Special Education M.S.: Specialization for Teachers Not Seeking Cross Endorsement
Program Rationale:
The Master of Science in Special Education is designed to prepare general education teachers to possess the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions to develop effective teaching and learning environments for individuals with disabilities. This program track is designed for students who already hold teaching credentials in Connecticut. In this specialization students take course work designed to broaden and/or deepen their knowledge of the field. Completion of this program does not lead to a cross endorsement in special education. The curriculum for this program is aligned with the standards of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
Program Learning Outcomes:
Students in this program will be expected to:
demonstrate knowledge of historical foundations, classic studies, major contributors, and current issues related to special education; demonstrate knowledge of laws and policies that affect individuals with disabilities, their families, and their educational programming; promote practices that reduce the over-representation of culturally/linguistically diverse students in programs for individuals with disabilities; broaden and/or deepen their knowledge of individual learning differences, instructional strategies, and collaboration in special education; implement action research processes to contribute to improved special education services to individuals with disabilities; and promote professional and ethical practices in the field of special education.
Requirements
Core
| SPED 532 | Contemporary Issues in Special Education | 1 TO 3 |
| SPED 566 | Legal and Administrative Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 511 | Behavioral/Emotional Disorders | 2 |
| SPED 512 | Learning Disabilities | 2 |
| SPED 513 | Developmental Disabilities | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Electives
| SPED 506 | Foundations of Language for the Exceptional Child | 3 |
| SPED 510 | Inclusive Education | 3 |
| SPED 536 | Autism Spectrum Disorder | 3 |
| SPED 560 | Positive Classroom Management for Students Receiving Special Education Services | 3 |
| SPED 578 | The Juvenile Offender with Special Education Needs | 3 |
| SPED 580 | Collaborative Process in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 581 | Assistive Technology in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 595 | Topics in Special Education | 1 TO 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Note: Other courses offered in the Department of Special Education may be substituted as they become available; i.e., special topics.
Research and Capstone Requirements
| SPED 598 | Research in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 596 | Designing Action Research in Special Education (Plan E) | 3 |
| SPED 597 | Implementing and Documenting Action Research in Special Education | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
SPED 596 and SPED 597: Plan E
Total Credit Hours: 30