This course explores the meaning and concepts associated with the field of learning disabilities, including the psychological and behavioral characteristics of individuals with learning disabilities. Topics include specific causes, assessment, and treatment of learning disabilities and related disabilities. Educational, psychological, historical, and medical implications are addressed.

This course addresses reading and writing development from emergent literacy through adolescent readers with attention to diverse needs of students. The course also addresses components of effective literacy programs (e.g., concepts of print, fluency, phonological awareness, phonics, spelling, writing, comprehension, vocabulary) and evidence-based practices for reading and writing instruction informed by assessment within an MTSS framework.

Mindfulness-based interventions promote physical and mental health and support cognitive and emotional developmental processes in individuals across the lifespan. Mindful awareness practices can support our ability to be fully present to the needs of others. This course introduces a variety of these practices and the research on their effects as a means to promoting well-being and building supportive relationships in professional settings.

Although disability is a natural part of the human experience, it is colored by a history of fear, segregation, removal and even extermination. Media has always reflected and guided society, including representations of disability. This course explores the changing disability experience (from "stereotype" to "normalization") as depicted in film, literature, and other media.

Through this course, students will gain an in-depth understanding of self-regulation during early childhood and how this promotes children's success in school. We will focus on how adults serving in a teaching role support children's self-regulation development. Students will learn how to establish learning environments and implement practices that promote children's display of self-regulation in the areas of emotion, behavior, and cognition.

This course will explore design as a creative problem-solving approach to making. Participants will be introduced to design tools and key maker education concepts through hands-on design studio projects, each highlighting a learner-centered approach to instruction. This course is also relevant for those seeking to learn creative applications of digital design and fabrication technologies.

Field-based practicum for preservice teachers seeking initial licensure. Students develop skills in fostering positive professional relationships with students, colleagues, and peers; designing and implementing individual, small group, and whole class instruction; and observing and reflecting on practice. This course meets the guidelines for state-approved teacher education programs in Virginia.

This survey course provides an overview of the language acquisition and development process from both current and historical perspectives. Factoring influencing language acquisition and development will be explored.

Using Sims Bishops' (1990) mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors framework, students read, analyze, and discuss contemporary young adult literature (YAL) featuring marginalized viewpoints and identities. Students will collaborate around strategies to incorporate contemporary YAL into schools and evaluate the viewpoints present and absent in the titles they currently use with young adults.

Designing Digital Art, Music, and Games provides an introduction to design and creativity through use of computers to create art and music. The course also serves as an introduction to computational thinking - the art of developing a solution in a form that can be implemented by a computer.