Special Education - M. Ed.
Kent, USA
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
Scholarships
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Introduction
The Master of Education degree in Special Education provides students with an advanced understanding of contemporary research and practice issues in special education. Students in the program are typically interested in pursuing enhanced professional competence, career advancement, leadership roles, advocacy, and systems change; or they may want to prepare for doctoral-level study.
Students do not need to have an undergraduate degree in special education (or in education) to be successful in the master's degree; however, should be motivated to develop a deeper understanding of the field of special education.
The Special Education major comprises the following concentrations:
- The Deaf Education concentration focuses on the needs of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- The Early Childhood Intervention Specialist concentration focuses on the needs of young children with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, birth to grade 5 (birth to age 10), and their families.
- The General Special Education concentration provides a broad focus on special education across all ages and types of student needs. Students work with a graduate adviser to develop a personalized plan of study.
- The Mild/Moderate Educational Needs concentration focuses on the needs of students with mild to moderate educational needs who most often participate in the general education academic curriculum with special education support.
- The Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs concentration focuses on students with moderate to intensive educational needs who most often require modifications to the general academic curriculum and/or other extensive special education supports.
- The Pre-Kindergarten Special Needs concentration focuses on the needs of preschool children with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities
- The Transition to Work concentration focuses on the needs of students with disabilities transitioning to adulthood.
Accreditation
The Deaf concentration is accredited by the Council of Education of the Deaf.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
Major requirements
- Contemporary Issues in Special Education
- Legal and Policy Foundations of Special Education
- Research Applications in Special Education
Multidisciplinary Electives, choose from the following:
- Orientation and Ethics: Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
- Ethics in Professional Practice
- Statistics I for Educational Services
- Program Evaluation
- Introduction to Deaf Studies
- Pharmacological Interventions in Special Education
- Foundations in Early Childhood Services
- Consultation in the Helping Professions
Deaf Education Concentration Requirements
- Statistics I for Educational Services
Early Childhood Intervention Specialist Concentration Requirements
- Single Subject Research Methods
General Special Education Concentration Requirements
- Single Subject Research Methods
Mild/Moderate Educational Needs Concentration Requirements
- Single Subject Research Methods
Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs Concentration Requirements
- Single Subject Research Methods
Pre-Kindergarten Special Needs Concentration Requirements
- Urriculum and Intervention in Early Childhood Services or Early Childhood
- Intervention Methods
- Family and Professional Collaboration in Early Childhood
- Practical Applications:Birth to Five
- Typical and Atypical Development in Young Children
- Foundations in Early Childhood Services
- Assessment and Evaluation of Early Childhood Services
- Advanced Practicum
- Developing an Individualized Family Service Plan and Individualized Education Program
Program Outcome
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Develop advanced skills in designing, implementing, and evaluating research-based practices that meet the special education needs of learners with disabilities.
- Understand the conceptual underpinnings of special education, as well as policies that guide its implementation in school and community settings.
- Analyze contemporary issues surrounding special education and the impact of exceptionality on individuals and their families.
- Understand the roles that research plays in special education theory.
- Demonstrate mastery of special education content within a particular specialization (e.g., transition-to-work, mild/moderate, deaf education).
Program Tuition Fee
Program delivery
Fully offered on the following campuses:
- Online (General Special Education concentration only)
- Kent Campus