MA in Special Education

The Master of Arts Degree in Special Education is designed to offer professional preparation for careers as master teachers in public or private schools or other educational institutions. The goals of the master’s program are oriented toward students acquiring advanced knowledge and professional competencies in the areas of psychosocial, socio-cultural, and psycho-educational development, and behavior management of special populations of children and youth.

The program is structured to emphasize interrelated course work in the following areas of learning: instruction and teaching methods, educational research and design, diagnostic testing and applied instructional interventions, and educational programming and behavior management in the classroom setting It is primarily directed toward individuals who hold teaching certification and have had teaching experience in special education or related disciplines. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students are prepared to fulfill a variety of roles related to teaching and instructional practices in schools and institutions serving special populations of children and youth.

The program prepares students for advanced work in special education settings. It also provides the opportunity for students to advance on the career lattice of professional special education. The curriculum is designed to be completed in two years with full-time enrollment in 9-12 credits each semester. Students may, however, elect to attend on a part-time basis.

Accreditation: The program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Transfer of Credit: Students may transfer no more than 9 semester hours of graduate credit earned from an accredited institution. Transfer courses will be evaluated and accepted toward the degree, however, on the basis of their applicability to the requirements of the program.

Program of Study: The program consists of completion of a minimum of 39 semester hours, including core courses, specialization courses, research (thesis-option), and electives. Upon completion of additional courses, students may become certified in Serious Emotional Disturbance or Specific Learning Disabilities. Students must maintain a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average to remain in the program.

Program Admission Requirements: Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or better, and meet all admission requirements as established by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Students must take and pass Praxis I before completing their program of study. In addition, applicants must be interviewed by the Department’s Graduate Admissions Committee.

Graduate Writing Proficiency Examination: Students must take and pass the Graduate Writing Proficiency Examination during the first semester of the program.

Comprehensive Examination: All students in the Program (Exception - those who write a thesis) are required to take and pass a comprehensive examination. The examination is given at the end of the final semester of the student’s program of study.

Alumni: Graduates of the program are employed at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels in public, charter, and private schools. Some are proprietors and/or administrators of public, charter, or private special education schools, or serve as private consultants.

Curriculum Requirements

The completion of a minimum of 39 semester hours is required for the Master of Arts degree in Special Education. Students who have less than one year of teaching experience in special education are required to complete 6 hours of internship.

Students who are seeking specialization in one of two categorical areas — Serious Emotional Disturbance or Specific Learning Disabilities - or who wish to study Special Education and Early Childhood Education will be required to take additional courses.

Academic Specialization: 21 credit hours
Non Categorical K-12

Practicum/Internship: 6 credit hours**

**Required of students who have less than one year of teaching experience in special education.

Research Courses - for Thesis Option Only: 6 credit hours

Students electing the thesis option are required to enroll in the Thesis course:

Suggested Electives: 6 credit hours

Certification in Serious Emotional Disturbance: 15 credit hours

Certification in Specific Learning Disabilities: 15 credit hours

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better throughout their program of study.