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Master of Education (MEd) in Teaching Special Education

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Learn to be the educator your students need

 

The MEd in Teaching Special Education degree comprises 10 courses (30 credit hours) and can be completed in about one year studying full time. The curriculum consists of eight education-focused courses covering crucial topics, theories, and techniques related to general and special education, as well as three interdisciplinary courses to round out your knowledge.

 

Four courses include practical, real-world components to help you prepare to work in a true classroom environment. Requirements for these field placements may vary by course.

ED 502 Initial Practicum/Seminar †

The Initial Practicum is the culminating course for the initial license component. It offers students the opportunity to reflect, analyze, and integrate knowledge gained from coursework within the program, as well as best practices through their student experience. Candidate's performance is evaluated through the use of the Candidates Assessment of Performance (CAP) evaluation system as mandated by DESE. A weekly seminar component is part of this course. Here, candidates will discuss and address current issues as demonstrated in their classroom placements. A total of 300 hours of field placement (PK-8 or 5-12) are required.

 

ED 515 Contemporary Issues in Special Education

This course addresses the historical, philosophical, and ethical perspectives of education services for students with special needs. Federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to special education will be studied. Legal and educational terminology and definitions for students with mild to moderate disabilities will be discussed. Knowledge of services provided by other agencies, such as augmentative and alternative communicative, assistive technology, development of an individualized educational plan (IEP), and relevant current literature are covered in this course.

 

ED 517 Assessment of Students with Special Needs

This course will address the principles of both formal and informal assessment of children and adolescents with mild to moderate disabilities. It will provide experience with informal and formal assessment measures. Basic concepts of measurement will be covered so that students can evaluate test instruments and interpret test results knowledgeably. Current issues in the field of assessment will be discussed and ethical issues emphasized throughout the course.

 

ED 518 Literacy Development Including Special Needs Teaching †

This course addresses the significant theories, approaches, instructional practices, and programs for developing reading skills and reading comprehension in children and adolescents with and without disabilities. It includes a study of phonemic awareness, phonics, principals, and instructional practices through the reading/writing processes; the development of reading/writing skills; and the transition to content area texts. Diagnosis and assessment of reading skills, including formal and informal reading assessment instruments, will be examined. Emphasis will be on differentiated instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners. A field-based experience is required.d interventions and preparing for undesired side-effects are also discussed.

 

ED 521 Classroom Management for Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Classrooms*

This course will address classroom management strategies, facilitating appropriate behavior, and meeting the social/emotional needs of students with moderate disabilities. Emphasis will be placed on preventive discipline and on classroom environments and techniques that have been found effective for students with special needs. Theoretical models of behavior management will be discussed and compared, including their application for preparing and maintaining students with disabilities in general education classrooms.

 

ED 523 Sheltered English Immersion Teaching

This course is designed to prepare teachers to address the individuality of English language learners (ELL) including social and cultural considerations, second language acquisition processes, and English language arts and literacy development in the preK-12 classroom. This course is aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and the WIDA English Language Development Standards and covers best practices in the field of ELL instruction. Note: Successful completion of this course leads to SEI endorsement through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ONLY if completed as part of a master’s in education program; this is NOT a standalone endorsement course

 

ID 510 Natural Sciences in the Classroom I

This course is designed to enhance students' understanding of mathematics and science concepts and develop an awareness of their interdisciplinary nature. Through lectures, labs, and other hands-on approaches, basic principles and concepts important for teaching math and science are covered with a focus on modifying the curriculum and instructional materials to meet the needs of students with mild and moderate disabilities. The Massachusetts Science and Technology Curriculum Framework and the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework are used as basic references.

 

ID 512 Humanities in the Classroom*

In this interdisciplinary course, the focus is on expanding students' knowledge of the humanities. Candidates will explore genres, literary elements, and literary techniques in art, literature, poetry and music and look for ways to integrate the humanities into the curriculum. As well, candidates will study perspectives of education and society through the expressions of art through the writing process for students with mild and moderate disabilities. Discovery in the humanities can be a basis in which teachers may develop curriculum and enhance classroom teaching for students with mild and moderate disabilities.

 

ID 514 Social Sciences in the Classroom*

Using the interdisciplinary area of American studies as a focus to study the social sciences, this course is organized around the five themes of geography to introduce concepts in history and civics, supported by infusions from anthropology, economics, and sociology. Applications to reading, mathematics, art, and music will enlarge the scope of the course to include connections to the sciences and humanities. The course will be interactive and include project work. The Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework is used as the main course reference point for specific application of these ideas to the classroom, with particular attention to special needs students.

ED 519A Curriculum Adaptations for Students with Special Needs (grades PK to eight)* †

This course will address students with moderate disabilities and the design or modification of curriculum, instructional materials, and general education classroom environments for students with moderate disabilities. Emphasis will be placed on differentiated instruction that focuses on developing appropriate strategies for meeting the needs of diverse learners. It will align the principles of inclusion with their educational implementation by exploring and applying instructional strategies and curricular adaptations that are most effective in the general education setting. A field-based experience is required. ED 519A emphasizes grades PK-8; ED 519B emphasizes grades 5-12.

 

ED 519B Curriculum Adaptations for Students with Special Needs (grades five to 12)* †

This course will address students with moderate disabilities and the design or modification of curriculum, instructional materials, and general education classroom environments for students with moderate disabilities. Emphasis will be placed on differentiated instruction that focuses on developing appropriate strategies for meeting the needs of diverse learners. It will align the principles of inclusion with their educational implementation by exploring and applying instructional strategies and curricular adaptations that are most effective in the general education setting. A field-based experience is required. ED 519A emphasizes grades PK-8; ED 519B emphasizes grades 5-12.

* These courses are online.

† These courses have experiential components. ED 518, ED 519A, and ED 519B require field placement, and ED 502 requires a total of 300 field placement hours (PK-8 or 5-12). Non-licensure degree only students will substitute ED 610 Educational Research Seminar for ED 502

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