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Degree Offered
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Program Overview
There are two sequences leading to the Master of Arts
in Special Education: Initial Certification (LBS I),
and Early Childhood Special Education (ECH SPED). These
graduate sequences provide students with advanced study
designed to develop knowledge and skills both in special
education and their selected sequence.
Admission Requirements
Students must fulfill the requirements for admission
to the Graduate College.
In addition, students who wish to enroll in the Master
of Arts in Special Education: Initial Certification
program must meet the following admission requirements:
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Undergraduate degree
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Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 (4-point scale).
Previous graduate credit is also taken into appropriate
consideration.
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Passing Score on The Illinois Test of Basic Skills
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Spontaneous writing sample and/or interview at
the discretion of the Department
- Certificate in Early Childhood Education (Type 04).
Degree Requirements
Master of Arts in Special Education: Early Childhood
Special Education sequence
Required Courses:
SPED-484 Psychology of Language and Cognitive Development
or
C&I-ECED-313 Language Development and Acquisition or
C&I-ECED-408 Language Acquisition and Intervention Strategies
for Teachers of Young Children 3 cr.
C&I-ECED-403 Early Childhood Assessment ...............
3 cr.
C&I-ECED-410 Curriculum Development in Early Childhood
Education ............... 3 cr.
C&I-ECED-411 Practicum in Early Childhood Education
........... 3 cr.
SPED-481 Principles of Diagnosis and Teaching the Child
with Special Needs Aged Three to Six Years ... 3 cr.
SPED-482 Assessment and Intervention with Infants and
Toddlers who are At-Risk or Handicapped .......... 3
cr.
SPED-483 Working with Parents of Young Children with
Special Needs 3 cr.
SPED-488 Practicum in Early Childhood Special Education
... 3 cr.
SPED-490 Research Seminar in Special Education or
C&I-ECED-412 Research Seminar in Early Childhood
Education ....... 3 cr.
Three electives (must be selected in consultation with
advisor) ................. 9 cr.
Total 36 cr.
Comprehensive Examination: All ECH
SPED students must successfully complete a comprehensive
examination.
Master of Arts in Special Education: Initial Certification
Program sequence
Graduate students seeking their initial teaching certificate
must complete the following 45 hour entitlement sequence
as part of the requirement for the Learning Behavior
Specialist I (LBS I). In this program students will
be required to complete five field - based clinical
experiences arranged by the department in addition to
a full - time sixteen week student teaching experience
in an approved school setting.
Block I: Foundations, Characteristics &
Fundamentals
of Research in Special Education – 12 hours
SPED-500 Research I: Critical Writing & Research
in Special Education – 3 hours.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the graduate program
for initial certification.
SPED-501 The Development & Characteristics of Children
& Youths with Disabilities – 3 hours.
Prerequisites: SPED-500
SPED-502 The Development of Cognition, Learning, and
Language – 3 hours
Prerequisites: SPED-500
SPED-503 The Historical, Philosophical & Legal Foundations
of Special Education – 3 hours
Prerequisites: SPED-500
Block II: Fundamentals of Assessment, Collaboration,
Teaching and Technology in Special Education –
10 hours
SPED-504 Assessment I: Principles of Educational Assessment
in Special Education – 3 hours.
Prerequisites: Block I sequence
SPED-505 Consultation & Collaboration: Special &
Regular Education – 3 hours
Prerequisites: Block I sequence
SPED-506 Technology in Special Education – 3 hours
Prerequisites: Block I sequence
SPED-507 Internship I: Fundamentals of Teaching –
1 hour
Prerequisites: SPED-504, 505, 506
Block III: Curriculum, Teaching, Behavior Management
& Programming in Special Education - 14 hours
SPED-508 Methods I: General Curriculum & Methods
in Special Education – 3 hours
Prerequisites: Block II sequence
SPED-509 Methods II: Specialized Curriculum & Methods
in Special Education – 3 hours
Prerequisites: SPED-508
SPED-510 Methods III: Strategies of Behavior Management
– 3 hours
Prerequisites: Block II sequence
SPED-511 Methods IV: Alternative Programming & Curriculum
in Special Education – 3 hours
Prerequisites: SPED-508 & 509
SPED-512 Internship II: Intermediate Teaching –
2 hours
Prerequisites: SPED-508, 509, 510, 511
Block IV:Internship & Applied Research in
Special
Education – 9 hours
SPED-513 Assessment II: Applied Diagnostic Testing –
3 hours
Prerequisites: Block III sequence
SPED-514 Internship III: Applied Teaching in Special
Education – 3 hours
Prerequisites: Block III sequence & SPED-513
SPED-515 Research II: Applied Research Project in Special
Education – 3 hours
Prerequisites: Block III sequence
Total Credit Hours: 45
Program Benchmarks
Students must complete all benchmarks for each level
before being allowed to progress to the next level.
Students cannot obtain more than two grades of "C"
in graduate course work as per The Graduate College
Policy.
Level I – 12 hours
Successful Completion of Block I: Foundations, Characteristics
& Fundamentals of Research and Assessment in Special
Education (SPED-500, 501, 502, 503)
A) Minimum GPA of 3.00.
B) Completion of any deficiencies for those admitted
conditionally.
C) Candidacy.
D) Beginning student portfolio.
E) Demonstration of appropriate Professional Standards.
Level II – 10 hours
Successful Completion of Block II: Fundamentals of Collaboration,
Teaching and Teaching in Special Education (SPED-504,
505, 506, 507)
A) Minimum GPA of 3.00.
B) Current student portfolio.
C) Demonstration of appropriate Professional Dispositions.
Level III – 14 hours
Successful Completion of Block III: Curriculum, Teaching,
Behavior Management & Programming in Special Education
(SPED-508, 509, 510, 511, 512)
A) Minimum GPA of 3.00.
B) Current student portfolio.
C) Demonstration of appropriate Professional Dispositions.
D) Passage of Content Area Test LBS I.
Level IV – 9 hours
Successful Completion of Block IV: Internship and Applied
Research in Special Education (SPED-513, 514, 515)
A) Minimum GPA of 3.00.
B) Completed portfolio.
C) Demonstration of appropriate Professional Dispositions
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Successful Completion of Blocks I – IV, 45 hours.
Advisors
Early Childhood sequence
Initial Certification sequence:
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