CSUDH SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM 

CSU Dominquez Hills Special Education University Intern Program

Overview

The CSUDH Special Education University Intern Program prepares candidates to teach culturally and linguistically diverse students in urban schools.  The program is designed as a collaborative effort between the university and the participating school districts.  Instructional responsibilities and support in the education and training of CSUDH Special Education Interns is a shared responsibility.  The university collaborates with 36 participating school districts in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties.

Program Description

The CSUDH Special Education University Intern Program is a two year program and has three opportunities to earn a Preliminary Level 1 Specialist Credential:  Mild/Moderate, Moderate/Severe, or Early Childhood.  The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) and the National Council on Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) have accredited the program.  The requirements of IDEA, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, the California Curricular Frameworks and Standards, the California Reading Initiative also serve as underpinnings for instruction, supervision, and evaluation.

Interns have the option of enrolling in the M.A. in Special Education Program courses. Interns who have a general education credential are not required to complete the general education coursework and can simultaneously take courses for the M.A. in Special Education.

The Intern Program has a pre-service phase.  Interns are introduced to the field of Special Education, how to manage learning environments in general and special education, and develop strategies for teaching students who are culturally and linguistically diverse.

The Profession Individual Induction Plan guides the intern throughout the program.  The Induction Plan is reviewed mid-program and then evaluated at the completion of the program.  A Professional Portfolio is started in the initial fieldwork experience, reviewed mid-program, and evaluated during the final fieldwork experience.

Collaboration

The responsibility for assessing the fieldwork performance of participants is shared among support providers, site administrators, university supervisors, and full and part-time faculty.  Interns are supervised each semester and they are assessed during fieldwork experiences using the California Standards for the Teaching Profession and The Standards of Program Quality and Effectiveness for Educational Specialist Credential Programs.

Prepared by Carrie Ann Blackaller, Ph.D.