Early Childhood Special Education Traditional Program

The Traditional Program is a post BA program for candidates in non-teaching or teaching positions interested in flexible scheduling.

Pre or Corequisities

• Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development or 12 units in approved Child Development and Early Childhood Curriculum courses that includes observation of typical preschool activities

Note: 6 units must be completed before the 1st semester of student teaching and 9 units must be completed before the 2nd semester of student teaching and no more than 3 units of these units may be taken concurrently with either student teaching assignment

Basic Requirements

• SPED 431 Atypical Development of Young Children with Disabilities (3 units)
• SPED 402 Behavior Assessment and Positive Behavior Support (3 units)
• SPED 404 Teaching Diverse Learners with Social Communication Disabilities including Autism (3 units)
• SPED 500 Communication and Early Literacy Development for Young Children with Disabilities (3 units)
• SPED 532 ECSE Curriculum and Instruction (3 units)
• SPED 535 Collaboration with Families in Early Childhood Special Education (3 units)

Requirements prior to SPED 580EC Advanced Specialist Fieldwork in ECSE and SPED 578 Fieldwork in ECSE Infant/Toddler

• Passage of California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)
• Writing Proficiency (CBEST writing score of 41 or better or Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam with a score of 10 or better or ENGL 305 or ENGL 406 or COMS 321)
• Valid Fingerprint Clearance
• Submission of Student Teaching Application and approval to student teach by Credential Office. (Application for student teaching is required in the semester prior to student teaching.)

Prior to or not more than one of the following courses may be taken with SPED 580EC Advanced Specialist Fieldwork in ECSE
*See note under Pre-or Corequisites regarding Child Development coursework

• SPED 520EC Assessment and Evaluation in ECSE (3 units) (Pre or Corequisite SPED 431)
• SPED 536 Methods for Young Children with Disabilities: Motor and Adaptive Skills (3 units) (Pre or Corequisite SPED 431)
• SPED 537 Methods for Young Children with Multiple Disabilities: Sensory Impairments (3 units) Pre or Corequisite SPED 431)

Concurrent with or the semester before SPED 578 Fieldwork in ECSE: Infant/ Toddler

• SPED 538: Early Intervention Practices (3)

Student Teaching

• SPED 580EC Advanced Specialist Fieldwork in Early Childhood Special Education (6) + SPED 580 seminar (3)
• SPED 578 Fieldwork in ECSE: Infant/Toddler (3)

Other Program Requirements

• U.S. Constitution (course or exam)
• CPR Certification- infant, child, adult (online CPR training is not acceptable)
• Overall GPA of 2.75 since admission with cumulative 3.0 GPA in Professional Education courses. A grade of “C” or better is required in all courses.