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Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education Curriculum Course Descriptions Faculty

Initial Licensure Program (21 credits)
Candidates with a bachelor's degree, but no formal teaching experience, may earn their initial license in Moderate Special Needs (pre-K–8; 5–12) by completing the following courses (all are three credits, except for ED 402, which is six credits):
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• ED 515 Contemporary Issues in Special Education
• ED 517 Assessment of Students with Special Needs
• ED 518 Literacy Development of Students with Special Needs*
• ED 519A/B Curriculum Adaptations/Differentiated Instruction for Students with Special Needs*
• ED 521 Classroom Management for Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Classrooms
• ED 402 Initial Practicum/Seminar

* These two courses are field-based and require candidates to spend a minimum of 75 hours in school settings. While in a school, candidates observe, tutor, and where possible teach in both small and large group settings.

MTEL Requirements (Teacher Testing)
In order to be accepted into the initial licensure program, candidates must pass the Communication/Literacy Test while taking the first two courses in the initial licensure program.

In order to register for the practicum (student teaching), candidates must pass the following:

• Foundations of Reading Test
• General Curriculum Test or appropriate Secondary Subject Area Test

MAT Degree Program—Professional Licensure (30 credits)
Candidates who have already earned their initial licensure and wish to earn a master's degree and professional licensure must complete the following three-credit courses:
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• ED 510 Teaching Today: Individual Aspects
• ED 511 Teaching Today: Social Aspects
• ED 512 Children's Language and Learning
• ED 516 Developmental Issues and Learning in Children with Special Needs
• ED 520 Children's Literature
• One of the following:
  • ID 510 Natural Sciences in the Classroom I
  • ID 511 Natural Sciences in the Classroom II
• One of the following:
  • ID 512 Humanities in the Classroom I
  • ID 513 Humanities in the Classroom II
• ID 514 Social Sciences in the Classroom
• ED 610 Research Seminar
• ED 611 Clinical Practicum

Graduate program courses are offered in each of four sessions: fall, spring, summer session I, and summer session II.