Master of Science in Special Education
Maximizing the learning potential of special needs students.
Working with special needs students presents unique challenges to the educator. That's why our programs provide a carefully planned set of experiences to help you develop and refine your capabilities to effectively work with those who have learning disabilities, mental retardation, emotional/behavioral disorders, autism, special disabilities, traumatic brain injury and other health impairments.
Our students in this area come from a variety of backgrounds. Many are certified teachers who wish to gain entitlement to Learning Behavior Specialist I (Type 10) certification in special education. Others have a college degree but do not hold a valid teaching certificate and wish to enter the field of education as a certified special education teacher. Finally, we have those who are already certified at the undergraduate level in special education and now wish to pursue the master’s degree.
In any of these programs, you will gain the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to give students with disabilities the opportunity to fully develop their intellectual and social capabilities.
- Candidates without a current valid teaching certificate
- Candidates with a current valid teaching certificate
- Candidates with a current valid teaching certificate in special education and are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in special education
- Possible Focus Areas
MSSPED for candidates who do not hold a current valid teaching certificate
Requirements
Satisfactory completion of 40 to 45 semester hours of graduate credit while maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0.
Successful completion of clinical hours in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Master of Science in Special Education program in the School of Education.
Core Curriculum
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| ECE/SPED 500 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| ECE/SPED 503 | Child, Family and Community Relationships | 3 |
| SPED 526 | Psycho-Educational Diagnosis (Ages 3 to 21) | 4 |
| SPED 643 | History, Philosophy and Legal Foundations of Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 646 | Special Education Internship and Seminar in Special Education | 1 |
| SPED 649 | Psychology and Characteristics of Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 654 | Academic Methods for Early Childhood–Elementary Level Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 655 | Academic Methods for Middle and Secondary Level Students with Disabilities | 2 |
| ECE/SPED | 656 Collaboration and Adaptation in General Education Settings | 2 |
| SPED 658 | Fostering Development of Pro-social Behavior | 2 |
| SPED 659 | Managing Challenging Behavior | 3 |
| SPED 663 | Planning and Assessment in Special Education | 2 |
| SPED 664 | Curriculum and Methods for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 702 | Clinical Practice Seminar in Special Education | 1 |
| SPED 703 | Clinical Practice in Special Education | 4 |
| EDU 533 | Reading and Writing Instruction and Improvement | 3 |
| EDU 560 | Integrating Technology Into the Curriculum | 3 |
MSSPED for candidates who hold a current valid teaching certificate
Requirements
Satisfactory completion of 32 to 37 semester hours of graduate credit while maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0.
Successful completion of clinical hours in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Master of Science in Special Education program in the School of Education.
Core Curriculum
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| ECE/SPED 503 | Child, Family and Community Relationships | 3 |
| SPED 526 | Psycho-Educational Diagnosis (Ages 3–21) | 4 |
| SPED 643 | History, Philosophy and Legal Foundations of Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 646 | Special Education Internship and Seminar in Special Education | 1 |
| SPED 649 | Psychology and Characteristics of Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 654 | Academic Methods for Early Childhood–Elementary Level Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 655 | Academic Methods for Middle and Secondary Level Students with Disabilities | 2 |
| SPED 656 | Collaboration and Adaptation in General Education Settings | 2 |
| SPED 658 | Fostering Development of Pro-social Behavior | 2 |
| SPED 659 | Managing Challenging Behavior | 3 |
| SPED 663 | Planning and Assessment in Special Education | 2 |
| SPED 664 | Curriculum and Methods for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities | 3 |
| EDU 533* | Reading and Writing Instruction and Improvement | 3 |
| EDU 560 | Integrating Technology Into the Curriculum | 3 |
*EDU 533 Reading and Writing Instruction and Improvement is not required for those who hold elementary teaching certificates or those who have taken a reading methodology course.
MSSPED for candidates who hold a current valid teaching certificate in special education and are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in special education
Core Curriculum
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| SPED 526 | Psycho-Educational Diagnosis (Ages 3 to 21) | 4 |
| EDU 560 | Integrating Technology Into the Curriculum | 3 |
| SPED 606 | Research | 3 |
| SPED 656 | Collaboration and Adaptation in General Education Settings | 2 |
Choice of a minimum of two of the following methods courses
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| SPED 664 | Curriculum and Methods for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 654 | Academic Methods for Early Childhood–Elementary Level Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 655 | Academic Methods for Middle and Secondary Level Students with Disabilities | 2 |
| SPED 658 | Fostering Development in Prosocial Behavior | 2 |
| SPED 659 | Managing Challenging Behavior | 3 |
Plus electives in a focus area to total 32 graduate semester hour credits.
Areas of Concentration
Individuals may choose to select a concentration of courses that address characteristics and methodology in disabilities that expand the scope of their original special education certificate.Possible areas of concentration include:
- Bilingual and/or ESL Endorsement
- Reading
- Administrative Leadership
- Elementary or Secondary General Education Classrooms
- Gifted endorsement