The Certificate of Achievement for the Special Education Paraprofessional seeks to inspire and prepare students and professionals in the field with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to support all children in special education and general education settings where children with exceptionalities are cared for and educated in inclusive settings. Program curriculum focuses on the origins of special education and legislation and strategies for supporting neurodiverse individuals. Students acquire foundational knowledge, teaching techniques, and strategies for building positive, inclusive classroom environments for all children. A certificate increases students’ employment opportunities and salary potential, including employment opportunities as a special education paraprofessional in school districts, residential care centers, Department of Rehabilitation, or private agencies.
Program Student Learning Outcome(s):
1. Evaluate current policies related to special education law and inclusion.
2. Explain the needs of children with disabilities and their families along with interventions designed to address these.
3. Identify community resources serving individuals with special needs.
The Child Development and Educational Studies Department offers three courses in Special Education: CDSED 67, CDSED 70, and CDSED 5. These courses fill every time they are offered, and enrollment increased 37% between Fall 2017 and Fall 2020. However, in that time the College awarded only 4 Special Education Assistant AA degrees. This low degree count provides the rationale for the Department offering a new Certificate of Achievement of 21 units to students interested in this area of education.
This certificate prepares students and professionals in the field with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to support all children in special education and general education settings where children with exceptionalities are cared for and educated in inclusive settings. A certificate increases students’ employment opportunities and salary potential. Employment opportunities include: special education paraprofessional in School Districts, Residential Care Centers, Department of Rehabilitation, or Private Agencies. This is a CTE program.
The Child Development and Educational Studies Department pairs the “why" behind typical and atypical development, with the “how" of best practices in education. This model allows students to launch their professional careers with a whole-child lens, supporting developmentally appropriate practices in employment settings, with a depth of understanding characteristic of a highly qualified professional in the field.
Course Number | Course Name | Units |
---|---|---|
CDECE 47 | Human Development | 3 |
CDECE 48 | Child, Family & Community | 3 |
CDECE 59 | Guiding Young Children | 3 |
CDSED 67 | Introduction to Children with Special Needs | 3 |
CDSED 5 | Community Resources in Special Education | 3 |
CDECE 271WE -OR- EDUC 20 | Work Experience (must earn 3 units) Introduction to Elementary Classroom Teaching | 3 |
Subtotal Units | 18 |
IN ADDITION, complete THREE(3) units from the following:
Course Number | Course Name | Units |
---|---|---|
CDECE 61 | Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3 |
CDECE 259 | Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood | 3 |
CDSED 70 | Curriculum for Special Education | 3 |
Required Total | 21 |
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