This major is designed for students who are interested in work related to disabilities and want to become leaders in community-based organizations working with people with disabilities, while at the same time promoting the service, care, and education of children, adolescents, and life-long learners.

Career Opportunities

Students in Disabilities Services have the opportunity to become Disabilities Service Consultants or Transition Specialists (e.g., Easter Seals).

Courses

The Bachelor of Arts in Community Education degree program with Disabilities Services major at West Liberty University requires minimum total 120 credit hours course of study.

The coursework includes:

• General Studies: 31 – 39 credit hours
• Common Core: 40 credit hours
• Major: 41-49 credit hours

Common Core Courses (40 Credit Hours)

• CEP 101 Introduction to CEP (3hrs)
• CEP 411 Formal & Non-Formal Education Models (3 hrs)
• CEP 421  Promoting Creativity & the Arts (3 hrs)
• CEP 422  Outdoor Learning Spaces (3 hrs)
• CEP 433  Program Design & Implementation (3 hrs) OR CEP 473 Community & School-Based Programming (3 hrs)
• CEP 442  Community Empowerment & Engagement (3 hrs)
• CEP 443  Fundraising & Grant Writing (3 hrs)
• CEP 452  Reggio Emilia & Other Approaches (3 hrs)
• CEP 463  Leadership in Community Education (3 hrs)
• CEP 493  Internship/International Community Experience* (4 hrs)
• EDUC 201 Human Development (3hrs)
• ENT 300 Foundations of Entrepreneurship OR ENT 325 Social Entrepreneurship OR 350 Entrepreneurship Law and Ethics (3 hrs)
• SPED 241 Exceptionalities and Diversities (3 hrs)

Major Courses (41-49 Credit Hours)

• CEP 492 Practicum I (3 hrs – on-campus)
• CEP 482 Practicum II (3 hrs – off-campus)
• SPA 252 Sign Language I (3 hrs)
• SPA 352 Sign Language II (3 hrs)
• SPED 341 Policies and Procedures in SPED* (3 hrs)
• SPED 348 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment for Students with Behavior Needs* (3 hrs)
• SPED 352 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment for Students with Functional Needs  (3 hrs)
• SPED 401 Autism I (3 hrs – required: fall; summer)
• SPED 402 Autism II (3 hrs – required: fall; summer)

Select classes from the following to total 120 credit hours:

• SPED 478 Special Topics (3 hrs)
• EED 301 Designing Effective Learning Environments ( 3 hrs)
• HE 320 Mental Health and Drug Use and Abuse (3 hrs)
• HE 360 Community and Environmental Health (3 hrs)
• SWK 401 Family and Child Welfare (3 hrs)
• SPA 452 Advanced Sign Language (3 hrs)
• Elective(s) (any upper (300 – 400) level SPED electives to total 120 hours)

Click to view and download the complete Planning Checklist.

West Liberty University’s Bachelor of Arts in Community Education Program follows the 120 credit hour model for a bachelor’s degree and is designed for completion in three academic years. Despite the intention of this program to be an accelerated three-year program, students who wish to expand their studies to four years have the option to do so, by not taking summer classes but adding a fourth year of Fall IV and/or Spring IV classes.

Community Education’s Disabilities Services Partnership

• Easter Seals, Wheeling, WV
• REM, Wheeling, WV

Questions

For more information, please contact:

Director of Community Education
Dr. Miriam Roth Douglas
West Liberty University
308 Main Hall
208 University Drive
Campus Union Box 162
West Liberty, WV 26074
Office: 304-336-8561
Fax: 304-336-8627
[email protected]