Maine requires 24 credits of coursework for Special Education 282 Certification. Participants in the Alternate Route to Certification program may take eight courses or only selected courses, depending on how many credits they need to reach the required 24 credits. To assist you in meeting your professional goals, our SPARC program is designed to be high quality and flexible to your needs and time.
Enrollment
UMF Special Ed Alternate Route to Certification (SPARC) courses are open to all practicing Special Education educators holding a baccalaureate degree, including in-service educators, those working in Birth to Age 5 intervention settings, Ed Techs, and others.
The UMF SPARC program includes thirteen online graduate courses, which are offered on a rotating schedule. For this program, there is no need to apply for admission to UMF. Participants must have access to students with special needs in order to complete assignments for courses.
Special Education Courses: Total 24 credits
- SED 503 Preparing Students for the Future: Transition Programming, Self-determination and Advocacy Credits: 3
- SED 504 Collaborative Partnerships Among Individuals with Disabilities, Families, and Professionals Credits: 3
- SED 505 Universal Design for Learning and Curriculum Access Credits: 3
- SED 506 Assessment in Special Education Credits: 3
- SED 507 Curriculum and Instructional Programming for Students with Disabilities Credits: 3
- SED 508 Classroom and Behavior Management of Students with Disabilities Credits: 3
- SED 511 Mathematics Instruction for Students with Disabilities Credits: 3
- SED 513 Early Childhood Speech and Language: Development, Disorders, and Interventions Credits: 3
- SED 514 Literacy Development for All Students Credits: 3
- SED 515 Early Intervention: Working with Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Their Families Credits: 3
- SED 517 Professional Ethics, Cultural Competence, and Evidence-based Practices in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education Credits: 3
- SED 518 Special Education Law Credits: 3
- SED 519 Assistive Technology Credits: 3
- SED 529 Individualized Positive Behavior Support Credits: 3
Note: SPARC courses may be taken to fulfill master’s degree concentration requirements, re-certification, professional development and personal goals.
SPARC Course Selection Guidelines For Students Seeking 282 Certification
The SPARC program is designed to be high quality and flexible to assist you in meeting your professional goals. The following document was developed to provide you with guidance in selecting the courses you need if you are seeking your 282 certification in Maine.
If you are planning to complete all of your 24 credits through the SPARC program, we suggest that you start by completing the following three courses because they are essential building blocks in the field of special education. The initial course you select will depend on the semester that you enter the program.
- SED 504 Collaborative Partnerships Among Individuals With Disabilities, Families and Professionals Credits: 3
- SED 508 Classroom and Behavior Management of Students with Disabilities Credits: 3 or SED 529 Individualized Positive Behavior Support Credits: 3
- SED 507 Curriculum and Instructional Programming for Students with Disabilities Credits: 3
At some point in your program (preferably after completing at least one of the above courses), we recommend that you take SED 506 Assessment in Special Education Credits: 3 and SED 518 Special Education Law Credits: 3 due to the important role assessment and law play in the field of special education.
Your remaining credits will vary based on your professional goals.
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