• EEND 605 may be required if not previously completed during undergraduate or other graduate degree programs. Candidates may visit their local ROE or request assistance from the college/university where they believe the course was completed to determine if the course is still needed. USF is not able to determine if courses taken outside of the university meet ISBE requirements.

• Courses offered at USF do not meet requirements for the Early Childhood Special Education approval.

• Educators are encouraged to visit ISBE to view current requirements for adding the LBS I (valid for grade range held) endorsement to a valid PEL.

• Educators interested in adding the LBS I  endorsement to their educator license can visit our M.S. Teaching & Learning program page for more information. 

EEND 605 Learners with Exceptional and Diverse Needs (3)

Designed to introduce exceptionality and education of students who have special needs and other diverse needs such as English Language Learners (ELL). This covers the examination of various classifications of special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA 2004) and providing differentiation & accommodations using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. 

EEND 640 Development and Characteristics of Individuals with Special Needs (3)

The emphasis of this course is on understanding the characteristics and origin of disabilities as well as designing and assessing materials to meet the individual educational needs of individuals with mild to severe disabilities. This course provides specific understanding of characteristics and development of students with disabilities and their implications on teaching and learning; when teaching students with documented disabilities specified in IDEA (1997): Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), Emotional Disturbance (ED), Intellectual Disabilities (ID), Other Health Impairment(OHI); Autism(ASD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Orthopedic impairments,  Sensory Impairments and other low-incidence disabilities (34 CFR, Section 300.7). The course will also stress on characteristics that are non-categorical in nature and are observed across the disability areas, which are helpful in choosing and designing interventions. Characteristics of students who are English Language Learners (ESL) and those who are ESL and have exceptional needs will be examined. Writing of Individual Education Plans (IEP) will be emphasized. 

EEND 642 Assessment and Diagnosis in Special Education (3)

Provides the candidate with the formal and informal assessment techniques useful for the assessment of special needs learners.  Individually administered achievement, aptitude, and information processing tests will be examined in detail.  The course will present information concerning report writing, diagnostic and prescriptive planning.  Also, methods of interpreting evaluation data, identifying patterns, and presenting results to a consumer in an understandable and clearly written form will be examined. 

EEND 644 Specialized Curriculum and Methods in Special Education (3)

Centers around development of specific competencies in understanding special strategies for accommodations and modifications in the general education curriculum for individuals with special needs and English language learners. Specific methods of teaching students with disabilities and English language learners in various settings in the continuum of services will be examined. 

Register by selecting the corresponding date link for each course/section in which you wish to enroll. 

EEND 640 Development and Characteristics of Individuals with Special Needs (3)

Fall 2024: October 7 - December 2 

EEND 642 Assessment and Diagnosis in Special Education (3)

Spring 2025:   January 6 - February 28, 2025 - NOTE UPDATED DATES

EEND 644 Specialized Curriculum and Methods in Special Education (3)

Spring 2025:  March 3 - April 28, 2025 - NOTE UPDATED DATES

EEND 605 Learners with Exceptional and Diverse Needs (3)

Summer 2025:  June - August

Click HERE for Summer Registration