What is liberal arts?

Liberal arts is an educational approach that emphasizes broad, transferable knowledge and skills across subjects such as the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. It values the development of critical thinking, effective communication, and problem-solving abilities, preparing graduates for success in a variety of careers and industries.

What is liberal arts degree and does UMass Global offer one?

A liberal arts degree typically refers to any course of study centered on arts, humanities, communication, and social sciences, rather than technical or professional fields. While UMass Global does not explicitly offer a degree named "Liberal Arts," several of our flexible degrees provide a robust liberal arts education, equipping students with versatile skills applicable to many fields. Refer to the program pages on this page for more information on available degrees.

What is the value of a liberal arts education?

A liberal arts education builds a foundation of knowledge across multiple disciplines and develops in-demand skills such as communication, collaboration, analysis, and adaptability. Graduates become well-equipped to pursue careers in a variety of sectors, including business, education, media, public service, and more.

What careers can a liberal arts degree lead to?

Graduates with a liberal arts-focused degree find opportunities in education, communications, public relations, management, social services, and other fields that value adaptable thinkers and skilled communicators. The versatility of a liberal arts background helps graduates navigate a rapidly changing job market.

How do UMass Global's program help me finish my degree faster?

UMass Global's degrees in areas like Applied Studies and General Education are designed with flexibility in mind. Students can receive credit for prior learning, select courses most relevant to their goals, and work with advisors to create efficient education plans — often allowing them to complete their degree in less time than traditional programs.

Can I customize my liberal arts studies at UMass Global?

Yes. Programs such as the BA in Applied Studies allow students to choose concentrations (like Applied Communication, Applied Humanities, or Leadership) and select courses that best fit their personal interests and professional objectives, providing a personalized liberal arts experience.

Academic Intervention for SPED

Overview

Response to Intervention (RTI) is an educational framework designed to provide early, systematic assistance to students who are struggling, with increasing levels (tiers) of targeted support based on their needs. This course, best for educators new to the RTI model, provides an overview for how instruction in the classroom can best support a response to intervention model. The response to intervention process is reviewed, and a justification for its use in improving academic performance for students with special needs or disabilities are outlined in this training. Differentiated instruction is explored as a fundamental component of intervention processes inside and out of the classroom, and methods for support students with special needs are explored.

You will build an RTI plan specific to a learning objective, design a resource to support your students, and analyze research highlighting the effectivness of the RTI process in supporting students with special needs or disabilities. Finally, an implementation plan will be completed for you to put the ideas from this course into practice.

Learn More & Register

At a Glance

Extended Education

Approximately 15 hours

Access Time: 365 days

1 PDU

Graduate Level Professional Development Credit

$210

No additional materials required

Program Benefits

100% Online

All coursework delivered fully online, so you can balance work, life, and study.

Graduate-Level PD Credits

Earn graduate-level professional development credits to support salary advancement and professional growth. Check with your school or district for approval before enrolling.

Fast, Flexible, and Ready When You Are

Enjoy instant access, self-paced study, and an easy-to-follow, template-based course format.

Course Objectives

Identify the components of RTI and its fundamental properties.
Apply knowledge of the tiers within RTI to instructional strategies for various content areas
Plan for data collection throughout the RTI process
Build an action plan aligned to one content objective for each RTI tier specific to a student or group of students with special needs in the classroom, design a supporting resource, and plan for implementation of the action plan
Analyze research that supports RTI for students with disabilities or special needs and examine how the research impacts the classroom

Course Topics

RTI Fundamentals - Learn the basics of Response to Intervention and why it’s used to support student success.
Tiered Instruction - Explore the levels of support in RTI, from whole-class teaching to individualized help.
Data - See how data is used to identify student needs, track progress, and guide instruction.

Course Syllabus

View Course Syllabus

View All Professional Development for Educator Courses

Program Partner

This course is offered through University of Massachusetts Global’s School of Extended Education in partnership with Model Teaching.

What are Graduate-level Professional Development Credits?

Graduate-level professional development credits are not part of a degree program but instead are primarily used for professional advancement such as salary increment steps and recertification. Students should seek approval from appropriate district officials before enrolling in these courses.

Academic Intervention for Students with Disabilities & Special Needs