Education - Special Education Paraeducator
Please note: Overview information for Education Majors can be found by clicking here.
Education & Academic Success
Degree awarded: Associate in Applied Science;
and Specialized Diplomas conferred
Special Education Paraeducator training at NCC video
Program Narrative
Special Education is an important and exciting career for persons interested in the education of children with disabilities! The federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) and related state laws and standards require personnel working with children with disabilities to be appropriately trained and qualified. Northampton Community College's special education program prepares students with the competencies necessary to meet these requirements. Grounded in a philosophy that emphasizes family and disability perspectives, inclusive practices, and current educational approaches, NCC's special education program provides a valuable program of study.
Program Features
The Special Education Paraeducator (A.A.S.) degree is designed to prepare individuals to work with children with varying abilities in diverse educational classrooms, under the direct supervision of a certified teacher. A Special Education Paraeducator Specialized Diploma is also available. Students who successfully complete either option are considered "highly qualified" and satisfy the requirements for Pennsylvania's Credential of Competency for Special Education Paraeducators. NCC will assist students with the credentialing process.
Graduates are qualified to work as special education paraeducators, sometimes referred to as teaching assistants, in a wide variety of educational settings. Students are prepared to respect and value the unique perspectives of family and children with disabilities as well as the importance of building and maintaining collaborative relationships. To this end, NCC's curriculum offers a combination of special education coursework and field experience opportunities that integrate federal and state special education legal and professional competencies.
The program is offered at the Bethlehem Campus and through Online Learning with select courses offered at the Monroe Campus.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the program will:
- Explain the philosophy, foundation, requirements, and current trends relevant to special education programs and practices.
- Describe universally-designed and inclusive environments.
- Apply appropriate instructional responses using multiple and varied assessments, technologies, strategies, and supports within a universally-designed and inclusive framework.
- Discuss the role and nature of collaborative relationships between schools and families.
- Define and use special education vocabulary, professionalism, and ethical practices, to support thinking and communicating in educational environments.
- Act as a paraeducator in diverse learning environments.
Associate in Applied Science Degree
| Course Code | Course Title |
Credits
|
| First Semester | ||
| CISC 101 | Intro to Computers |
3 |
| ENGL 101C | English I |
3
|
| PSYC 103 | Introduction to Psychology (SSHB) |
3
|
| SPED 160 | Introduction to Special Education |
3
|
| --------- | Arts & Humanities Elective (AH) * |
3
|
|
15
|
||
| Second Semester | ||
| CMTH 102 | Speech Communication |
3
|
| ENGL 151C | English II |
3
|
| EARL 106 | Early Childhood Dev. & Learning |
3
|
| SPED 164 | Introduction to the Special Education Paraeducator |
3
|
| SPED 175 | Behavior Support |
3
|
|
15
|
||
| Third Semester | ||
| MATH 118 | Foundations of Mathematics I |
3
|
| SPED 170 | Instructional Strategies in Inclusive Environments |
3
|
| PSYC 251 | Child Psychology |
3
|
| SOCA 103 | Principles of Sociology |
3
|
| ----------- |
Elective *
|
3
|
|
15
|
||
| Fourth Semester | ||
| SPED 205G | Special Education Paraeducator Internship |
3
|
| ----------- | Science Elective (SCI) |
4
|
| ----------- | Social Science Elective (SIT) |
3
|
| ----------- | Elective * |
3
|
| ----------- | Elective * |
3
|
|
16
|
||
| Total Credits |
61
|
* Recommended Elective courses:
EARL 217 Child, Family & Community, EDUC 115 Education for All Students, MDLA 103 Elementary Spanish I, MDLA 113 Elementary Spanish II.
Special Education Paraeducator,
Specialized Diploma
| Course Code | Course Title |
Credits
|
| SPED 160 + | Introduction to Special Education + |
3
|
| SPED 164 | Introduction to the Special Education Paraeducator |
3
|
| SPED 170 | Instructional Strategies in Inclusive Environments |
3
|
| Total Credits |
9
|
+SPED 160 is a co- or prerequisite for SPED 164, and 170.
Career Potential: Paraeducator, teacher assistant
NCC students are employed by: Intermediate Units, Early Childhood Centers, School Districts