Special Education, Master of Education
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education
OVERVIEW
Program Details
The Master of Education in Special Education requires a minimum of 30 hours of graduate coursework. The degree affords students two plans of study:
(1) Master of Education in Special Education (30 hours of graduate coursework)
(2) Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification (33-36 hours of graduate coursework)
An Educational Diagnostician Certification Only plan is also available for professional educators who already have a Master’s Degree in Special Education or a closely related field and wish to seek TEA certification as an Educational Diagnostician.
Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification and Educational Diagnostician Certification Only: Additional Application Documents. The Educational Diagnostician program admits students once a year for a spring start date.
In addition to submitting admission application through GRADCAS, the following are additional application documents required to be included in the application for the Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification and Educational Diagnostician Certification Only:
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A current resume
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A letter of intent, signed and dated.
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A minimum of two professional letters of recommendation, signed and dated.
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Texas teaching service record for all TEA accredited schools/districts currently and previously employed
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Copy of Valid teaching certificate(s) from TEA.
Applications for the Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification and Educational Diagnostician Certification Only are screened, and those meeting admission criteria are invited to a required interview, as part of the application process.
The capstone experience for the Master of Education in Special Education is the completion of one of two options:
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a Graduate Research Project in EDSE 5301 Research in Special Education course, or
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Thesis (which is an additional 6-hour requirement).
Additional coursework may be required depending on the option selected. All students, regardless of the capstone experience option chosen, will develop an e-portfolio during their last semester of study that documents content proficiency. Candidates seeking certification as an Educational Diagnostician must request an application from the Educator Preparation Program and be admitted prior to their first semester of graduate studies.
Prerequisites
Students who apply to the Master’s of Education in Special Education program should have a broad base in one or more of the following areas:
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Special Education
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Education
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Human Growth and Development
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Curriculum and Instruction
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Human Psychology
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Advocacy
Course Load
Typical course loads consist of 6 hours per semester, typically in back-to-back 8-week online courses. Candidates for the Master of Education degree in Special Education must earn a minimum of 30 semester approved credit hours and maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Students must submit a comprehensive portfolio during the final semester of the completion of coursework.
Graduate Admission Categories
Unconditional Admission
For unconditional admission, applicants must have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.6 on a 4.0 scale, or have an average of 3.0 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work.
Conditional Admission
Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement may be conditionally admitted and will be allowed to take program specified required coursework. Students will be unconditionally admitted after successfully completing their first semester with a grade point average of 3.0 or above and by maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or above on all A&M-San Antonio graduate courses.
Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification and Educational Diagnostician Certification Only
In addition to submitting admission application through GRADCAS, the following are additional application documents required to be included in the application for the Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification and Educational Diagnostician Certification Only:
-
A current resume
-
A letter of intent, signed and dated.
-
A minimum of two professional letters of recommendation, signed and dated.
-
Texas teaching service record for all TEA accredited schools/districts currently and previously employed
-
Copy of Valid teaching certificate(s) from TEA.
Applications for the Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification and Educational Diagnostician Certification Only are screened, and those meeting admission criteria are invited to a required interview, as part of the application process.
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education
REQUIREMENTS
Program Details
The Master of Education in Special Education requires a minimum of 30 hours of graduate coursework. The degree affords students two plans of study:
(1) Master of Education in Special Education (30 hours of graduate coursework)
(2) Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification
An Educational Diagnostician Certification Only plan is also available for professional educators who already have a master's degree in special education or a closely related field and wish to seek TEA certification as an Educational Diagnostician.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Education in Special Education | ||
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| EDSE 5309 | Special Problems | 3 |
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| Electives: Select 2 | 6 | |
| Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom | ||
| Adv Behavior Analysis & Interv | ||
| Lang Disorders of Except Chld | ||
| Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Issues | ||
| Emotional Behavior Disorders | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification | ||
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5374 | Educational and Psychological Measurement and Evaluation | 3 |
| EDSE 5375 | Spec Ed Assessment Practicum (Repeat for credit if needed to finish required Practicum hours) | 3-6 |
| Electives: Select 2 | 6 | |
| Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom | ||
| Special Problems | ||
| Lang Disorders of Except Chld | ||
| Total Credits | 33-36 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Certification Only: Educational Diagnostician | ||
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5374 | Educational and Psychological Measurement and Evaluation | 3 |
| EDSE 5375 | Spec Ed Assessment Practicum (Repeat for credit if needed to finish required Practicum hours) | 3-6 |
| Total Credits | 24-27 | |
PLAN OF STUDY
The suggested plan of study is intended to be used as a guide in conjunction with official degree requirements outlined in the catalog.
Course Load
Normal course loads consist of 6 hours per semester, typically in back-to-back 8-week online courses. Candidates for the Master of Education degree in Special Education must earn a minimum of 30 semester credit hours and maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Students must submit a comprehensive portfolio that follows the given template during the final semester of the completion of coursework, as part of the requirements for graduation with the Master of Education in Special Education.
DEGREE PLAN: MASTER OF EDUCATION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
Required Coursework (minimum 30 semester credit hours)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDSE 5321 | Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom | 3 |
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5351 or EDSE 5353 | Adv Behavior Analysis & Interv or Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Issues | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDSE 5309 | Special Problems | 3 |
| Lang Disorders of Except Chld | ||
| If needed for elective | ||
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| EDSE 5354 | Emotional Behavior Disorders | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
DEGREE PLAN: MASTER OF EDUCATION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION WITH EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN CERTIFICATION
Required Coursework (minimum 33-36 semester credit hours)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5321 | Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom (1 of 2 electives, but must be taken if pre-req requirement is not met) | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5374 | Educational and Psychological Measurement and Evaluation | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDSE 5309 or OR EDSE 5352 | Special Problems (Electives) or | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| EDSE 5375 | Spec Ed Assessment Practicum (Repeat for credit if needed to finish required Practicum hours) | 3-6 |
| Credits | 6-9 | |
| Total Credits | 33-36 | |
CERTIFICATION ONLY: EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN
Required Coursework (minimum 24 semester credit hours)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5374 | Educational and Psychological Measurement and Evaluation | 3 |
| EDSE 5375 | Spec Ed Assessment Practicum (May be repeated for credit if required Practicum is not completed in one semester) | 3-6 |
| Total Credits | 24-27 | |