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Special Education: The UDC Edge
UDC - an urban land-grant university and the only public institution of higher education in Washington, D.C.—traces its roots to the Miner Normal School, a school for African-American girls founded in 1851 that eventually became Miner Teachers College, D.C.’s first public college. As a result, UDC has a long and successful tradition of preparing generations of educators to serve a vital role in the future of children and youth of the nation’s capital.
Founded in 2010, the National Center for Urban Education embodies UDC’s longstanding commitment to teacher training while emphasizing modern teaching and learning theories, techniques, and approaches. To that end, we focus on three key areas of need in all of our education master’s degree programs:
- Linguistic and cultural discovery
- Early childhood education and school readiness
- Instructional support and interventions for children with special needs
Master’s Degree (MA) in Special Education
The master’s degree in special education at the University of the District of Columbia prepares you to become a highly effective, results-oriented, socially conscious classroom practitioner in a special education setting. You will learn about psychosocial, socio-cultural, and psycho-educational development, and complement this theory with concrete knowledge of and application in education and behavior management best practices for special populations of children and youth.
The program is offered through the Urban Teacher Academy at the National Center for Urban Education (NCUE), which embraces the demands, challenges and opportunities that teachers encounter in high-poverty, high-need schools. While completing professional requirements, you will learn firsthand how to be a positive force for change in our urban schools and communities.
The special education master’s degree program is geared toward individuals with teaching certification and experience in special education or related disciplines.
Related:
Curriculum and Requirements in the UDC Special Education Graduate Program
You must complete a minimum of 39 credit hours to earn the master’s degree in special education, including core courses, specialization courses, electives, and a thesis option. Full-time students can complete the program in two years, though you may attend on a part-time basis and enjoy the flexibility of day and evening courses.
Students who have less than one year of teaching experience in special education are required to complete 6 hours of internship. If you seek specialization in Serious Emotional Disturbance or Specific Learning Disabilities, additional courses are required.
Related:
- Learn more about admissions requirements for programs at the Urban Teacher Academy
- Learn more about requirements for the master’s degree in special education.
Faculty Spotlight: UDC Special Education Graduate Program
Maurice Sykes, director of the Early Childhood Leadership Institute at UDC’s National Center for Urban Education, has spent his career advancing high-quality early childhood education and advocating for educational reform and teacher professional development. Maurice formerly served in the District of Columbia Public School System as deputy superintendent for the Center for Systemic Educational Change and director of Early Childhood Programs. Sykes has also advised the U.S. Department of Education on educational policy and programs related to urban school improvement.
Dr. Taharee A. Jackson has been a school director, public and private school teacher, and family literacy instructor. With specializations in urban, teacher and multicultural education, her research examines the beliefs, classroom practices and life experiences of critical, anti-racist educators who are dedicated to teaching disadvantaged students in urban schools.
