Bloomsburg University Academic Programs

Special Education (M.Ed.) — Certification Programs

Special Education (PK-12)
Administered by the Department of Exceptionality Programs
Effective Fall 2021

Applicants must have an initial teacher certification to add on the special education certification.

Admission. Applicants seeking admission to a 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. (12 credits)
SPECED.502 Principles of Special Education Law
SPECED.503 Curricular Design and Instruction for Inclusive Education
SPECED.565 Special Education Research Methods I
SPECED.575 Seminar in Current Issues in Special Education

Special Education PK-12 Certification Track Course Requirements
(36 Credits + Capstone Experience)
PROFSTUD.594 ELL Strat & Methods 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 Instruction 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 Instruct & Trans Sts 7-12
SPECED.557 Linking Assessment and Instruction
SPECED.558 Methods of Instruction

CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE:  (All coursework must be completed prior to ST)
SPECED.591 Graduate Practicum
Or
SPECED.588 & 589 Student Teaching AND SPECED.561 Student Teaching Seminar