Special Education Options at UMD
Special Education: Academic Behavioral Strategist (Grades K-12)
A teacher holding the Academic and Behavioral Strategist (ABS) license is authorized to provide evaluation and specially designed instruction to eligible children and youth with disabilities from kindergarten through age 21 who have a range of mild to moderate needs in the areas of academic, behavior, social/emotional, communication, and functional performance. These students may be eligible for special education services in the primary disability areas of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental cognitive disability (DCD), emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD), other health disorders (OHD), and specific learning disabilities (SLD).
At UMD there are two options to obtain a K-12 Special Education: Academic Behavioral Strategist license.
- Option 1 is completing the Integrated Elementary and Special Education dual licensure undergraduate degree program.
- Option 2 is available for students who already hold a Bachelor's degree and are interested in pursuing our K-12 standalone Special Education: Academic Behavioral Strategist License.
Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-Age 6)
A teacher holding a Early Childhood Special Education license is authorized to provide evaluation and specially designed instruction to eligible children and youth with disabilities from Birth-Age 6.
At UMD, there are two options to obtain a Birth-Age 6 Early Childhood Special Education license:
- Option 1 is completing the Unified Early Childhood Studies dual licensure undergraduate degree program.
- Option 2 is available for students who already hold a Bachelor's degree and are interested in pursuing our Birth-Age 6 Early Childhood Special Education License.
Minor in Special Education
Students from other majors may choose to complete the special education minor. The coursework provides the foundations, theories, characteristics, and legal issues related to special education, and may be applied to special education licensure. Candidates must have completed 60 credit hours and hold 2.7 grade point average. The special education minor alone does not meet all the requirements for K-12 Special Education licensure. In order to obtain a special education teaching certificate, you must complete the full licensure program and a final student teaching experience.
Minor Required Courses
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| SPED 4204 | Assessment for Youth and Children with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 4381 | Behavior Management Principles and Practices | 3 |
| SPED 4433 | Foundations in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 4435 | Parent and Professional Communication/Collaboration | 3 |
| SPED 4452 | Academic Interventions: Reading, Writing, and Math | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
Endorsements
For those that already hold an ABS teaching license, UMD offers the following endorsements:
Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (For those that already hold an ABS teaching license) The Final Cohort ended Summer 2018. Students will no longer be accepted into this program after summer 2017. Program requirements hyperlinked are for current students only.
Developmental Disabilities
- Developmental Disabilities (for those that already hold an ABS teaching license) Students will no longer be accepted into this program after summer 2016. Program requirements hyperlinked are for current students only.