This portfolio is your forum for documenting and sharing with peers and faculty your accomplishments, struggles, questions, and development as a future educator. As such it is a professional or "process" portfolio, a place to record and reflect upon your professional growth and receive ongoing feedback from your professors and peers.  Eventually, you will be able to convert this process portfolio into a "showcase" or "keepsake" portfolio containing a collection of your best work to share with future employers and colleagues.

During the program this portfolio will be used to assess your growth and reflection on three occasions; at the end of the Exploration stage (EEC 600 610, 620, and 630), at the capstone point which is at end of the Synthesis stage (EEC 700, 705, 710, 720, 740, 750, 800) for entry to student teaching, and at the end of the  Student Teaching/ Practicum stage (EEC 820, 821, 822) for recommendation of State certification.


I. The Exploration Phase
This first stage of your program is designed to introduce you to the field of Special Education. The four foundation courses are:

EEC 600 – Introduction to Special Education
EEC 610 – Current Topics in Special Education
EEC 620 – Technology and Instruction
EEC 630 – Human Development, Cognition, and Teaching

Benchmark requirements
There are 4 benchmarks required in the Exploration Phase:
EEC 600 – Fieldwork Observation Paper
EEC 610 – Research Paper
EEC 620 – Instructional Webpage
EEC 630 – Personal Operative Theory of Learning


II. The Synthesis Phase
This second stage of your program is designed to combine knowledge and pedagogical skills in preparing you to teach in the field of Special Education. The six methods courses which prepare you for the capstone Master’s Seminar and clinical practice are:

EEC 700 – Families, Cultures, and Children: Understanding Children with Special Needs
EEC 705 – Team Collaboration
EEC 710 – Classroom Management
EEC 720 – Formal and Informal Methods of Assessment
EEC 740 – Math and Science Education
EEC 750 – Methods of Instruction
EEC 800 – Master’s Seminar

Benchmark requirements
There are seven benchmarks required in the synthesis phase
EEC 700 – Group Research Project
EEC 705 – Critical Issues Paper
EEC 710 – Observation Project
EEC 720 – Case Study
EEC 740 – Units of Study
EEC 750 – Comprehensive Essay
EEC 800 – Dimensions of Special Education Teaching Competencies


III. The Reflective Practice Phase
This third stage of your program prepares you to become a classroom teacher through clinical practice. This phase promotes the confluence of knowledge, skills, and dispositions in your role as a reflective practitioner. The clinical courses are as follows:

EEC 820 – Student Teaching in Childhood Special Education in Inclusive Settings EEC 821 – Summer Practicum in Childhood Special Education
EEC 822 – Summer Practicum in Childhood Special Education
EEC 860 – Summer Student Teaching I
EEC 870 – Summer Student Teaching II

Benchmark requirements
All clinical experiences require addressing the four domains in Danielson’s Framework for Teaching Model: .

• Planning and Preparation
• Classroom Environment
• Instruction
• Professional Responsibilities

IV. Other Requirements
All candidates must complete the “About Me” section in their portfolio. This includes an electronic copy of:

• your admissions essay
• your philosophy of teaching (from EEC 600 – Introduction to Special Education)
• an updated resume or vitae.

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