Special Education (M.Ed.) — Initial Dual Certification Program
Special Education (PK-12)/Early Childhood Education (PK-4)
Administered by the Department of Exceptionality Programs
Effective Fall 2021
Admission. Applicants seeking admission to the master's degree program must satisfy the general admission requirements for the School of Graduate Studies. The following criteria are also required:
- A one-page, handwritten letter of intent stating professional background, experience and rationale for wanting to be admitted to the department
- Two letters of recommendation
- A resume
- An interview with the chair or program coordinator
- An undergraduate cumulative QPA of 2.8. If average is below 2.8, the student may be admitted provisionally. No Cs may be earned during a probationary period.
Retention. Students must complete the criteria listed in the Teacher Education - Special Education Initial Program packet prior to the completion of 21 graduate credits. Required GPA, child abuse, FBI and criminal clearances, TB results and liability insurance coverage is described within the packet. Some requirements must be completed before course work can be initiated (e.g., clearances).
Certification and Graduation Requirements. Students may complete certification course work to access teacher certification prior to completion of the M.Ed. Some pre-requisite courses or their equivalents are required. The complete requirements are listed below.
Core Course Requirements for M.Ed. (9 credits)
SPECED.502 Principles of Special Education Law
SPECED.565 Special Education Research Methods I
SPECED.575 Seminar in Current Issues in Special Education
PK-12 Certification Track (39 Credits + Capstone Experience)
ELEMED.526 Methods/Materials in Science and Math
ELEMED.532 Fine Arts/Play in the Early Childhood Education Classroom
ELEMED.537 Methods/Materials in Language Arts/Social Studies
READING.540 Introduction to the Teaching of Reading
PROFSTUD.594 ELL Strat Meth or CSD.532.Comm Ed ELL
SPECED.506 Introduction to Early Intervention
SPECED.516 Orient to Exceptionalities
SPECED.517 Foundations of Behavior Intervention and Support
SPECED.530 Effective Instructional Practices for Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities
SPECED.533 Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities
SPECED.544 Academic Assessment for Instruction
SPECED.547 Tech Applications for Individuals w/Disabilities
SPECED.550 Effective Instructional Practices for Students with Mild Disabilities PK-8 (with 20 hours of embedded field work)
SPECED.553 Effect Instr & Trans Sts 7-12
SPECED.557 Linking Assessment and Instruction
SPECED.558 Methods of Instruction
SPECED.588 & SPECED.589 Student Teaching AND SPECED.561 Student Teaching Seminar