If the student is seeking an endorsement in ASD, the student will be required to take a practicum. The practicum ranges from 3-6 credits.
- Students who already have a special education endorsement take a three-credit practicum.
- Students who do not have a special education endorsement take a six-credit practicum.
The practicum is a course that involves readings and assignments related to specific course objectives. In a practicum, the student is able to apply the theoretical and practical knowledge from the affiliated courses in the instruction and assessment of students with disabilities in school settings. If the student is in an endorsement program, the student is required to complete the practicum with the types of students in that endorsement area (i.e., students with ASD). The practicum will help the student meet State of Michigan requirements for endorsement.
Students are required to track and document all hours toward fulfilling the practicum requirement. It is common for students to obtain up to 90 practicum hours through experiences related to assignments from CEP 843, CEP 844, CEP 845 and CEP 846. Thus, the student will need to begin completing the practicum hours log as soon as the student begins taking the core ASD courses. Course instructors will provide details regarding the potential to earn practicum hours when taking these courses.
During the student’s practicum, the student will be asked to engage in a series of specific tasks in which the student applies the assessment, instructional, behavioral and collaborative skills the student has learned in the master’s program. The practicum can only be taken after the student has completed all the other requirements of the program, and is offered in the summer and fall semesters.
Students in the program can be spread across the country and, indeed, around the world; therefore, we are not able to make arrangements for the student practicums. The student will need to locate a setting and students that permit you to meet the practicum requirements during the time you are enrolled in the practicum course. The course instructor can help advise the student of the suitability of a practicum setting. However, if the student has any questions about your ability to find a suitable placement, the student should immediately contact the M.A. program coordinator at sped@msu.edu. To assist the student in planning for these experiences, below is a summary of the expectations and requirements necessary for the approval of any practicum setting:
Depending on the endorsement sought, 180-240 total practicum contact hours are required. Up to 90 of these hours may come from experiences that are required as part of the ASD-specific courses. The remaining hours are obtained when taking the practicum course (CEP 894J). A log of hours must be completed and submitted at the conclusion of the practicum
In the practicum setting, the student must have access to an instructional group that includes students with ASD. The student may only count hours toward the practicum that are specific to providing instruction to students with ASD.
An onsite supervisor within the educational service agency must be identified, and the associated paperwork bearing the supervisor’s signature must be submitted in order for the supervisory arrangement to be reviewed and approved. In order for an individual to be eligible to provide supervision in the practicum setting, he or she must have a master’s degree, meet one of the following requirements, and be approved by the M.A. program coordinator:
- Possess current ASD Endorsement and have three or more years experience delivering educational programming to individuals with ASD
- Possess current BCBA certification and have three or more years experience delivering educational programming to individuals with ASD
- Possess current CCC-SLP certification and have three or more years experience delivering educational programming to individuals with ASD
- Possess current School Psychologist Certification and have three or more years experience delivering educational programming to individuals with ASD
Practicums must be completed in a K-12 educational setting and is directed by qualified personnel. Home-based tutoring, summer camps or other activities conducted outside the auspices of a certified educational entity are not appropriate as internship or practicum settings.
Teaching videos are required as integral parts of the practicum. The student will evaluate your own teaching through the videos the student creates; additionally, the videos will be viewed by the course instructor(s). In some cases, the student will be asked to share their teaching videos with other students in the program. Finally, teaching videos are a key piece in the students teaching portfolio.
