The Special Education Certificate at White Mountains Community College
Today's classroom requires teachers and paraprofessionals to have strategies that address the needs of integrated classrooms. The certificate provides teachers and paraprofessionals with the knowledge, skills, and strategies for supporting students with disabilities. The program focuses on the origins of special education, legal issues and strategies, and techniques for teaching a diverse population. Students demonstrate proficiency in adaptive techniques, as well as strategies for building positive classroom and school environments for all students.
Health Considerations
Candidates for positions and careers in education are encouraged to explore health requirements associated with employment in a school setting. Prospective students with special needs requiring accommodations that may affect their learning are encouraged to contact the Disabilities Services Coordinator.
Character Expectations
The health and safety of children, adolescents and other learners is of paramount concern to the program. Applicants for teaching positions in public and private schools in New Hampshire should be aware that background checks through the New Hampshire Department of Safety must be completed by potential employers prior to employment. Students must also be aware that the college requires national criminal background checks for admission into the Teacher Education, Special Education Certificate and Career and Technical Education Certificate Programs. The cost of the background check is the responsibility of the student. Applicants, who have been in difficulty with the law, depending upon the nature of their experience, may not be employable or even eligible for field experience. Applicants are advised that such matters may be discussed during an admission interview so that future goals to be a teacher will not be compromised.
Technical Standards
Technical standards have been established to provide guidance to students as to skills and abilities required to function successfully in the program and ultimately in the public and/or private school classroom as teachers. Applicants who think they may not be able to meet one or more of the technical standards should contact program faculty members to discuss individual cases. Department faculty will give serious consideration to all academically qualified candidates providing that the technical standards can be met with reasonable accommodations. Students in the program must have sufficient strength, stamina and motor coordination to perform the following:- Sufficient hearing and visual acuity to ensure a safe environment and ability to respond quickly in the event of emergency;
- Sufficient verbal ability to express and exchange information and ideas, as well as to interpret important instructions to children, adolescents, colleagues and parents;
- Sufficient writing skills to accurately record students' daily progress and milestones, as well as a variety of reports;
- Ability to work with frequent interruptions, to respond appropriately to unexpected situations, and to cope with extreme variations in workload and stress levels.
| Fall Semester | Lec | Lab | Cr | |
| EDU101 | Introduction to Exceptionalities | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU104 | Foundations of Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| OR | ||||
| ECE111 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ENG120 | College Composition | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MAT220 | Math in Our World | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PSY111 | Psychology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester Total | 15 | 0 | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | Lec | Lab | Cr | |
| EDU204 | Instructional Technology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PSY112 | Human Growth and Development | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| OR | ||||
| ECE112 | Child Growth and Development | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PSY200 | Educational Psychology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| And TWO of the following: | ||||
| EDU200 | Supporting Students with Challenging Behaviors | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| EDU201 | Legal Issues in Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU202 | Strategies for Teaching Diverse Populations | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU203 | Teaching Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU207 | Teaching and Learning | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU212 | Design of Instruction | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU230 | Essentials of Career and Technical Curriculum and Instruction | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester Total | 15/16 | 0 | 15/16 | |
| Total for Certificate | 30/31 | |||
Special Education Certificate Gainful Employment Disclosure
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