Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

History and Law (Online)

SPED 4110-30I

Course: SPED 4110-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Teacher Education
CRN: 32388

Course Description

This course examines the history of American education and law over the last 150 years. The roles of the federal, state, and local governments in education will also be a focus of the course. Particular emphasis will be placed on how IDEA and other federal laws impact education. (Fall, Summer) [Graded Letter] Prerequisite(s): SPED 2010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

Required Texts

The following textbook will be required for this course: Markelz, A.M. & Bateman, D.F. (2022). The Essentials of Special Education Law. ISBN: 978158150030

Learning Outcomes

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe the American Legal System.
  2. Describe the rights of parents and students with disabilities and explore issues surrounding the right to due process of law.
  3. Define legal terms involved in special education case law (e.g. statutes, regulations, etc.)
  4. Describe the rights of parents and students with disabilities and explore issues surrounding the right to due process of law.
  5. Analyze judicial interpretations of the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE), least restrictive environment (LRE), IEPs, discipline standards, related services and due process for students with disabilities.

Course Requirements

Assignment Outline
Weekly Discussions
You will participate in a discussion forum weekly. Some will be created and led by classmates, and some by the instructor.  Please take the time to make this a worthwhile activity and post substantive comments and thoughts! Feel free to share any other resources you find in your posts, such as videos, articles, etc.
Chapter Quizzes 
There may be online quizzes on the weekly content.
Case Brief Presentation and Discussion Lead
Throughout the course, we will refer to several major federal court cases that have influenced the education of students with disabilities. At the beginning of the course, you will select 1 case from a provided list to present. The presentation will be submitted as a video. Discussion formats will be decided by the students, meaning that the discussion leader will have the latitude to determine how they wish to present the information to the class. It should be interactive and engaging. Upon completing the discussion, all students should have a solid understanding of the case and its importance to special education.
Content Activity
Each week, you will be assigned an activity related to the week's legal topic. You may be asked to analyze a case, reflect on a current event, or explain, through examples, your understanding of a given topic.
Final Project Application of Law
Research one special education topic covered in this course and prepare a deliverable. 
Final Reflection
You will submit a 2-3 page reflection of your learning and new insights from the class.
Grade Scheme
The following grading standards will be used in this class:
GradeRange
A | 100 % to 94.0%
A- | < 94.0 % to 90.0%
B+ | < 90.0 % to 87.0%
B | < 87.0 % to 84.0%
B- | < 84.0 % to 80.0%
C+ | < 80.0 % to 77.0%
C | < 77.0 % to 74.0%

Course Outline

Module 1: Introductions and Reliable Sources - Weeks 1 and 2
Module 2: The American Legal System - Week 3
Module 3: The History of Law- Week 4
Module 4: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)- Week 5
Module 5: Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act-  Week 6
Module 6: Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)- Week 7
Module 7: Identification and Evaluation- Week 8 
Module 8: Least Restrictive Environment Week 9
Module 9: Individualized Education Programs (2 weeks)- Week 10-11
Module 10: Procedural Safeguards- Week 12
Module 11: Discipline and SPED - Week 13
Module 12: Final Week and Review - Week 14 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

How will I respond to your needs? 

For messages sent to me, I will do my very best to respond. Sometimes emails tend to slip off the radar, so if I do not respond to your needs within the specified time, please hound me again! I want to make sure I am responsive to you!
Feedback is an important part of learning, and I will be sure to provide feedback on graded assignments. It is my intent to give helpful feedback that allows you to revise your work. 

Late Work

I expect you to strive to be an active participant in this course and strive to meet due dates. I recognize that life is more hectic at some times than others, so I am very willing to make exceptions to due dates if you communicate your needs prior to the due date. 

Attendance Policy

Attendance

An online course requires regular and consistent participation to be successful. This means you should log into our course multiple times throughout the week. Participate in discussions beyond the minimum requirements.

As you have questions throughout the course, utilize the Bulletin Board Discussion to ask questions, get clarification, and share resources you are utilizing.

Course Fees

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, or similar programs) may be used as part of the learning process in this course. All submitted work must follow a “human in, human out” standard—this means you may use AI for brainstorming, idea refinement, or drafting support, but you must critically engage with, edit, and meaningfully transform the output into your own original work. Direct copy-paste from AI without significant human revision is not permitted and will be considered a violation of academic integrity. You are responsible for the accuracy, originality, and citation of all content you submit, regardless of the tools used in its creation.

Student Resources

The Student Outreach and Support (SOS) Office at Southern Utah University provides support, non-clinical interventions, advocacy, and referrals for students experiencing challenges in their personal and academic lives. The team is comprised of non-clinical case managers who meet with students to gain an understanding of their needs and to identify personal strengths, as well as withdrawal support to understand options during difficult times

Accommodations: Disability Resource Center is committed to helping all students be full participants in university programs, regardless of their abilities. Reasonable accommodations are available for students each semester. 

Thriving Thunderbirds: Mental health is essential for your academic success. If you are struggling with mental health issues, SUU provides resources, support, and services to help you. Please visit https://www.suu.edu/mentalhealth for access to these valuable resources.
If you need assistance navigating any of the resources, please contact Counseling and Psychological Services, the Dean of Students’ Office, or the Health and Wellness Center.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.