Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Preliminary Credential

The Education Specialist Preliminary Credential program in Extensive Support Needs (ESN) prepares K-12 teachers using research-based curricula and pedagogy to provide quality educational services to students with extensive support needs from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The program has as its foundation the assumption that educational services for students with disabilities should be implemented in the least restrictive environment; and the goal of those services is to teach skills and arrange educational and social settings to increase the students’ ability to participate fully in school, home, and community environments.

Credential candidates in this program must demonstrate their competence in providing quality educational services to students with extensive support needs including access to standards-based academic curricula and the use of systematic, data-based approaches to instruction and models of curricular adaptation and social supports. Competencies in supporting students in inclusive settings, interacting effectively with families, and in developing educational goals using a transdisciplinary team approach are also essential components of the teacher preparation program. In addition, a three-semester sequence of clinical fieldwork and student teaching (600 total hours) ensures that teacher candidates are able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through course content and assignments to the instruction of students with extensive support needs in urban school settings.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to engaging and supporting all students in learning.
  2. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to creating and maintaining effective environments for student learning.
  3. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to understanding and organizing subject matter for student learning.
  4. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to planning instruction and designing learning experiences for all students.
  5. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to assessing student learning.
  6. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to developing as a professional educator.
  7. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to the effective literacy instruction for students with disabilities.

Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Preliminary Credential – 50 units minimum

Core (21 units)

E ED 784Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics3
SPED 747Physical Disabilities and Sensory Impairments3
SPED 763Transition Planning for Students with Disabilities3
SPED 788Law, Ethics, and Instructional Planning3
Select One:3
SPED 791
Nature of the Autism Spectrum
SPED 825
Communication, Behavior and Instructional Supports: Autism
SPED 801Development, Diversity, and English Language Learners: Special Education3
Health Education Requirement 13

Methods Courses (16 units)

SPED 601Observation and Participation in Special Education1
SPED 745Environmental Design for Students with Extensive Support Needs3
SPED 773Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Students with Extensive Support Needs3
SPED 787Advanced Assessment and Instruction for Students with Extensive Support Needs3
SPED 789Advanced Environmental Design for Students with Extensive Support Needs3
SPED 821Advanced Fieldwork with Students with Extensive Support Needs3

Student Teaching (13-18 units)

SPED 701Education Specialist Intern Teacher Support Seminar 20-3
SPED 702Education Specialist Teacher Support Seminar for California Teaching Performance Assessment1-3
SPED 723Workshop: Student Teaching Support Sessions for Extensive Support Needs or Visual Impairments3
SPED 730Student Teaching: Special Education9
1

A list of CTC approved health education courses is available on the department website: https://sped.sfsu.edu/content/forms-0

2

Required only for intern teachers.