A preservice, competency-based teacher education program is presented in this special education program and curriculum guide. Some of the behaviors required by the competencies include: assessing an individual child's learning abilities; working in a variety of educational settings; choosing a curriculum to teach children with different abilities; creating and using "teacher-made" instructional aids; running actual parent conferences; and designing a myriad of theoretical programs, behavioral management approaches, and curriculum interventions. Each competency has a specific goal that must be met before it can be "signed off" by the professor. Specific requirements center around the following eight areas: (1) observation and practicum in special education; (2) psychology of the exceptional child; (3) psychoeducational strategies in special education; (4) language development in special education; (5) curriculum innovation in special education; (6) diagnosis and assessment of learning abilities; (7) legal rights of the handicapped; and (8) counseling and consultation in special education. The program is designed to build from the knowledge level through the skills level to the performance level. Each specific requirement within these broad areas is set forth with specific goals, objectives, and a teacher evaluation form, and each student must meet requirements to be recommended for licensing. (DS)