James Madison University

Early Childhood SPED
5-year M.A.T.

Birth - 5-Years (Early Childhood Special Education)

Note:

The last cohort in this program began their coursework Fall of 2009. Students beginning their education coursework after Fall of 2009 will enroll in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education Program. Students in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education (IECE) Program will also be dually licensed in PK-3rd grade general education and birth to age five special education and finish the 5 year program with an M.A.T.

Students accepted into the 5-year M. A.T. in Early Childhood Special Education Progarm graduate with coursework leading to dual initial licensure; Early Childhood Special Education (birth to five) AND Early Childhood Education (PK-3^rd grade). This program is designed to prepare students to work with young children with disabilities as well as typically developing young children. Students major in IDLS, which meets the requirements of Highly Qualified in Elementary Education while the Early Childhood Special Education content meets the federal requirements for Highly Qualified in Special Education. Students take coursework in

♦ foundations of education and early childhood education,

♦ child development,

♦ language acquisition and development,

♦ literacy and reading,

♦ characteristics of exceptionalities,

♦ inclusive early childhood education (IECE) assessment,

♦ IECE programming, curriculum and methods,

♦ classroom and behavior management, and

♦ professionalism.

Field experiences provide students with opportunities to learn and practice skills in working with young children and their families in diverse settings, from classroom to community based, with a variety of ages/grade levels. Five-year M.A.T. students major in IDLS and "minor" in Special Education, taking approximately 122 credit hours at the undergraduate level and 30 credit hours at the graduate level. Students must apply for admission into the Graduate School and meet all admission requirements in order to continue for the fifth year of this program.

GRADUTE COURSEWORK	CRN #/COURSE DESCRIPTION
4^th Year Summer	ELED 632 Inquiry in Elementary Education (3) EXED 625 Medical and Technical Aspects of ECSE (3)
5^th Year Fall	EXED 622 Assessment in ECSE (3) EXED 623 Programming in ECSE (3) EXED 626 or 627 Practicum: Infants and Toddlers or Pre-K (3)
5^th Year Spring	EXED 505 Service Delivery Systems in ECSE (3) EXED 650 Student Teaching in EXED (EI or ECSE) (6) ECED 690 Student Teaching in ECED Block 4 (3)
5^th Year Summer	EXED 626 or 627 Practicum in Infant Ed. or Pre-K (3)