Special Education, Master of Arts in Education
Offered by Department of Teacher Education
Program Information and Admission Requirements
The degree in Special Education requires four core courses covering the areas of research, democracy, diversity, and technology in accordance with the renewed focus of the College of Education. The program is 36 credit hours; however, additional credit hours may be needed for state certification in some endorsement areas.
Admission requirements include GPA and either the Graduate Record Examination or a Professional Biography. Teacher certification is required for this master’s program.
The Special Education program offers two emphasis areas described below: Advanced Practitioner and Special Education.
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Advanced Practitioner is designed to extend the expertise of educators with a teaching credential in one or more areas of special education. There are three possible emphases in the Advanced Practitioner program: Behavior Intervention Specialist, Inclusion and Collaboration Specialist, and Functional Academic Skills and Independent Living Specialist. Each of those three emphases includes the required hours necessary for a state Supplementary Endorsement in each area.
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Special Education Generalist is designed to lead to initial certification in special education. This applies to teachers certified in a field of education other than special education. Completion of the undergraduate professional sequence is required in addition to the master's classes for individuals who do not have degree in education. There are three possible emphases in the Special Education Generalist program: K-6 Generalist, 7-12 Generalist, and K-12 Generalist.
Successful completion of a comprehensive examination/project is required prior to graduation. There are three parts:
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Program examination/project;
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Departmental examination;
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College of Education survey of Desired Outcomes.
Contact your adviser at least one semester in advance of your planned graduation. Additionally, you must apply for graduation in the first few weeks of the semester in which you intend to graduate even if you will not attend the commencement ceremony.
The Master's in Special Education offers several concentrations leading to initial, additional, and supplemental teaching endorsements. All concentrations require a common Special Education Core, which is comprised of 15 credit hours, and a declared Program Concentration with credits ranging from 18-55 hours. The full graduate degree program ranges from 33 to 70 hours, depending on the selected concentration.
Courses Required for Master's Degrees in Special Education
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Core | ||
| TE 800 | Foundations of Research: Methodologies and Practices for Educational Inquiry | 3 |
| TE 803 | The Dynamic Relationship Between Philosophy and Education | 3 |
| TE 804 | Curriculum Development in Multicultural Education | 3 |
| TESE 880 | Critical Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| TESE 816D | Practicum in Special Education | 3 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 18-55 | |
| Certification Concentrations 1A | ||
| Additional Teaching Endorsement Concentrations: 1B | ||
| Supplemental Teaching Endorsement Concentrations: 1C | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 33-70 | |
Initial Teaching Certification1A
Special Education Generalist - Initial Teaching Certification
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| TE 805P | Overview of Assistive Technology | 3 |
| TE 829 | Implementing Universal Design for Learning in School Settings | 3 |
| TE 836 | Clinical Practice: Student Teaching | 6 |
| TE 837 | Curriculum and Assessment | 3 |
| TE 838 | Literacy Development | 3 |
| TE 839 | Pedagogies of Culture, Community, and Inclusivity | 3 |
| TE 840 | Learning Environments | 3 |
| TE 848 | Formative Assessment & Successful Acad Interventions for Elem School Math | 3 |
| TESE 830 | Consult & Collaboration with Families & Agencies Serv Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 837P | Medical Aspects of Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 861P | Legal Issues in Special Education and IEP Development | 3 |
| TESE 862 | Formal and Informal Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| TESE 863 | Research-Based Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 864P | Field Experience in Special Education | 1 |
| TESE 867 | Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning | 3 |
| TESE 872 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 875P | Preparing Adolescents for the Post-Secondary World | 3 |
| TESE 879P | Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity in the Classroom | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 55 | |
Additional Endorsements1B
Special Education Generalist (K-8) - Additional Endorsement
This program focuses on developing the skills necessary for delivering high-quality K-8 special education instruction. Candidates who hold a general education teaching certificate may choose to pursue an additional teaching endorsement as a Special Education Generalist.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| K-8 Special Education Requirements | ||
| TE 805P | Overview of Assistive Technology | 3 |
| TE 823P | Science of Reading | 3 |
| TE 829 | Implementing Universal Design for Learning in School Settings | 3 |
| TE 853B | Improvement of Instruction in Mathematics Grades PK-8 | 3 |
| TESE 816D | Practicum in Special Education | 3 |
| TESE 830 | Consult & Collaboration with Families & Agencies Serv Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 837P | Medical Aspects of Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 861P | Legal Issues in Special Education and IEP Development | 3 |
| TESE 862 | Formal and Informal Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| TESE 863 | Research-Based Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 867 | Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning | 3 |
| TESE 872 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 879P | Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity in the Classroom | 3 |
| TESE 880 | Critical Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 42 | |
Special Education Generalist (6-12) - Additional Endorsement
This program focuses on developing the skills necessary for delivering high-quality 6-12 special education instruction. Candidates who hold a general education teaching certificate may choose to pursue an additional teaching endorsement as a Special Education Generalist.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 6-12 Special Education Requirements - Additional Endorsement | ||
| TE 805P | Overview of Assistive Technology | 3 |
| TE 823P | Science of Reading | 3 |
| TE 829 | Implementing Universal Design for Learning in School Settings | 3 |
| Select 3 hours from the following: 3 | 3 | |
TE 800 - TE 899 | ||
TESE 800 - TESE 899 | ||
| TESE 830 | Consult & Collaboration with Families & Agencies Serv Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 837P | Medical Aspects of Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 861P | Legal Issues in Special Education and IEP Development | 3 |
| TESE 862 | Formal and Informal Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| TESE 863 | Research-Based Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 867 | Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning | 3 |
| TESE 875P | Preparing Adolescents for the Post-Secondary World | 3 |
| TESE 879P | Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity in the Classroom | 3 |
| TESE 880 | Critical Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 39 | |
Special Education Generalist (K-12) - Additional Endorsement
This program focuses on developing the skills necessary for delivering high-quality K-12 special education instruction. Candidates may choose to pursue an additional teaching endorsement as a Special Education Generalist. This endorsement requires a person to have an existing teaching endorsement in an area other than special education.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| K-12 Special Education Requirements - Additional Endorsement | ||
| TE 805P | Overview of Assistive Technology | 3 |
| TE 823P | Science of Reading | 3 |
| TE 829 | Implementing Universal Design for Learning in School Settings | 3 |
| TE 853B | Improvement of Instruction in Mathematics Grades PK-8 | 3 |
| TESE 816D | Practicum in Special Education | 3 |
| TESE 830 | Consult & Collaboration with Families & Agencies Serv Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 837P | Medical Aspects of Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 861P | Legal Issues in Special Education and IEP Development | 3 |
| TESE 862 | Formal and Informal Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| TESE 863 | Research-Based Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 864P | Field Experience in Special Education | 1 |
| TESE 867 | Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning | 3 |
| TESE 872 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 875P | Preparing Adolescents for the Post-Secondary World | 3 |
| TESE 879P | Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity in the Classroom | 3 |
| TESE 880 | Critical Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| TESE 883 | Intervention Strategies for Individuals with Behavioral & Emotional Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 888 | Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 52 | |
Supplemental Teaching Endorsements1C
Advanced Practitioner - Behavior Intervention Specialist Supplemental Endorsement
This program focuses on developing programs and instruction related to behavioral intervention. Candidates earn a supplemental teaching endorsement in Special Education Behavior Intervention Specialist. This endorsement requires that a person hold an endorsement in special education. If a candidate already holds an endorsement in an area that is not special education, the candidate can earn this supplemental teaching endorsement by taking an additional 18 graduate hours of special education coursework. Please consult your advisor to determine the best program or study.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Intervention Specialist - Supplemental Endorsement | ||
| TE 829 | Implementing Universal Design for Learning in School Settings | 3 |
| TESE 840 | Bilingual Special Education | 3 |
| TESE 867 | Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning | 3 |
| TESE 882 | Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| TESE 883 | Intervention Strategies for Individuals with Behavioral & Emotional Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 888 | Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
Advanced Practitioner - Inclusion and Collaboration Specialist - Supplemental Endorsement
This program focuses on developing instructional programs fostering inclusive education practices through collaboration for students with disabilities. Candidates in this emphasis earn a supplemental teaching endorsement in Special Education Inclusion and Collaboration Specialist. This endorsement requires a person to have an endorsement in special education.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusion and Collaboration Specialist Emphasis - Supplemental Endorsement | ||
| TE 829 | Implementing Universal Design for Learning in School Settings | 3 |
| TESE 830 | Consult & Collaboration with Families & Agencies Serv Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 840 | Bilingual Special Education | 3 |
| TESE 863 | Research-Based Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 867 | Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning | 3 |
| TESE 883 | Intervention Strategies for Individuals with Behavioral & Emotional Disabilities | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
Advanced Practitioner - Functional Academic Skills and Independent Living Specialist - Supplemental Endorsement
This program focuses on developing instructional programs focused on functional academic and independent living skills for students with disabilities. Candidates earn a supplemental teaching endorsement as a Special Education Functional Academic Skills and Independent Living Specialist. This endorsement requires a person to have, or earn concurrently, an endorsement in special education.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Functional Academic Skills and Independent Living Specialist - Supplemental Endorsement | ||
| TE 829 | Implementing Universal Design for Learning in School Settings | 3 |
| TESE 830 | Consult & Collaboration with Families & Agencies Serv Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 867 | Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning | 3 |
| TESE 872 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| TESE 879P | Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity in the Classroom | 3 |
| TESE 883 | Intervention Strategies for Individuals with Behavioral & Emotional Disabilities | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
- 1A
Initial Certification is a non-degree track with the option to add the Special Education Core to obtain a Master's Degree in Special Education. Students in this concentration can elect to earn a SPED Generalist K-8 initial teaching endorsement, a SPED Generalist 6-12 initial teaching endorsement, or a SPED Generalist K-12 initial teaching endorsement.
- 1B
Additional endorsements are intended for those who already hold an initial teaching endorsement in an education field.
- 1C
Supplemental Endorsements require the candidate to already hold a teaching endorsement in special education.
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Students also wishing to pursue an additional endorsement or initial certification should consult with an advisor.
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Students must take an elective course that is outside of the core requirements.