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Special Education Master's Program

Welcome

The Department of Special Education, Graduate School of Education, offers a Master of Science degree or a Master of Arts degree (MA requires a foreign language proficiency examination). The Master's degree in Special Education may be completed in conjunction with a teacher licensure program or independently. Students completing a Special Education Master's degree must complete a 45-credit graduate program with a minimum of 9 credits of research core. Students also have the option to complete a thesis instead of a project. Please see your advisor and campus bulletin for additional information. 

Beginning in 2012, the requirements for the master’s degree have changed and there will be a transition time between those admitted prior to January 2012 and those admitted after 1 January 2012. Students may have some options to consider for degree completion. In any case the degree MUST consist of 45 credit hours and include the core requirements.

How to Complete Your Master’s Degree

Instructions for all students - EXCEPT individuals completing programs in Visually Impaired Learner or Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (VIL & EI/ECSE students see below for instructions)*
  • If you have completed both SPED 590 (Research) and SPED 591(Issues in Special Education), no later than spring term 2012, you have two options:  
    • You may sign up for a current faculty sponsored master’s project.  Click here to view projects being offered in spring 2012.
    • You may sign up for a master’s project that will begin in fall 2012 or winter 2013. Projects are posted two weeks before each term begins. 
  • If you have completed SPED 590 (Research) but not SPED 591 (Issues in Special Education), you will need to complete SPED 597 and SPED 506.
  • If you have completed both SPED 591 (Issues in Special Education) but not SPED 590 (Research), you will need to complete SPED 596 and SPED 506. 
  • If by spring term 2012, you have NOT completed SPED 590 (Research) and SPED 591 (Issues in Special Education), you will take a series of courses, focusing on a specialized topic culminating in a capstone.
    • The three courses include SPED 596 Research, SPED 597 Issues in a Specialized Topic, and SPED 506 Capstone Project

  1. Capstone starting in summer 2012 – Kiwanis Camp Experience (you can sign up for this series now)
  2. Capstone beginning in fall 2012 – Positive Behavior Support (description will be posted summer 2012)
  3. Capstone beginning in winter 2013 – Autism Spectrum Disorders (description will be posted summer 2012)

*Instructions for VIL and EI/ECSE ONLY: Students completing programs in Visually Impaired Learner or Early Intervention/ Early Childhood will have the master core classes incorporated into the licensure sequence. Licensure and degree will be awarded simultaneously. Questions should be directed to the program coordinator.