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Program Coordinator
Dr. Marcee Steele
(910) 962-3365
steelem@uncw.edu
Special Education Program
Department of Early Childhood and Special Education
Watson School of Education
UNCW
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
The undergraduate special education program has two tracks which reflect the special education initial teacher licensing system in North Carolina. The Special Education General Curriculum track prepares teachers to provide research-validated instruction and behavior supports to maintain students with disabilities enrolled in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study at grade level. The program of study emphasizes intensive and explicit individual and small group instruction for students with disabilities who are achieving below grade level in basic skills; implementation of positive behavior supports for students with disabilities; collaboration with general education teachers to maintain students with disabilities in the standard curriculum at grade level; leadership in special education procedures and policies; and consultation with general education teachers, parents and other professionals.
The Special Education Adapted Curriculum track prepares teachers to provide research-validated instruction, learning supports, and behavior supports to assure appropriate progress of students with disabilities in an adapted course of study reflected in their Individual Education Programs. The program of study emphasizes intensive and explicit individual and small group instruction in communication, self-help, and social skills for independent living; intensive and explicit individual and small group instruction in functional academic abilities and occupational skills; knowledge of language arts and mathematics skills taught in the standard course of study and its extensions; implementation of positive behavior supports; collaboration with general education teachers to support participation of students with disabilities in the general curriculum as appropriate; leadership in special education procedures and policies including school and community transitions; and consultation with general education teachers, parents and other professionals.
General Curriculum
Adapted Curriculum
The graduate program in special education reflects the special education licensing system in North Carolina. The specialized advanced licenses assure continued professional development and progress in the multidisciplinary assessment, identification, and treatment of students with specific disabilities. The advanced licenses build on the initial licenses (General Curriculum and Adapted Curriculum). The three graduate categorical tracks lead to licensure in Behavioral/Emotional Disabilities, Mental Disabilities, and Specific Learning Disabilities. The two specializations in reading and autism allow students to enhance their expertise in areas related to their tracks.
The Behavior Disorders track leading to the advanced license in behavioral/emotional disabilities builds on the General Curriculum initial license. It prepares teachers to plan, provide, and evaluate research-validated instruction to establish and maintain grade level performance and appropriate behavior of students with behavioral/emotional disabilities (BED).
The Cognitive Disorders track leading to the advanced license in mental disabilities (MD) builds on the General Curriculum or Adapted Curriculum initial license. It prepares teachers to plan, implement, and evaluate research-validated instruction, learning supports, and behavior supports to assure appropriate progress of students with disabilities who are receiving an adaptation to the standard course of study as reflected in their Individual Education Program (IEP).
The Learning Disorders track leading to the advanced license in specific learning disabilities builds on the General Curriculum initial license. It prepares teachers to plan, provide, and evaluate research-validated instruction and learning to establish and maintain grade level performance of students with specific learning disabilities (LD).
In addition to selecting one track, each student chooses one of two possible specializations, Reading or Autism, to provide additional expertise related to their track and areas of professional interest.