Special Education (Minor)

What is special education?

In the special education minor, you’ll learn how to help students with disabilities develop to their fullest potential by providing instruction tailored to meet their educational needs. You’ll learn about the range of individuals with disabilities, diversity within schools, and inclusive community and public-school options, as well as the impact of disabilities on families, schools and communities. Focus your studies to match your interests. The minor can be combined with a major such as social work or health care to enhance your career goals or future studies. The minor provides a pathway to the Department of Education's professional graduate preparation program.

Why study special education at UNH?

Our philosophy emphasizes the right of students with disabilities to the same life-enhancing opportunities and experiences as non-disabled students. Community engagement is central to the mission of the education department, and you’ll have an array of opportunities as a result of our strong collaborative relationships with schools and community agencies in the region and internationally. Several outreach programs work in the surrounding communities to provide special needs services. In addition,the department offers several options for continuing studies in special education through graduate and post-graduate studies.

Potential career areas

Education coordination
Educational advocacy
Guidance counseling
Law
Lobbying
Pediatric hospital education
Preschool teaching
Program administration
Social work
Special needs education

Find Courses

View Course Catalog

Contact

Vincent Connelly

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Elizabeth Arcieri

Coordinator of Certification and Accreditation

Curriculum & Requirements

Program Description

Explore the field of special education. Five courses (20 credits) comprise the minor in Special Education.

A Certification of Completion of Minor form needs to be completed at the beginning of a student’s final undergraduate semester at UNH. Forms are available from the Registrar’s Office or the Department of Education Office.

For more information, contact Cindy Glidden, Department Coordinator, cindy.glidden@unh.edu, 209 Morrill Hall, (603) 862-2311.

Requirements for the Program

A minor consists of 20 credits in Education Department courses. The specific courses required for the minor are:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
EDUC 750	Introduction to Exceptionality	4
EDUC 756	Supporting Families of Individuals with Exceptionalities ¹	4
Choose one of the following: ²		4
EDUC 751A	Educating Exceptional Learners: Elementary
EDUC 751B	Educating Exceptional Learners: Secondary
EDUC #751C	Educating Exceptional Learners: Related Services
Elective Courses
Choose two of the following:		8
EDUC #556	Mentoring Adolescents with Disabilities in the Transition to Work ³
EDUC 720	Educational Technology
EDUC 745	Math with Technology in Early Education
EDUC 750	Introduction to Exceptionality
EDUC #752	Contemporary Issues in Learning Disabilities
EDUC #757	Contemporary Issues in Autism Spectrum Disorders
EDUC 760	Introduction to Young Children with Special Needs
EDUC 761	Inclusive Curriculum for Young Children with Special Needs
EDUC 762	Curriculum for Young Children with Special Needs: Evaluation and Program Design
One course taken at UNH in a closely related department
Total Credits		20

Offered Fall semester and Summer only

Section to be determined by the undergraduate major and future career interests

May be taken twice as the content/readings are different each semester

No more than one required course or one elective may be a transfer course. A three-credit course taken transferred from another school will count for three credits at UNH, not four credits. A minor in Special Education does NOT lead to a teaching certification.

Explore Program Details

Program Objectives

The Special Education Minor provides students with the opportunity to explore special education as a professional career choice. This minor provides a pathway to the Department of Education's professional graduate preparation program. It will also allow students who wish to gain a greater understanding of the diversity of individuals with disabilities to study their characteristics and needs and the institutional response to assisting those individuals with a disability.

Objectives

To provide an overview of disabilities
To provide an understanding of inclusive community and public school options
To enhance the understanding of diversity within our schools
To provide an understanding of the impact of disabilities on families, schools and communities

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