Special Education Paraeducator, Associate in Applied Science

Narrative

Special Education is an important and exciting career for persons interested in the education of young children and students with disabilities. Northampton Community College’s Special Education Program prepares students to meet the competencies and qualifications established by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) and related state laws and standards. The program is grounded in a philosophy and framework that values diversity, equity, and inclusive practices, provides multiple family and disability perspectives, collaborative relationships, and emphasizes evidence-based practices and effective educational approaches, including Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

 

Features

Graduates of the Special Education A.A. program are qualified to transfer: to a 4-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree and/or teacher certification in special education; enter the workforce prepared in the competencies to be employed as a special education paraeduator in education settings. These settings include classrooms that support children of varying abilities from pre-k through age 21.

 

Special Education Courses are offered at the Bethlehem Campus during the day and evenings. SPEC160 is also offered at the Monroe Campus. All special education courses are offered online. Additional AA required coursework can be taken day, evening, or through online options

 

Graduates will be able to:

1. Explain the philosophy, history, framework, legal requirements and processes, and special education perspectives through the lens of equity.
2. Apply knowledge of child development and individual differences across learning content and learning environments using universal design for learning (UDL) and inclusive practices.
3. Use knowledge of appropriate multiple and varied assessments, technologies, strategies, and supports within a universally designed and inclusive framework to plan and make educational decisions that are instructionally responsive and equitable.
4. Explain and use a variety of evidence-based instructional strategies to support the learning of individuals with varying abilities.
5. Describe and explain the role and nature of culturally relevant, collaborative relationships among families, educators, paraeducators, service providers, learners with varying abilities, and others across a wide range of settings.
6. Explain and use appropriate and respectful language and professional and ethical practices, to support critical thinking, positive communications, and advance the profession.
7. Practice being an advocate, a role model, and supporter of learners of varying abilities by upholding high professional standards in diverse educational environments.

Courses

First Semester

CISC101	Introduction to Information Technology	3 credits
ENGL101	English I	3 credits
PSYC103	Introduction to Psychology	3 credits
SPEC160	Introduction to Special Education	3 credits
	Arts & Humanities Elective (AH) *	3 credits
Total Credit Hours:		15

Second Semester

CMTH102	Introduction to Communication	3 credits
ENGL151L	English II	3 credits
EARL106	Early Childhood Development and Learning	3 credits
SPED164	Introduction to the Special Education Paraeducator	3 credits
SPEC210G	Behavior Support	3 credits
Total Credit Hours:		15

Third Semester

MATH118	Foundations of Mathematics I	3 credits
SPEC240	Instructional Strategies in Inclusive Environments	3 credits
PSYC251	Child Psychology	3 credits
SOCA103	Principles of Sociology	3 credits
	Elective *	3 credits
Total Credit Hours:		15

Fourth Semester

SPED205G	Special Education Paraeducator Internship	3 credits
	Science Elective (SCI)	4 credits
	Social Science: Societies and Institutions over Time Elective (SIT)	3 credits
	Elective *	3 credits
	Elective *	3 credits
Total Credit Hours:		16

Total Credit Hours: 61

* Recommended Elective courses:

EARL217 Child, Family & Community, EDUC115 Education for All Students, MDLA103 Elementary Spanish I, MDLA113 Elementary Spanish II.