Early Childhood Special Education Graduate Program

About the Degree
The Department of Special Education (SPED) offers a high quality interdisciplinary program in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) that can lead to a teaching endorsement or to Masters, Ed.D. or Ph.D. degrees in special education. The program prepares early childhood special educators for infants, toddlers and preschool children with a range of delays/disabilities and their families. The program reflects both the basic principles of The Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Early Childhood Recommended Guidelines for Personnel Preparation (1995) as well as the minimum requirements for a teaching endorsement in the area of Preschool Disabilities for the Nebraska Department of Education. This program prepares entry-level educators at a graduate level and provides advanced study for experienced personnel in the field of early intervention. The program aims to assure that services for young children with delays/disabilities and their families be:

• Family-centered
• Comprehensive
• Interdisciplinary
• Community-based
• Equitable
• Developmentally appropriate

The core of the Early Childhood Special Education program is offered via distance technology. Students can take many of the courses in the comfort of their home or classroom via computer. Each class also requires access to videoconferencing equipment, usually located in a school or learning center. You may take a single class, pursue the teaching endorsement or complete a graduate degree. Up to 18 credit hours can be transferred from another institution into a degree program at UNL.

Who Should Consider This Degree?
Special education teachers who want additional specialization, skills or continuing education credits

• Special education teachers who want additional specialization, skills or continuing education credits
• Early childhood educators
• Teachers who want to work with young children with special needs
• Allied health and social service specialists who plan or deliver special programs for children birth to age 5
• Those with a baccalaureate degree who wish to pursue a teaching certificate to work with young children

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Method of Delivery
Courses will be offered via the Internet through Blackboard software to any location and via videoconferencing or satellite broadcasts across the state of Nebraska.

For information about the technology used for individual courses, visit: cehs.unl.edu/online/.

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Computer Requirements
Many of the classes offered via distance utilize online technology. Even though the classes do not "meet" at a scheduled time and place, the learner is expected to keep up with class assignments and interact as if the distance learner were attending a satellite course or a course on campus. Students must have computer and Internet/World Wide Web access. Students should include current e-mail address when registering.

Minimum computer requirements include:

• PC: Windows 98 or higher Pentium processor 200MHz (minimum)
• Mac: Mac OS system 8.6 or later, PowerPC processor 200MHz (minimum)
• Minimum requirements for both platforms: 48 MB of RAM, 100 MB of hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, 56kbps modem, Web browser: Netscape Communicator 4.7 (or later) or Internet Explorer.
• Recommended: At least 64 MB of RAM, a 15" monitor or larger and the latest version of either Internet Explorer or Netscape Communicator.
• Students enrolled in Blackboard courses may begin course at blackboard.unl.edu.

Computer Help Desk
(866) 472-3970
7:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m., CT
7:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m., CT Sundays
E-mail: helpdesk@unl.edu

A note to AOL users: Most versions of the AOL Web browser will not work well with the Blackboard software used at UNL. The UNL Help Desk cannot assist AOL users.

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Admissions Requirements

ECSE Endorsement requires:
• Admission to Graduate Studies as a nondegree student. For more information, please visit: www.unl.edu/gradstudies
• Approved program of study (developed with academic adviser) filed with Diane Sealock, Teacher Certification Office, CEHS, 105 Henzlik Hall, Lincoln, NE 68506 • Phone: (402) 472-8623 • E-mail: dsealock1@unl.edu
• Completion of 30 credit hours in Special Education/Early Childhood ECSE

ECSE M.A./M.Ed. requires:
• Admission to Graduate Studies for degree www.unl.edu/gradstudies
• Admission to department of Special Education and Communication Disorders www.unl.edu/barkley/forms/index.html
• Approved Program of Studies Completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours (including the requirements for the endorsement)

Admission to the department requires:
• Transcripts
• GRE scores
• Three letters of recommendation with department application

For more information, please visit: cehs.unl.edu/online or Special Education & Communication Disorders' Admissions Secretary, Jill England, at (402) 472-2141 or jengland2@unl.edu.

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Sample Program of Study
Please visit: www.unl.edu/ECSE/program.shtml

Prerequisites:

Teaching certificate* and the following:
• SPED 800 - Characteristics of Exceptional Children or equivalent
• SPED 802 - Advanced Assessment Techniques or equivalent
• SPED 803 - Effective Instruction for Learners with Special Needs or equivalent
• SPED 804 - Managing Challenging Behavior or equivalent

*Persons without a teaching certificate will need an additional 16+ credit hours in College of Education and Human Sciences.

Required Courses (available via distance:
• SPED 860 - Issues in Early Childhood Special Education (3 cr)
• SPED 861 - Interventions for Infants with Disabilities (3 cr)
• SPED 862 - Classroom Programs for Preschool Children with Disabilities (3 cr)
• SPED 863 - Medically Fragile Infants (3 cr)
• SPED 882 - Advanced Methods for Students with Retardation or Severe Disabilities (3 cr)
• SPED 960 - Family-Centered Services for Children with Disabilities (3 cr)
• SPED 897Q - Practicum: Preschool Handicapped (5 cr)
• SPED 497Z - Multicultural Student-Teaching (1 cr)

Endorsement in ECSE: Additional courses required include: child development, early childhood education and multicultural education (CURR 861).*

Masters degree: In addition to the above requirements, include the following coursework: research design (EDUC 900D)* and supportive courses of interest.

You and your adviser will work to make sure that all requirements are met for your educational objectives. (Undergraduate coursework may be applicable.) The required UNL courses for the ECSE teaching endorsement can possibly be completed in three years on a part-time basis. Additional coursework required for the endorsement or degree can be transferred to/from cooperating campuses or taken via distance education from other UNL College of Education and Human Sciences departments.

*Available via distance education from other UNL College of Education and Human Sciences departments

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Tentative Course Schedule

For current course offerings, visit unlsched.unl.edu/nusched/index.jsp.

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Contact Us
Dr. Chris Marvin
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Department of Special Education & Communication Disorders
202B Barkley Memorial Center
Lincoln, NE 68583-0732
Phone: 402-472-5483
Fax: 402-472-7697
E-mail: cmarvin1@unl.edu
Web: www.unl.edu/barkley/faculty/cmarvin.shtml
Program Web site: www.unl.edu/ECSE.index.shtml

Extended Education & Outreach
Distance Education Services
900 North 21st Street
21st and Vine Streets
Lincoln, NE 68588-8805
Phone: (402) 472-0400
Fax: (402) 472-4345
Email: unlextended@unl.edu

For special assistance please call (402) 472-3787.

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