Course Descriptions

Following each course title below is the semester in which it is currently offered. How long it takes to complete the entire program of studies depends on when certificate candidates starts the program, whether the person has the necessary prerequisite courses or experience for ESE 554 and ESE 581, and how many classes s/he can take at one time. Some people have been able to start in the spring and finish by the end of the following fall (1 year). Others have taken longer.

At the end of each course' brief description (below) are the prerequisites. Pay close attention because even though our PBS Certificate is only 5 courses, if certificate candidates have not had equivalent training or background in low incidence disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, the candidate will need to also take some prerequisites.

Because the tuition can vary each year, and differs depending on how many courses certificate candidates take at one time, whether the candidate is in-state or out-of-state, please go to http://home.nau.edu/bursar/ and select Tuition and Fees to learn more about tuition and fees.

Finally, there are currently stipends available for Arizona students who are who are working to obtain their Masters (M.Ed.) in Special Education and full teacher certification in Low Incidence Disabilities (LID)(sometimes called severe disabilities), with an emphasis on Positive Behavior Support (PBS). For more information, please go to new PBS-CARES.

Courses included in the PBS Certificate, BCBA, or PBC programs

DIS 519 Introduction to Positive Behavior Support (3 credits) - (Fall and Spring online) This course covers an introduction to Positive Behavior Support (PBS) for persons with disabilities. PBS incorporates both

• the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) such as reinforcement, shaping, prompting, fading, and objective measurement of behavior over time; with
• the principles of self-determination, quality of life, person-centered planning, and the ethics of behavior change.

The course consists of on-line lessons, readings, self-assessment quizzes, group discussions with the instructor, and a number of brief videotaped presentations and examples. Throughout the course students will be guided through the process of conducting person-centered and functional behavioral assessments for the purpose of developing positive behavior support strategies. All students will be required to incorporate what they learn into assessment and intervention strategies for someone they support (e.g., student, group home resident, brother, daughter, etc). This means that you MUST have access to such a person and his/her caregivers throughout the semester.

Prerequisites: None

ESE 554 Methods in Special Education Low-Incidence Disabilities (3 credits) (Fall - online, Spring - face to face weekend format over 8 weeks) 
The purpose of this course is to provide students with knowledge about specific applications, methods, and strategies for teaching students with low incidence and severe disabilities (e.g., mental retardation, autism, developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, sensory impairments, and multiple disabilities). Students will learn specific strategies for teaching communication skills, managing sensory and motor disabilities, providing for health and medical needs, teaching self care, home and community skills, teaching academic skills, developing appropriate student learning supports, and implementing effective inclusion practices (including task analysis, prompting, reinforcement, errorless learning, fading, chaining, monitoring progress, etc.). This course is included in the PBS certificate program based on the belief that effective instruction prevents many problems.

Prerequisites: ESE 380 Introduction to Special Education, or ESE 548 Survey of Special Education, or ESE 434/634 or an equivalent introduction to exceptionalities course. You may be able to waive the above prerequisites if you are applying for the PBS Certificate program ONLY (NOT working towards a M.Ed. in Special Education), AND you have previous experience working with people who have severe (low incidence) disabilities. In order to determine if your experience is sufficient, send an email to daniel.davidson@nau.edu with "ESE 554 Prerequisites" in the subject line, AND provide a detailed explanation of your experience in the body of the text.

DIS 529 Advanced Applications of Positive Behavior Support (3 credits) (Spring and Summer online) This course is a follow-up to DIS 519 Introduction to Positive Behavior Support and is designed to build on students' knowledge through problem-based learning and hands-on demonstrations. After a brief review of the main principles and applications learned previously, students will be assigned to small groups where they will work together to solve several case examples of children/adults with disabilities and challenging behavior. Students must select the FBA strategies needed and translate the results into practical solutions. A standard problem-solving format will be provided, and all group projects will follow the same format. Throughout the course, new content not previously covered, will be made available via on line readings. All students will be expected to submit a video of themselves demonstrating a procedure (e.g., shaping, fading, chaining, discrimination training) Group projects will be graded, as will individual student participation.

Prerequisites: DIS 519 Introduction to Positive Behavior Support

ESE 581 Methods in Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorders (3 credits) (Fall and Spring online) This course builds on ESE 554 and will cover the range of program and instructional options for designing a comprehensive educational program for students who have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The course will include programs and interventions to address sensory, motor, academic, communication, social, and transition needs. It is advised that individuals enrolling in this course have already completed a basic course in methods for teaching students with low incidence disabilities (e.g., ASD, severe disabilities, etc.) AND have either taken an introductory course on ASD or have experience with this student population.

Prerequisites: ESE 554 Methods in Special Education Low-Incidence Disabilities, ESE 580 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders, or instructor approval. You may be able to waive ESE 580 if you are applying for the PBS Certificate program ONLY (NOT working towards a M.Ed. in Special Education), AND you have previous experience working with people who have ASD. In order to determine if your experience is sufficient, send an email to daniel.davidson@nau.edu with "ESE 581 Prerequisites" in the subject line, AND provide a detailed explanation of your experience in the body of the text.

DIS 539 Consultation and Collaboration in Positive Behavior Support (3 credits) (Summer and Fall online) This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to consult and work collaboratively with teams responsible for the education, habilitation, care and support, of person's with behavior and/or learning challenges. This course builds on previous knowledge of effective teaching and behavior change strategies, and adds to that knowledge the skills needed to help teams develop, implement and evaluate, positive behavior support (PBS) plans for those individuals who are hard to reach and hard to teach. Students are assumed to have basic and advanced information about conducting functional behavioral assessments (FBAs), developing/implementing PBS plans, and teaching methods for people with severe or low incidence disabilities. This course will require students to use their knowledge of PBS as team facilitators, leaders and mentors to others. In addition to more advanced PBS problem-solving, students will learn about the various missions of different service systems in Arizona often supporting individuals who are hard to reach/teach. They will learn about what are often competing contingencies among team members and how to use that knowledge to help them find common ground. Finally students will learn about effective evidence-based approaches to helping schools make systemic changes in their discipline strategies, student behavior and overall climate.

Prerequisites: DIS 529 Advanced Applications of Positive Behavior Support.

A Note about Sequence Of Coursework

• You must take ESE 554 before you take ESE 581
• You must take DIS 519 before DIS 529
• You must take DIS 529 before DIS 539
• You may take ESE 554 or 581 while taking any of the DIS courses

Follow the information on the Course Application page to begin these on-line classes.