Each student with a disability has a unique set of academic, behavioral, social, emotional, communication, and functional needs. The academic behavioral strategist (ABS) licensure program prepares you to meet the needs of young people—kindergarten through age 21. The program prepares you to be recommended for an ABS license, which qualifies you to work with students in K-12 school systems with a broad array of mild to moderate disabilities in the following areas:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Developmental disabilities
• Emotional and behavioral disorders
• Learning disabilities
• Other health disparities

Careers

Graduates of the academic behavioral strategist (ABS) licensure program:

• Teach in K-12 classrooms, resource rooms, or 18-21 transition programs
• Collaborate/consult with general classroom teachers
• Work with students and their families directly as itinerant teachers
• Serve students from a variety of cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds

Coursework

Most classes are offered in the evening—to allow students to maintain full time employment while completing course requirements—and are predominantly taught in person on the Minneapolis campus.

The ABS licensure and special education MEd program requires the completion of 30 to 49.5 credits. Your total number of credits required may vary based on previous educational experience or licensures.

• Checklist: ABS initial licensure course requirements
• Checklist: ABS additional licensure course requirements

Required ABS licensure courses (40 credits)

• CI 5645 – Methods for Teaching English Learners (3 credits)
• MTHE 5355 – Mathematics for Diverse Learners (3 credits)
• EPSY 5604 – Transitions from Work to School or Community Settings for Persons with Special Needs (3 credits)
• EPSY 5605 – Collaborative Practices for the Special Educator (3 credits)
• EPSY 5613 – Foundations of Special Education (3 credits)
• EPSY 5614 – Assessment and Due Process in Special Education (3 credits)
• EPSY 5616 – Classroom Management and Behavior Analytic Problem Solving (3 credits)
• EPSY 5617 – Academic and Social Interventions for Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities (3 credits)
• EPSY 5618 – Specialized Interventions for Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities in Reading and Written Language (3 credits)
• EPSY 5631 – Module 1: Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (1 credit)