Program Courses

Some of the courses in the masters and endorsement programs are offered via distance, and other courses are offered on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha and University of Nebraska at Kearney campuses. Courses that are not offered via distance education are offered during summer sessions on the UNL campus. Some of those courses will be offered via distance education in the future. In addition, UNL may accept transfer credit hours from other accredited institutions. All students in the endorsement and/or masters degree should consult with an adviser who will assist them in determining the best options for obtaining these courses and developing a program of study.

List of Courses and Tentative Schedule of Course Offerings

Course Descriptions for Course Descriptions for all Courses

SPED 800 Characteristics of Exceptional Persons 3 cr. (On campus or transfer in) Etiology, growth and development, and characteristics of persons who differ from the norm.

SPED 802 Advanced Assessment Techniques 3 cr. (On campus or transfer in) (Prereq: SPED 800 or equivalent; or permission) Comprehensive study of criterion-referenced and normative-referenced assessment instruments used by school resource personnel.

SPED 803 Effective Instruction of Learners with Special Needs 3 cr. (On campus or transfer in)  (Prereq: SPED 800  and 802; or permission) Interaction of classroom-based assessment and effective instructional strategies for use with individual and group formats.  Development of individual education plans, curriculum analysis, delivery of instruction, curriculum-based measurement, and specific and generic instructional strategies.

SPED 908 Resource Consultation Services 3 cr. (On campus or transfer in) (Prereq: SPED 800, and permission) Roles and functions of school resource personnel in serving as educational consultants to regular school staff.

EdPsych 850  Child or Adolescent Psychology 3 cr.  (On campus or transfer in) Advanced study of the behavior and development of preschool and elementary school children.
OR
851 Psychology  or Adolescence  3 cr.  (On campus or transfer in) Mental, social, and emotional development of boys and girls during the adolescent period.

The following courses should be taken in this sequence:

SPED 841 Emotional and Behavioral Disorders 3 cr. (Distance section available) (Prereq:  SPED 800 or permission)Examination of the etiology, theories, and assessment of child and adolescent emotional and behavioral disorders.  Addresses issues of definitions and classification (DSM-IV and special education) of deviant behavior and psychopathology, as well as an overview of service delivery systems in education and mental health. 

SPED 896-B  Directed Field Experience – Behavior Disorders 3 cr.  (Distance section available)  (Prereq:  Permission) Designed to acquaint prospective BD teachers to the range of programs for BD students across ages, service systems, and levels of "restrictiveness".  Students will visit, observe, and evaluate services at mental health, juvenile justice, alternative education, child welfare, and vocational rehabilitation sites. 

SPED 804 Managing Challenging Behavior  3 cr. (Distance section available) (Prereq: SPED 800 or permission) Functional approaches that can be used by teachers and mental health practitioners for assessing, preventing, and managing children's challenging behavior.  Topics include basics of applied behavior analysis, functional analyses of behavior, individual and group oriented interventions, self-management training, and strategies for promoting generalization.

SpEd 942 - Strategic Approaches for Students with EBD  3cr.  (Distance section available)  (Prereq:  SPED 800, *804, and *841 or permission) Strategic therapy approaches to assessment and treatment of EBD (Emotional Behavioral Disorders).  Premise that people behave in a way consistent with their frames of reference.  Techniques include establishing rapport, functional assessment, paradoxical injunction, reframing, and therapeutic metaphors.  Focus on managing resistance.

SPED 907-B  Seminar in Special Education: Behavior Disorders 3 cr.  (Prereq:  Permission of instructor) Review of current issues in behavior disorders.  Topics may include: functional behavioral assessments, drug therapy, school safety and violence, community-based services, early intervention and other timely topics.

Practicum/Student Teaching

Practicum courses requiring student teaching may be completed at a distance provided a qualified cooperating teacher and a University supervisor are approved by your adviser. 

SPED 897B Practicum:  Behavior Disorders 5 cr.

SPED 897Z Practicum:  Multicultural Education  1cr. (Prereq: By application only—consult adviser)

Laboratory and teaching experience in the area of specialization.

Supplementary course for teaching endorsement:

Elective course as approved by advisor       3 cr.

Additional Requirements For Masters degree

Research design course         3 cr. (see cehs.unl.edu/distance for choices of online research courses)

Comprehensive Exam