ParaEd Course Descriptions
REQUIRED COURSES
MBU 105: Business Mathematics: A foundation course in mathematics designed to refresh the individual in the business uses of math. Covers material on fractions, percentages, ratios, proportions, introductory algebra, simple and compound interest, discounts, loans, and set theory. Also stresses hand calculators and computers. (3 units)
MEDU 101: Introduction to Special Education (formerly Professional Knowledge and Practice in Paraeducation)
This course will cover the basic competencies paraeducators need to function effectively in the classroom and improve student outcomes. Through lecture, discussion, active learning, simulations and field-based projects, participants will build knowledge and skills related to special education programs and procedures, how students learn, principles of effective instruction, behavior management, communication, collaboration and professional practice. (3 units)
MEDU 201a and 201b: Field Placement in Special Education (formerly Paraeducator Field Placement): This full-year course will transform the paraeducator's classroom into a laboratory for learning. Through companion classroom-based projects, seminars, videotaping, and coaching from collaborating teachers and university supervisors, paraeducators will apply their learning from the first course and have opportunities to reflect and refine their skills. Prerequisite MEDU 101. (1 + 2 units)
MEDU 251: Foundations of Education and Effective Teaching: Introduces students to the aims, goals, and functions of schooling within the context of the philosophical, historical, sociological bases of American education. Develops a relationship between theory and practice through interaction with resource persons. Emphasis on how schools can address needs of special and at risk learners. (3 units)
MEDU 261: Human Growth and Development: Development of a person from the prenatal period through adulthood. Experiences with observation, interviewing, and other ways to obtain information about human development are included. Special focus on the relation between development and schooling experiences with emphasis on special needs and at risk learners. (3 units)
MEDU 301: Special Education Curriculum and Instruction (formerly Special Topics in ParaEducation: This course will cover topics related to the paraeducator's specific area of special education employment (i.e. emotional disabilities, inclusion, learning disabilities). These topics will be explored in depth, making use of case studies, projects and classroom interaction with expert practitioners. Companion projects to be carried out in the paraeducator's classroom will provide the link between theory and practice. Prerequisite: MEDU 101. (3 units)
MEDU 351: Interdisciplinary Teaching Through Physical Education for Special Needs Learners: Studies the structure and function of human movement and motor development to implement appropriate physical education experiences in a school setting. Design of learning activities and curricular sequences to develop positive health behaviors, safety practices, and physical fitness. Exploration of strategies for infusing health and physical activities into content area instruction. Emphasis on physical education, motor development, and related services to support special needs learners. Prerequisite: MEDU 101. (3 units)
MEDU 361: Psychology of Education: Introduction to the principles of educational psychology. Teaching methods based on research in cognitive science compared with those based on principles of behaviorism. Topics include classroom learning, memory, problem solving, measuring student performance, and planning instruction to meet the needs of diverse and special needs learners. (3 units)
MEDU 271: Characteristics and Needs of Students with Severe Disabilities: Information is provided on the physical, medical, cognitive and communications problems found in students with low incidence disabilities. Students explore the history of education and related services for these students and the current issues and best practices in providing them with education and related services that best meet their unique needs. Prerequisite: MEDU 101. (3 units)
MEDU 371: Best Practices in the Education of Students with Developmental Disabilities: Students with severe disabilities have unique needs in the classroom. Students will be exposed to and practice strategies and techniques for maximizing student growth and independence in a variety of settings including the inclusive classroom. Prerequisite MEDU 271 (3 units)
MHU 131: Presiding, Presenting and Speaking: For the individual who must communicate effectively to large or small groups. Given in workshop format, with specific techniques immediately useful to improve confidence and performance in presenting reports and recommendations, presiding as a chair, or speaking to live audiences. ParaEd students will be assigned a project relating their skill development to the special education classroom. (3 units)
MHU 140: Writing Skills: An intensive composition course treating basic grammar, sentence structure, organization, and elements of writing style. ParaEd students will be given specific readings and assignments relating their writing to topics in special education. (3 units)
MHU 151: Rhetoric and Composition: An intensive composition course including a review of grammar rules, writing and rhetorical principles, logic, and the rules of evidence as applied to research, expository, and argumentative writing. ParaEd students will be given specific readings and assignments relating their writing to topics in special education. (3 units)
MHU 152: Composition and Research: Teaches the research skills individuals need during and after their college careers, including researching topics, preparing bibliographies, and gathering data, documenting and organizing research, and writing and presenting a research report. ParaEd students will be given specific research and composition relating to topics in special education (3 units)
MID 100: Critical Thinking: Introduction to techniques of sound reasoning in written and verbal communication, including formulation and testing of arguments, means of identifying and testing fallacious reasoning, and the art of persuasion. ParaEd students will be given specific readings and assignments related to critical thinking in the field of special education. (3 units)
MID 101: Problem Solving: Students develop skills involved in effective problem solving, including defining the problem, creating alternative solutions to it, and evaluating those alternatives. Emphasis on providing a general approach to problems. ParaEd students will be given specific readings and assignments related to problem solving in the field of special education (3 units)
MIS 104: Introduction to Computers: Provides an introduction to computer history, concepts, hardware, software, and application software, such as operating systems, graphics, word processing, databases, and spreadsheets. Elementary programming in a high-level language. ParaEd students will be assigned a project relating their new computer skills to their work in the classroom. (3 units)
MEDU 115: The School-Home Connection: Partnerships Supporting Student Learning: The course is oriented toward family strengths and a view of families as experts on their children and partners in supporting student learning. Develops effective communication skills with families and strategies to enhance family involvement in the classroom and school. Introduces school policies, programs and services that relate to families. Topics include challenges that families face, particularly balancing work and family and accepting and coping with children’s disabilities. (3 units)
ELECTIVE COURSES
MART 101: Fundamentals of Design I (Studio): Introductory studio art course. Primary goal is the development of an awareness and appreciation of the visual experience and of the limitless possibilities for making things of beauty and delight. Learning based largely on a conscious amassing of visual experiences and the development of seeing, upon which, eventually, to realize one's own visual language and visual value judgments. Studio exercises and lectures consider two-dimensional work and color. ParaEd students will be assigned a project relating their art experiences to their support of special education students. Studio, six hours per week. (3 units)
MART 231: Introduction to Digital Arts (Studio): Using a variety of software, students interested in the visual arts learn the basic tools and techniques for creating and manipulating images and transforming ideas into artwork, along with overall concepts of scanning and digitizing images. Painting and drawing software are emphasized and classes stress individual development. The computer acts as a tool to create artwork from models, still lifes as well as from the imagination. Work will be printed and critiqued. There will be weekly projects, which may be finished during class, but may require additional lab time. ParaEd students will be assigned a project relating their computer experiences to their support of special education students. (3 units)
MEDU aaa: Process and Acquisition of Reading: Provides students with an understanding of the reading and language skills students need and the ways these skills are acquired. Considers causation of reading problems, remediation and prevention through appropriate instruction. (3 units)
MEDU ccc: Methods for Teaching Elementary Mathematics with Manipulatives: Promotes content proficiency and pedagogy based on cognitive and developmental theories and wise use of modern mathematics materials and manipulatives. Considers causation of mathematics problems, remediation and prevention through appropriate, differentiated instruction. (3 units)
MHU 120: Introduction to Art: Survey of the visual arts from prehistory to the late Middle Ages, with emphasis on broad understanding of artistic style in relation to culture and history. ParaEd students will be assigned a project relating content to their support of special education students. (3 units)
MHU 360: Minorities in America: Traces the experience of minorities in America from the slaves who arrived in Jamestown to women in the 1990s; from the ethnic migrations of the late nineteenth century to the boat people a century later. ParaEd students will be given specific readings and assignments relating their work with special needs students. (3 units)
MIS 105: Microcomputer Applications: A survey of basic microcomputer operation and software with hands-on experience in operating systems, spreadsheets, database management, and management analysis. ParaEd students will be assigned a project relating their new computer skills to their work in the classroom. Prerequisite: MIS 104. (3 units)
MSO 101: Introduction to Human Services: An overview of human/social service professions within the institution of social welfare. Basic definitions, historical development, trends in social welfare and social work, and a survey of various agencies. May include guest lectures and field trips. ParaEd students will be assigned a project relating content to their support of special education students. (3 units)
MSO 200: Human Cultural Diversity: The basic concepts of culture, cultural transmission, diversity, human interaction, and cultural identity. Topics include the concept of ethnicity, the nature of prejudice and discrimination, internal and external culture, cultural change, biological versus environmental influences, majority/minority relations. ParaEd students will be assigned readings and a project relating content to their work in special education. (3 units)
MSO 381: Psychology of Aggression and Violence: Examines interpersonal, intergroup and international violence and aggression from the standpoints of physiological, motivational, learning, cognitive, and interpersonal factors, as well as structural and sociological factors. Also covers aspects of the psychology of nonviolence. ParaEd students will be assigned readings and a project relating content to their work in special education. (3 units)
MSO 395: Conflict Resolution: The study of the analysis and resolution of human conflict. Emphasis on the role of mediation in dispute resolution focusing on language, listening, and problem-solving techniques. ParaEd students will be assigned readings and a project relating content to their work in special education. (3 units)
MSO 455: Psychology of Child Abuse and Neglect: Review of current literature on child abuse and neglect, including identification, etiology, treatment, prevention, and legal aspects. Also discusses family violence. ParaEd students will be assigned readings and a project relating content to their work in special education. (3 units)
CEC Knowledge and Skill Base for All Beginning Special Education Paraeducators
Standard 1: Foundations
Standard 2: Development and Characteristics of Learners
Standard 3: Individual Learning Differences
Standard 4: Instructional Strategies
Standard 5: Learning Environments and Social Interactions
Standard 6: Language
Standard 7: Instructional Planning
Standard 8: Assessment
Standard 9: Professional and Ethical Practice
Standard 10: Collaboration
ParaEd Required Course / CEC Paraeducator Standard Addressed1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
MBU 105: Business Mathematics / X / X
MEDU 101: Introduction to Special Education / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
MEDU 201 a/b: Field Placement in Special Education / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
MEDU 251: Foundations of Education and Effective Teaching / X / X / X / X
MEDU 261: Human Growth and / X / X / X / X
MEDU 301: Special Education Curriculum and Instruction / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
MEDU 351: Interdisciplinary teaching Through Physical Education for Special Needs Learners / X / X / X / X / X
MEDU 361: Psychology of Education / X / X / X
MEDU 271: Characteristics and Needs of Students with Severe Disabilities / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
MEDU 371: Best Practices in the Education of Students with Developmental Disabilities / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
MHU 131: Presiding, Presenting and Speaking / X / X / X / X
MHU 140: Writing Skills / X
MHU 151: Rhetoric and Composition / X / X
MHU 152: Composition and Research / X
MID 100: Critical Thinking OR
MID 101: Problem Solving / X / X / X / X
MIS 104: Introduction to Computers / X / X
MSO bbb: The Home School Connection / X / X / X / X
2