Mild to Moderate Support Needs Education Specialist Preliminary Credential

The Education Specialist Preliminary Credential program in Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) prepares teachers to work with K-12 transition age students identified with mild to moderate support needs, including specific learning disabilities; autism; emotional disturbance; intellectual disability; multiple disabilities; orthopedic impairment; other health impairment; specific learning disability; traumatic brain injury; and authorizes service in grades K–12, transitional kindergarten, and in classes organized primarily for adults through age 22.

The MMSN program provides instruction and applied experiences in legal issues, evaluation and assessment, data-based decision making, instructional programming, positive behavior supports, culturally responsive pedagogy, and collaboration and co-teaching among general and special educators to promote inclusive education. Credential candidates learn to develop collaborative relationships with students and their families, and apply specialized techniques in numerous educational settings. In addition, 600 hours of supervised clinical fieldwork and student teaching ensure that teacher candidates can apply the knowledge and skills acquired through course content and assignments to the instruction of students with mild-to-moderate support needs in public school settings. In addition to the preliminary credential, some students may qualify for the Intern Teaching Option, which will add an additional 3 units to the credential. This is only open to intern teachers.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to engaging and supporting all students in learning.
  2. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to creating and maintaining effective environments for student learning.
  3. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to understanding and organizing subject matter for student learning.
  4. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to planning instruction and designing learning experiences for all students.
  5. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to assessing student learning.
  6. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to developing as a professional educator.
  7. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to the effective literacy instruction for students with disabilities.

Mild to Moderate Support Needs Credential: Special Education – 49-54 units

  • Courses must be completed with a grade of B- or higher.

Core (24 units)

E ED 784Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics3
SPED 747Physical Disabilities and Sensory Impairments3
SPED 763Transition Planning for Students with Disabilities3
SPED 774Positive Behavior Support3
SPED 788Law, Ethics, and Instructional Planning3
Select One:3
SPED 791
Nature of the Autism Spectrum
SPED 825
Communication, Behavior and Instructional Supports: Autism
SPED 801Development, Diversity, and English Language Learners: Special Education3
Health Education Requirement 13

Methods Courses (12 units)

SPED 770Introduction to Students with Mild/Moderate Support Needs3
SPED 772Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction for Students with Mild/Moderate Support Needs3
SPED 775Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Special Education3
SPED 778Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary Special Education3

Student Teaching (13-15 units)

SPED 702Education Specialist Teacher Support Seminar for California Teaching Performance Assessment1-3
SPED 726Workshop: Student Teaching Support Sessions for Mild/Moderate Support Needs or Orientation Mobility3
SPED 730Student Teaching: Special Education9

Intern Teaching Option (0-3 units) 

SPED 701Education Specialist Intern Teacher Support Seminar 20-3
1

A list of CTC approved health education courses is available on the department website: https://sped.sfsu.edu/content/forms-0

2

Required only for intern teachers.