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Curriculum
Master of Science in Special Education
The Master of Science in Special Education (MSE) is a part-time, two-year program requiring 32–36 credit hours depending on your chosen endorsement area.
- Instructional Strategist I builds skills specifically for educating students with mild to moderate disabilities in grades K-8 or 5-12.
- Instructional Strategist II provides the approaches needed to assist students with behavioral disorders and learning disabilities in grades K-12.
Students pursuing a Master of Science in Special Education must possess a current teaching license. Individuals transitioning to the field of education from another degree area may enroll in the MAT or MST programs and obtain their initial teaching license with an endorsement in special education.
Additional endorsement options are available. Review those options on the Special Education Endorsement website.
Curriculum
Degree Courses
Once you have chosen an endorsement area, adding the two courses below is all you need to obtain the MSE in Special Education.
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 278 | 3 | Consultation and Inservice |
| EDUC 201 | 3 | Education Research I |
Instructional Strategist I, Mild to Moderate - Elementary (K-8)
Elementary Mild to Moderate
The Instructional Strategist I—Elementary Endorsement builds skills specifically for educating students with mild to moderate disabilities. This strand will prepare in-service teachers to instruct students with mild to moderate disabilities in a K-8 instructional setting. In addition to the two degree courses, the following courses are required. Candidates for this program must be a licensed teacher.
The MSE degree with the Instructional Strategist I, Elementary strand is a total of 32 credit hours.
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 222 | 3 | Characteristics of Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities |
| SPED 223 | 3 | Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction |
| SPED 227 | 3 | Practicum - Mild and Moderate Disabilities |
| SPED 251 | 3 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation |
| SPED 253 | 3 | Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support |
| SPED 272 | 3 | Schools, Families, Communities, and Disabilities |
| SPED 275 | 1 | Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning |
| EDUC 275 | 3 | Literacy Assessment and Instruction I |
| Electives | 4 | Advisor-approved electives |
Instructional Strategist I, Mild to Moderate - Secondary
Secondary (5-12) Mild to Moderate
The Instructional Strategist I—Secondary, Mild to Moderate, MSE degree builds skills specifically for educating students with mild to moderate disabilities. This strand will prepare in-service teachers to instruct students with mild to moderate disabilities in a 5-12 instructional setting. Candidates for this program must be a licensed teacher.
The MSE degree with the Instructional Strategist I, Mild to Moderate - Secondary strand is a total of 33 credit hours.
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 222 | 3 | Characteristics of Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities |
| SPED 223 | 3 | Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction |
| SPED 228 | 3 | Practicum - Mild and Moderate Disabilities |
| SPED 251 | 3 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation |
| SPED 253 | 3 | Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support |
| SPED 272 | 3 | Schools, Families, Communities, and Disabilities |
| SPED 275 | 3 | Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning |
| SPED 276 | 3 | Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs |
| EDUC 275 | 3 | Literacy Assessment and Instruction I |
Instructional Strategist II, LD/BD
LD/BD - (K-12)
The Instructional Strategist II, LD/BD - K-12, MSE degree provides the approaches needed to assist students with moderate to severe behavioral disorders and learning disabilities. This strand will prepare in-service teachers in any K-12 instructional setting. Candidates for this program must hold a bachelor's degree in teaching and have an endorsement in special education.
The MSE degree with the Instructional Strategist II, LD/BD strand is a total of 33 credit hours.
| Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 223 | 3 | Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction |
| SPED 225 | 3 | Introduction to Behavioral Disorders and Learning Disabilities |
| SPED 226 | 3 | Evidence Based Interventions for Students with Learning Disabilities and/or Behavior Disorders |
| SPED 229 | 3 | Practicum in Behavioral Disorders and/or Learning Disabilities |
| SPED 251 | 3 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation |
| SPED 253 | 3 | Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support |
| SPED 272 | 3 | School, Families, Communities and Disabilities |
| SPED 275 | 1 | Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning |
| SPED 276 | 2 | Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs |
| EDUC 275 | 3 | Literacy Assessment and Instruction I |
Instructional Strategist II, ID
ID - (K-12)
The Instructional Strategist II, ID - K-12, MSE degree provides the approaches needed to instruct students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. This strand will prepare in-service teachers in any K-12 instructional setting. Candidates for this program must already hold a bachelor's degree in teaching and an endorsement in special education.
The MSE degree with the Instructional Strategist II, ID is 36 credit hours.
|
Course | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 223 | 3 | Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction |
| SPED 224 | 3 | Curriculum & Methods for Students with Moderate & Severe Intellectual Disabilities |
| SPED 225 | 3 | Introduction to Behavioral Disorders and Learning Disabilities |
| SPED 231 | 3 | Practicum in Behavioral Disorders and/or Learning Disabilities |
| SPED 251 | 3 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation |
| SPED 253 | 3 | Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support |
| SPED 254 | 3 | First Aid, Health & Safety for Individuals with Moderate & Severe Disabilities |
| SPED 272 | 3 | School, Families, Communities and Disabilities |
| SPED 275 | 1 | Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning |
| SPED 276 | 2 | Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs |
| EDUC 275 | 3 | Literacy Assessment and Instruction I |
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