Special Education (M.S.)
Administered by the Department of Exceptionality Programs
Effective Fall 2012
Admission. Applicants seeking admission to the master's degree programs 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
- 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 Advanced Programs packet prior to the completion of 21 graduate credits. Required GPA, child abuse, FBI and criminal clearances, and liability insurance coverage is described within the packet.
Graduation. Students seeking the M.S. in Special Education must complete requirements as listed below.
Requirements - Special Education (M.S.)
- Choice A: Thesis option - 30 hours course work plus six (6) credits for thesis OR
- Choice B: Department paper option - 36 hours of course work plus department paper
Prerequisite course requirement (3 credits): SPECED.101 or SPECED.516, or equivalent
Core requirements (15 credits)
SPECED.502 Special Education Law
SPECED.565 Special Education Research Methods I
SPECED.567 Special Education Research Methods II
SPECED.575 Seminar in Current Issues in Special Education
SPECED.591 Practicum in Special Education
Specialization Area requirements (12-18 credits)
Students enrolled in M.S. in Special Education program will be required to specialize in a graduate program content area. Depending on their selected specialization students will be required to take 12 to 18 graduate credits in that area. The approved specialization areas are:
Special Education (12-15 credits)
Special Education Supervisory Certification (18 credits)
Behavior Intervention and Support (12 credits)
Counseling (12 credits)
Curriculum and Instruction (12 credits)
Early Intervention (12 credits)
English Second Language Certificate (12 credits)
Instructional Technology (12 credits)
Literacy and Reading (12 credits)
Electives
Any remaining credits needed for completing the M.S. in Special Education can be taken as electives in either special education or one of the other specialization areas. Some of the elective courses in special education are as follows.
SPECED.501 Administration and Supervision in Special Education
SPECED.502 Principles of Special Education Law
SPECED.503 Curricular Design and Instruction for Inclusive Education
SPECED.506 Introduction to Early Intervention
SPECED.507 Families and Inclusion in Early Intervention
SPECED.508 Experience in Early Intervention
SPECED.510 ASD Workshop
SPECED.516 Orientation to Exceptionalities
SPECED.517 Foundations of Behavior Intervention and Support
SPECED.522 Mathematics for Students with Special Needs
SPECED.526 Transition Services for Students with Disabilities
SPECED.530 Effective Instructional Practices for Students with Mod./Severe Disabilities (PK-8)
SPECED.533 Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities
SPECED.544 Academic Assessment for Instruction
SPECED.547 Technology Applications for Individuals with Disabilities
SPECED.550 Effective Instructional Practices for Students with Mild Disabilities (PK-8)
SPECED.551 Effective Instructional Practices tor Students with Mild Disabilities (7-12)
SPECED.552 Project in Special Education
SPECED.557 Linking Assessment/Instruction for Students with Disabilities
SPECED.558 Methods of Instruction for Inclusive Classrooms
SPECED.559 Seminar in Special Education
SPECED.572 Seminar in Behavior Disorders
SPECED.595 Internship
SPECED.596 Special Workshop 1 (1-6 credits)
SPECED.597 Special Workshop 2 (1-6 credits)
SPECED.598 Special Workshop 3 (l-6 credits)
PROFSTUD.599 Master's Research Paper (for graduate students electing Choice A only)
With adviser approval, students may also choose additional elective graduate courses in related fields such as reading, early childhood, elementary and secondary education, psychology and sociology. Coursework for a special education supervisory certificate may be incorporated into the M.S. in special education.