Special Education, MS

The MS Special Education program leads to initial PA certification in Special Education, PK-12. The program is 36 credits including a student teaching internship. The application deadline to the program is March 1st. Later applications may be accepted as program capacity allows.

Graduate students who already hold or plan on obtaining their first N-3, K-6, PreK-4, 4-8, 7-12, K-12, or Reading Specialist PA certification, will be required to submit their first PA instructional certificate or a proof of application for their first PA instructional certificate no later than January 1st, before the spring semester of student teaching, or August 1ts before the fall semester of student teaching. These individuals are required to take Special Education: Content Knowledge and Applications Test (5354) in order to be recommended for graduation. In addition, the graduate students are required to take and pass a Comprehensive Examination as designed and implemented by the Education Department in order to be recommended for graduation.

Graduate students who are planning on obtaining Special Education PK-12 as their initial PA certificate will be required to demonstrate 6 credits of college level Mathematics and 6 credits of English (3 credits of English Literature and 3 credits of Writing) and to submit a passing score on Fundamental Subject: Content Knowledge Test (5511) no later than January 1st, before the spring semester of student teaching, or August 1st before the fall semester of student teaching. These individuals are required to take Special Education: Content Knowledge Application Test (5354) in order to be recommended for graduation. In addition, the graduate students are required to take and pass a Comprehensive Examination as designed and implemented by the Education Department in order to be recommended for graduation.

Program of Study for MS in Special Education

Students pursuing the Master’s in Special Education must complete a total of 36 graduate credit hours, including an internship, and pass a comprehensive examination.

Curriculum

Total Program Credits: 36 credits

Courses	Credits
Required Research Course (3 credits)
EFND 506 - Educational Research and Statistics	3
Required Foundation Courses
EFND 516 - Advanced Educational Psychology	3
EFND 521 - Advanced Foundations of Education	3
Special Education Coursework
ERDG 506 - Language Essentials for Teachers of Literacy	3
ESPC 501 - Inclusionary Classroom Practices	3
ESPC 510 - Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education	3
ESPC 516 - Special Education Assessment	3
ESPC 530 - Introduction to Assistive Technology in the Classroom	3
ESPC 531 - Evidenced Based Practices for Students with Low Incidence Disabilities	3
ESPC 536 - Evidence-Based Practices for Students with High Incidence Disabilities	3
ESPC 541 - Principles of Behavior Change for Educators	3
ESPC 551 - Special Education Teaching Internship: Planning	1
ESPC 552 - Special Education Teaching Internship: Instruction	1
ESPC 553 - Special Education Teaching Internship: Classroom Management	1
Total Program Credits	36