Special Education BA and MA degrees, a licensure program and minor are offered at five Highlands sites. Those sites are the main campus in Las Vegas, the Rio Rancho Center, the San Juan Center in Farmington, the Raton Center, and the Santa Fe Center. All sites follow the same Program of Study and offer courses in the same sequence.
| Site |
Minor |
Major |
Licensure |
Master's |
| Las Vegas |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Rio Rancho |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Santa Fe |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Raton |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Farmington |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Upon request, Special Education courses have been beamed (ITV) through the Educational Outreach Services Department to the following New Mexico locations: Penasco, Cimarron, Taos, and Maxwell. With the exception of candidates at the Santa Fe Highlands Center, degree seeking candidates at these locations are typically registered as main campus (Las Vegas, New Mexico) candidates. The special education faculty is enthusiastic about providing distance education courses via instructional television, Elluminate and Blackboard media.
Additionally, the special education department has entered into a partnership with the West Las Vegas Schools in Las Vegas, New Mexico to provide special education teacher training and authentic experiences through a Professional Development School Model. Three (3) special education courses are being taught at the Professional Development School Spring semester 2010. The Rio Rancho Highlands Center special education department has also entered into a partnership with the Rio Rancho School District to launch a Professional Development School model at Rio Rancho Middle School. Two (2) special education courses are being taught at Rio Rancho MS Spring semester 2010. Lastly, the Bloomfield High School administration has contacted Highlands about establishing a partnership as they move through a school reform effort with emphasis in special education. It is the desire of the special education department faculty to link Bloomfield with special education faculty at the San Juan Highlands Center for training through a PDS Model and consultation as they implement their school reform.
Bachelor's Degree - Special Education Major (Revised 6/09)
GATEWAY ALPHA Prerequisites:
- Teacher Education Preparation (TEP) Application Form & Education Program Disclosure Statement
- Major Form/Minor Form
- Completion of the Following Courses with a Grade of C or Better:
- GNED 201 Introduction to Teaching (Taken concurrently with GNED 251 Field Based I, Teacher Preparation Experience)
- SPED 214 Introduction to Special Education
- New Mexico Teacher Assessment Basic Skills Test: Score 240 or Better
Required Courses
| Course |
Number |
Course Title |
Credits |
| GNED |
251 |
Field Based I, Teacher Preparation Experience |
1 |
| GNED |
351 |
Field Based II, Teacher Preparation Experience (Prereq.: GNED 251) |
2 |
| SPED |
401 |
Diagnosis of the Exceptional Child |
3 |
| SPED |
410 |
Curriculum & Methods for Students with Mild & Moderate Exceptionalities |
3 |
| RDED |
411 |
Teaching and Diagnosis of Reading |
3 |
| SPED |
420 |
Curriculum and Methods for Students with Severe Exceptionalities |
3 |
| SPED |
430 |
Reading Instruction in Special Education |
3 |
| GNED |
444 |
Computer Applications in Education |
3 |
| SPED |
451 |
Field-Based III Teacher Preparation Experience (Prereq.: GNED 351 and Gateway BETA Requirements) |
6 |
| SPED |
455 |
Classroom Management in Special Education |
3 |
| Total Hours |
30 |
*In addition to the Special Education Major CORE courses, candidates must have a total of 128 University credits including School of Education extended CORE credits with at least 51 of these credits being upper division (300-400 upper-division course) credits in order to graduate with a BA degree. See p. 42 in the Highlands Undergraduate Catalog for additional information.
Special Education Licensure Program (Revised 6/09)
GATEWAY ALPHA Prerequisites:
- Teacher Education Preparation (TEP) Application Form & Education Program Disclosure Statement
- Special Education Licensure Form
- Completion of the Following Courses with a Grade of C or Better:
- GNED 201 Introduction to Teaching (Taken concurrently with GNED 251 Field Based I, Teacher Preparation Experience)
- SPED 214 Introduction to Special Education
- New Mexico Teacher Assessment Basic Skills Test: Score 240 or Better
Required Courses
| Course |
Number |
Course Title |
Credits |
| GNED |
251 |
Field Based I, Teacher Preparation Experience |
1 |
| GNED |
351 |
Field Based II, Teacher Preparation Experience (Prereq.: GNED 251) |
2 |
| SPED |
401 |
Diagnosis of the Exceptional Child |
3 |
| SPED |
410 |
Curriculum & Methods for Students with Mild & Moderate Exceptionalities |
3 |
| RDED |
411 |
Teaching and Diagnosis of Reading |
3 |
| SPED |
420 |
Curriculum and Methods for Students with Severe Exceptionalities |
3 |
| SPED |
430 |
Reading Instruction in Special Education |
3 |
| GNED |
444 |
Computer Applications in Education |
3 |
| SPED |
451 |
Field-Based III Teacher Preparation Experience (Prereq.: GNED 351 and Gateway BETA Requirements) |
6 |
| SPED |
455 |
Classroom Management in Special Education |
3 |
| Total Hours |
30 |
Special Education Minor (Revised 6/10)
The Minor is special education is available to candidates completing a teacher preparation program (i.e., majoring in elementary education or pursing a minor in secondary education). This minor satisfies university requirements; however, it does not meet PED licensure requirements.
Due to the increasing expectations for special educators, the Minor in Special Education is being phased out in 2011.
| GATEWAY ALPHA Prerequisites: |
| Teacher Education Preparation (TEP) Application Form |
2.5 GPA |
| Education Program Disclosure Statement |
NMTA Basic Skills – 240 Pass |
| Major Form |
Eng 112 – C or Better |
| GnEd 201 (taken concurrently with 251) – C or Better |
Math 140 – C or Better |
| SpEd 214 – C or Better |
|
| Course |
Number |
Course Title |
Credits |
| GnEd |
251 |
Field-Based I, Teacher Prep Experience (Taken concurrently with GNED 201 Introduction to Teaching) |
1 |
| GnEd |
351 |
Field-Based II, Teacher Prep Experience |
2 |
| SpEd |
401 |
Diagnosis of the Exceptional Child |
3 |
| SpEd |
410 |
Curriculum & Methods for Students with Mild & Moderate Exceptionalities |
3 |
| RdEd |
411 |
Teaching & Diagnosis of Reading |
3 |
| SpEd |
420 |
Curriculum & Methods for Students with Severe Exceptionalities |
3 |
| SpEd |
430 |
Reading Instruction in Special Education |
3 |
| SpEd |
434 |
Practicum in Special Education |
3 |
| SpEd |
455 |
Classroom Management in Special Education |
3 |
| Total Hours |
24 |
The Special Education minor is available to students completing a teacher preparation program (majoring in elementary education or minoring in secondary education). The minor satisfies university requirements but does not satisfy New Mexico state licensure requirements. Gateway BETA (including NMTA Content Area Exam) must be completed for admission to clinical practice (student teaching). See an advisor for more information.
*Due to the increasing expectations for special educators, the Minor in Special Education is being phased out in 2011.