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2012 - 2013 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Special Education, M.S.
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 Return to: College of Education and Human Development
Sandra Moore, Director, School of Teacher Education and Leadership
Jennifer Jones, Assistant Director
Kathryn Hoover, Graduate Program Coordinator
Graduate Faculty
See Graduate Faculty list at:
http://gradcollege.asp.radford.edu/faculty.html
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Master of Science Degree in Special Education
The Master of Science degree program in Special Education is a single degree program offering practicing educators and those intending to enter the teaching profession the opportunity to design a program of study to meet their interests and teacher licensure needs in the area of special education. The program emphasizes knowledge and skills in characteristics, assessment and evaluation, understanding and application of service delivery, curriculum and instruction, IEP/IFSP development and monitoring, transition, proactive classroom management and positive behavior support, and collaboration and teamwork. The goal of the program is to develop professionals who can work effectively with infants, children and youth with disabilities, ensure their academic and personal success through collaboration with families, general educators and other team members, and advocate for children, families and the profession to improve the quality of life for all children.
In close consultation with an advisor, students plan a program of study that includes a common core of 12 credit hours and an additional 18 credit hours selected from a menu of courses. Programs can be desiged with licensure and non-licensure options. Those seeking initial teacher licensure may have 9 or more additional hours of supporting coursework. Internship experiences of 6-12 hours will also be required to obtain postgraduate professional licensure or to complete requirements for provisional licensure in one or more of the following areas: Special Education: General Curriculum, K-12; Special Education – Adapted Curriculum, K-12; Hearing Impairments, preK-12; Vision Impairments, preK-12; and Early Childhood Special Education, birth through age 5. The Masters only, non-licensure option is intended for graduate students who already have initial teacher licensure in an area of special education or those who desire to enhance their knowledge and skills in diverse areas of special education.
Admission Requirements
A combination of the following factors will be used for determination for acceptance to the graduate program in special education. Also see application requirements
for Special Education on p. 27.
- Submit application with all required documentation to the Graduate College: official transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, resume and personal letter of application;
- Minimum 2.75 GPA on all undergraduate coursework, and 3.0 on all graduate coursework, if taken;
- Official test scores on the GRE: Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing required.
- Three letters of professional recommendation or three recommendation forms from the graduate college website with 2-3 additional paragraphs in the comments section speaking to the applicant’s success and capacity as a teacher of students with and/or without disabilities, and potential for success as a graduate student and professional in the field of special education;
- A resume documenting all volunteer, internship and work experiences with infants, children and youth;
- Personal letter of application/essay to the Special Education Program Area (typed, double-spaced, two pages in length) that includes the following:…
Comprehensive Examination
Students must complete a comprehensive exam, either a written exam or submission of a standards-based portfolio, in the last semester of coursework prior to expected graduation. The exam may include an additional oral examination/defense. Comprehensive examinations are administered during fall and spring semesters only. If a student has no more than 6 hours of non-content area coursework needed for graduation, the student may take the exam in the spring semester and then complete that coursework to graduate in August. It is the student’s responsibility to inform his/her advisor of his/her intention to take the comprehensive exam in the first three weeks of the final semester and request and complete the necessary forms from the Graduate College.
Non-Degree Students
Non-degree seeking students may take no more than 6 hours as a non-degree seeking student before applying to a degree or licensure program. Degree Requirements
M.S. in Special Education 30 hrs.
M.S. in Special Education with licensure 36-51 hrs.
Required 600-Level Core Courses for All Programs of Study 12 hrs. I. Masters Only, Non-licensure Option [GSPE]
This option is for those seeking advanced professional development in special education and who do not need to work toward licensure. An additional 18 hours of coursework beyond the core is selected with an advisor, and 12 of those hours must be at the 600 level or above. Special Education Electives 15 hrs.
At least 3 hours must be taken in each of the following areas:
- Characteristics
- Curriculum and Methods
- Reading, Writing, Communication, Language Development
- Assessment and Evaluation
Open Elective 3 hrs.
To be selected from course offerings in EDEL, EDUC, EDRD, COED, COSD, EDEC, EDET, EDSP or PSYC. A. Special Education, General Curriculum
This option is for those who will work with students with disabilities who learn within K-12 general education curriculum primarily within general education settings, and who will collaborate with a wide range of professionals to provide appropriate services. Required Program Courses 18 hrs.
B. Special Education, Adapted Curriculum
This option is for those who will work with students with complex disabilities who require an individualized, adapted curriculum and specialized supports to gain access to the general education curriculum and learn within K-12 general education settings, and who will collaborate with a wide range of related and/or medical service professionals. Required Program Courses 18 hrs.
C. Early Childhood Special Education
This option prepares graduates to work with and advocate for infants and young children with developmental delays and disabilities birth to five and their families in a variety of early intervention, home and school settings. Required Program Courses 18 hrs.
D. Hearing Impairments
This option is for those who will work in a variety of educational settings with students who are deaf or hard of hearing and who will collaborate with a wide range of professionals including interpreters to provide appropriate services. Required Program Courses 18 hrs.
E. Visual Impairment
This option is for those who will work in a variety of educational settings with students who are blind or have visual impairments, and who will collaborate with a wide range of professionals to provide appropriate services. Required Program Courses 18 hrs.
Fifth Year Master’s of Science Degree in Special Education
This program option is designed solely for students who have completed the non-licensure B.S. program in Special Education (Interdisciplinary Studies major). Undergraduate students in the pre-professional portion of the program must meet all requirements for admission to the Graduate College before being enrolled in the master’s degree portion of the program. Students are expected to complete the graduate admissions process during the spring of their senior year. Graduate admissions requirements for students in the 5-year program are the same as for other options within the Special Education program. Students in this option must request permission to take one graduate level course in their senior year and must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 to qualify for enrollment.
The following courses are required for the master’s degree in Special Education and VDOE licensure in Special Education, General Curriculum K-12. Required Courses and Internships 30 hrs.
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