Minor in Special Education

The Special Education minor is focused on enabling students to demonstrate an understanding of the impact of all disabilities on individuals and their families, and the necessary educational and public policies to support them with increased understanding of the impact of learning disabilities, emotional behavior disorders, and severe disabilities on children and families.

This minor is open to all BU undergraduate students; however, it may be of particular interest to students intending to work in education, human services, medicine, or law.

The minor in Special Education includes an introductory Special Education course (WED SE 250 Disability, Education, and Public Policy), courses on specific disabilities, and fieldwork with students with disabilities. The additional 6 elective units can be selected from courses focused on families with children with disabilities, classroom and behavior management, autism, collaboration, or a more general course in education.

Depending on specific electives taken, in addition, students will demonstrate an understanding of one or more of the following:

• The role of education and schools in society.
• The impact and support systems for families with children with disabilities.
• The methods for classroom and behavior management.
• The etiology, characteristics, and methods for supporting students with disabilities.

Core Courses (18 units)

• WED SE 250 Disability, Education, and Public Policy (4 units)*
• WED SE 315 Field Experience in Special Education: Severe Disabilities (2 units)**
• WED SE 502 Behavioral and Emotional Challenges: Characteristics and Methods (4 units)
• WED SE 503 Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia: Assessment, Instruction, and Identification (4 units)
• WED SE 504 Early Childhood Special Education: Policy and Practice (2 units)
• WED SE 505 Self-Determined Transition Planning for Youth with Disabilities (2 units)

*This course must be taken at the beginning of the minor sequence.
**This course requires communication with the Special Education Program Director prior to the semester of intended enrollment to arrange for field placement and supervision.

Elective Courses (6 units)

• WED ED 200 Introduction to Justice-Based Education (4 units)
• WED SE 533 The Families of Children with Disabilities (4 units)
• WED SE 572 Culturally Relevant Approaches to Positive Behavioral Supports (4 units)
• WED SE 535 Understanding Autism (2 units)