaction including observation skills, rapport, behavioral objectives, recording progress, and report writing. Provides a basis for accruing 25 clock hours of clinical observation.

215. Introduction to Phonetics - 3 hours

Vocal mechanism and the International Phonetic Alphabet. Designed to develop skill in the use of IPA and in the analysis of defective speech sounds.

251. Normal and Disordered Communication: 0-5 Years - 4 hours

Normal and abnormal development of communication of children ages birth to five will be presented. Procedures for identifying infants and toddlers as being at risk for developing communication will be covered in addition to intervention programs to remediate such deficits. Observation hours required.

261. Normal Development of Language and Articulation - 3 hours

Detailed study of speech and language development in children. This course is not for Communication Disorders majors.

310.Clinical Practicum in Speech/Language ABCD.Pathology - 2 hours

Prerequisites: CDIS 210, 211, 215, and 362. Supervised experience in assessment and treatment of communication disorders. May be repeated two semesters to accumulate a minimum of 90 hours of clinical practicum.

336. Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech Mechanism - 3 hours

Prerequisites: CDIS 210. Study of the anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanism.

350. The Psychology of Speech/Language Pathology - 3 hours

Prerequisites: CDIS 210 and PSY 203GS. A study of psychological factors in human communication, in disturbed communication, in evaluation and therapy.

352. Normal and Disordered Language: 6-12 Years - 3 hours

The study of normal and disordered communication of children from ages six through twelve. Includes assessment and intervention procedures. Review of normal communication, assessing language disorders, identifying students needing remediation, classroom and clinical management. Observation hours required.

353. Communication Disorders of the Adolescent - 3 hours

Study of normal and disordered communication skills of adolescents. Identification and assessment procedures. Classroom and clinical management. Observation hours required.

362. Remediation of Articulation Disorders - 3 hours

Prerequisite: CDIS 215. A presentation of principles and procedures for identification, assessment, and treatment of persons with articulation disorders. Observation or practicum hours required.

410. Introduction to Audiology - 3 hours

Prerequisites: CDIS 210, 336. Basic kinds of audiometric testing, disorders, anatomy, and functioning of the ear. Observation of hearing evaluations and administration of pure tone audiometric tests is required.

413. Manual Communication - 3 hours

Performance course dealing with the expressive and receptive aspects of basic sign language. Designed for persons working with the hearing disabled, nonverbal, or non-communicating individual.

415. Aural Rehabilitation - 3 hours

Prerequisites: CDIS 210 and 410. Study of the objectives and techniques for working with individuals with hearing loss.

418.Diagnosis of Communication Disorders - 3 hours

Prerequisites: CDIS 210, 251, 352, 362. Provides the student with an overview of diagnostic procedures and materials used in the area of speech/language pathology.

433. Clinical Practicum in Audiology - 1 hour

Prerequisite: CDIS 410 and consent of instructor. Experience in administration and interpretation of clinical assessment methods used in diagnostic audiology. Recommended for students considering a career in audiology. May be repeated.

439. Managing a Speech-Language - 3 hours

Pathology Program Prerequisites: CDIS 210, 215, 310, 352, 362. Procedures for establishing and maintaining speech/language services in public schools, hospitals, and other community or private practice settings. Scheduling, record keeping, interpersonal and interagency contacts, and program evaluation.

460. Independent Study and Research - 1-3 hours

Prerequisites: Permission of Communication Disorders faculty. Investigation of selected problems or topics on an individual basis. Designed to serve students in Communication Disorders who desire additional study in their chosen areas of expertise.

475. Internship in Speech/Language Pathology - 6,10 or 15 hours

Prerequisites: Must have completed all required courses for Communication Disorders major and have consent of instructor. Must already have been accepted by a public or private school, hospital, state institution or clinic. Supervised clinical practicum in identification, assessment, and treatment of communication disorders in an off-campus setting.

Graduate Courses

813P Manual Communication I, 3 hrs.;
817P Speech and Hearing Science, 3 hrs.;
819P Language Disorders I (Problems in Children), 3 hrs.;
825P Special Methods in Speech/Language Pathology, 2 hrs.;
828P Audiology I, 3 hrs.;
829P Audiology II, 3 hrs.;
832P Independent Study in Audiology, 1-3 hrs.;
833P Practicum in Audiology, 1 hr.;
851 Phonological Disorders, 3 hrs.;
854 Introduction to Graduate Study in Communication Disorders, 3 hrs.;
856P Language Assessment & Intervention, 3 hrs.;
860P Practicum in Speech/Language Pathology, 2 hrs.;
865 Voice Disorders, 3 hrs.;
867 Orofacial Anomalies, 3 hrs.;
868 Motor Speech Disorders, 3 hrs.;
881 Seminar in Speech/Language Pathology, 3 hrs.;
885P Fluency Disorders, 3 hrs.;
887 Neurogenic Communication Disorders in Adults, 3 hrs.;
890P Workshop in Speech/Language Pathology, 1-3 hrs.;
895P Independent Study in Speech/Language Pathology, 1-3 hrs.;
896 Thesis, 3-6 hrs.;
897P Internship in Speech/Language Pathology, 6-15 hrs.;
898P Special Topics in Speech/Language Pathology, 2 hrs.;
899P Special Education in Speech/Language Pathology, 1-3 hrs.

See Graduate Catalog for course descriptions.