Special Education, M.Ed.
Program Requirements
M.Ed. Required Core
| EDUC 500 | Professional Development & Leadership - Intro | 1 |
| EDUC 521 | Curriculum Development & School Improvement | 3 |
| EDUC 531 | Effective Instruction & Assessment | 3 |
| EDUC 535 | Mentoring & Supervision of Instruction | 3 |
| EDUC 541 | Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners | 3 |
| EDUC 555 | Educational Research | 3 |
| EDUC 690 | Professional Development & Leadership - Capstone | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Special Education Licensure
| SPED 505 | Foundations, Theories, Laws, Professional Values and Ethics | 3 |
| SPED 515 | Social, Behavioral and Environmental Interaction | 3 |
| SPED 520 | Instructional Planning and Delivery: Evidence-based Practices | 3 |
| SPED 530 | Reading & Writing Difficulties: Assessment & Intervention | 3 |
| SPED 535 | Communication, Technology, and Mentorship | 3 |
| SPED 695 | Supervised Residency/Internship and Seminar | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Total Credit Hours: 36
Upon completion of the licensure program, candidates must also achieve a qualifying score on the corresponding licensing exam to be eligible for the appropriate license - see Licensing advisor with questions.
Retention
- Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Minimum of a C- in all completed coursework
- Successful formative portfolio assessments
- Favorable assessments by graduate faculty members throughout the program
- Candidates whose GPA falls below 3.0, or those receiving unfavorable assessment from faculty members, or those making unsatisfactory progress on the professional portfolio will be required to meet with the graduate program director or a faculty member appointed by the director. A plan for remediation will be established. A candidate who is unable to meet the remediation plan may be required to drop out of the program.
Graduation Requirements and Program Completion
- Successful completion of graduate course work, including any required internships
- Candidates must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all coursework required in the degree program.
- Content knowledge in the cognate area will be assessed by a comprehensive exam near the end of the candidate’s program.
- If a candidate fails the comprehensive exam, a complete or partial re-take may be scheduled.
- Candidates will be required to complete a review project/assignment prior to re- taking the comprehensive exam.
- Candidates will develop and present a professional portfolio to document knowledge, skills and dispositions characteristic of a wise school leader.
- Formative assessment of the portfolio will be conducted throughout the program as part of course requirements.
- The summative assessment of the portfolio will be conducted during the Capstone course, or for the school administration candidates, near the end of the Internship. For candidates who take the Capstone course prior to the final semester of course work, a summative portfolio assessment will be scheduled during the final semester of courses.
- Candidates who submit an unacceptable portfolio will be required to schedule a meeting with the graduate program director or a faculty member appointed by the director to assist the candidate with portfolio development. The portfolio must be re-submitted according to the remediation plan and schedule established.