The evolution toward inclusive classrooms has meant that teachers in all grades and subjects are increasingly called on to work with children with a broad range of abilities. Giving master’s candidates the tools to support each child’s learning and growth is the mission of our M.Ed. in Special Education.
Overview
The master’s program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in Special Education or a related field and want to learn effective methods for working with and advocating for individuals with disabilities. Our Special Education faculty are noted experts in such areas as autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, academic interventions and emotional and behavioral disorders.
Candidates engage in coursework to become skilled practitioners in establishing effective teaching and learning environments for students with a broad range of learning, cognitive, social, emotional, physical and speech/language needs.
Master’s degree students choose from the following areas of concentration:
- Intensive Academic Intervention advances educator’s knowledge and use of evidence-based instructional practices to effectively teach students with intensive academic needs, such as students with learning disabilities.
- Low Incidence Disabilities advances educator’s knowledge and use of evidence-based instruction to effectively teach students with low incidence disabilities, such as students with multiple and severe disabilities.
- English as a Second Language advances educator’s knowledge and use of evidence-based instructional practices to support the learning and second language development of English learners (ELs) in PK-12 settings. Students with a Level 1 instruction certification who choose this concentration will also earn an ESL certification upon successful completion of all coursework.
- General Special Education Studies provides educators with in-depth knowledge about special education.
Our program is designed to be flexible, so that students have the opportunity to obtain two areas of concentration (e.g., Intensive Academic Intervention and Low Incidence Disabilities).
Students also have the opportunity to earn a certificate by completing approved coursework in a particular area. Certificates in Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The Behavior Analysis certificate fulfills the coursework required for BCBA certification.
Application Requirements
- Transcripts, minimum GPA of 3.0 (undergraduate)
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one recommendation must come from a faculty member at an accredited academic institution)
- Proof of English proficiency
- Personal essay
Quick Facts
Transcript Evaluations: Evaluations are required for applicants who have earned a degree outside the U.S.
Deadline(s): July 15 for fall start, December 15 for spring start and April 15 for summer start. The application and all supporting materials are due by the listed deadlines.
Modality: On-Campus
Course Requirements: 10 courses (30 credits)
Typical Course Load: fall (2 courses), spring (2 courses), summer (2 courses) which allows candidates to complete the program in two years (two falls, two springs and one summer).
Time to Completion: 2 years
Practical Experience Component: Field work is an important part of this program. Students who are already teachers have the opportunity to complete the field work at their current schools.
Program Alumni: Graduates work as teachers in both public and private K-12 classrooms.
Career Opportunities
Our Special Education faculty are recognized experts in such areas as autism, learning disabilities, academic intervention, emotional behavior disorders and positive behavior support. Master’s candidates learn best practices for designing instruction and teaching students with a wide variety of disabilities.
Curriculum
All courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise noted. Course descriptions can be found in the course catalog.
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| Required Core (9 credits) | |
| SPED 419 | Intensive Intervention in Reading |
| SPED 421 | Intensive Intervention in Mathematics and Content Area Literacy |
| SPED 452 | Assessment in Special Education |
| Research Requirement (3 credits) | |
| EDUC 461 | Single-Subject Research Design |
| Diversity Requirement (3 credits) | |
| SPED 404 | Cultural and Linguistic Diversity |
| SPED 404 | |
| Electives: Choose 5 Courses with Advisor's Approval (15 credits) | |
| SPED 402 | Applied Behavior Analysis |
| SPED 409 | K-12 Classroom Environment and Management |
| SPED 410 | Behavior Analysis: Ethics and Professional Conduct |
| SPED 411 | Early Childhood Education |
| SPED 416 | Autism Spectrum Disorders and Evidence-Based Practices |
| SPED 432 | Positive Behavior Suppor |
| SPED 465 | Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12 |
| EDL 432 | Special Education Law |
| EDUC 456 | Trauma and Resilience in Schools |
| EDUC 406 | Foundations of Social Emotional Learning |
| EDUC 401 | Globalization and Contextualization |
| Other electives as approved by advisor | |
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| Required Core (9 credits) | |
| SPED 418 | Alternative Curricular Approaches |
| SPED 423 | Supporting Transition for Individuals with Disabilities |
| SPED 452 | Assessment in Special Education |
| Research Requirement (3 credits) | |
| EDUC 461 | Single-Subject Research Design |
| Diversity Requirement (3 credits) | |
| SPED 404 | Cultural and Linguistic Diversity |
| Electives: Choose 5 Courses with Advisor's Approval (15 credits) | |
| SPED 402 | Applied Behavior Analysis |
| SPED 409 | K-12 Classroom Environment and Management |
| SPED 410 | Behavior Analysis: Ethics and Professional Conduct |
| SPED 411 | Early Childhood Education |
| SPED 416 | Autism Spectrum Disorders and Evidence-Based Practices |
| SPED 432 | Positive Behavior Suppor |
| SPED 465 | Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12 |
| EDL 432 | Special Education Law |
| EDUC 456 | Trauma and Resilience in Schools |
| EDUC 406 | Foundations of Social Emotional Learning |
| EDUC 401 | Globalization and Contextualization |
| Other electives as approved by advisor | |
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| Required Core (15 credits) | |
| EDUC 391 | Educational Linguistics |
| EDUC 419 | Second Language Acquisition |
| EDUC 420 | Contemporary Issues in English Language Learner Education |
| EDUC 423 | Curriculum and Materials Design for English Language Learners |
| SPED 452 | Assessment in Special Education |
| Research Requirement (3 credits) | |
| EDUC 461 | Single-Subject Research Design |
| Diversity Requirement (3 credits) | |
| SPED 404 | Cultural and Linguistic Diversity |
| Electives: Choose 3 Courses with Advisor's Approval (9 credits) | |
| SPED 402 | Applied Behavior Analysis |
| SPED 409 | K-12 Classroom Environment and Management |
| SPED 410 | Behavior Analysis: Ethics and Professional Conduct |
| SPED 411 | Early Childhood Education |
| SPED 416 | Autism Spectrum Disorders and Evidence-Based Practices |
| SPED 432 | Positive Behavior Suppor |
| SPED 465 | Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12 |
| EDL 432 | Special Education Law |
| EDUC 456 | Trauma and Resilience in Schools |
| EDUC 406 | Foundations of Social Emotional Learning |
| EDUC 401 | Globalization and Contextualization |
| Other electives as approved by advisor | |
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| Required Core (6 credits) | |
| SPED 452 | Assessment in Special Education |
| SPED 465 | Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12 |
| Research Requirement (3 credits) | |
| EDUC 461 | Single-Subject Research Design |
| Diversity Requirement (3 credits) | |
| SPED 404 | Cultural and Linguistic Diversity |
| Electives: Choose 6 Courses with Advisor's Approval (18 credits) | |
| SPED 402 | Applied Behavior Analysis |
| SPED 409 | K-12 Classroom Environment and Management |
| SPED 410 | Behavior Analysis: Ethics and Professional Conduct |
| SPED 411 | Early Childhood Education |
| SPED 416 | Autism Spectrum Disorders and Evidence-Based Practices |
| SPED 432 | Positive Behavior Suppor |
| SPED 465 | Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12 |
| EDL 432 | Special Education Law |
| EDUC 456 | Trauma and Resilience in Schools |
| EDUC 406 | Foundations of Social Emotional Learning |
| EDUC 401 | Globalization and Contextualization |
| Other electives as approved by advisor | |
Centennial School
Many of our current master’s students who are pursuing their Special Education master’s degree and/or certification work at our highly-acclaimed and nationally-recognized lab school, the Centennial School. A primary goal of Centennial is to prepare special education teachers to work with students with emotional and behavioral needs and autism spectrum disorder as well as students’ families.
Graduate students work full time as supervised teacher associates, while completing their Special Education master’s degree and/or certification. Graduate students who work at Centennial also receive an additional two hours of on-site training every week on topics specific to students with emotional and behavioral disorders and autism spectrum disorder. The workshops are usually presented by professional staff who work at the school and occasionally are presented by one of Centennial's outstanding cadre of professional consultants.
Centennial School offers our graduate students optimal opportunities to engage in hands-on learning and evidence-based practices, including positive behavior support strategies and data-based instruction.
Visit the Centennial School website for employment opportunities. Benefits include a stipend, 18 graduate credit hours of tuition remission annually, and full medical and dental benefits.
Faculty & Staff
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Donna Toothman
Program Coordinator, Teaching, Learning, and Technology & Special Education Programs
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Dr. Minyi Dennis
Associate Professor
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Dr. Julie Fogt
Director of Centennial School and Affiliated Professor
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Dr. Sara Kangas
Associate Professor and Program Director
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Dr. Lee Kern
Professor and Director of the Center for Promoting Research to Practice
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Dr. Kristi Morin
Associate Professor
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Dr. Elise Settanni
Teaching Assistant Professor
