Special Education, M.S.

Program Overview

This graduate program offers two tracks: Teacher Certification and Research and Theory. The Teacher Certification track prepares students for teaching positions in Special Education, while the Research and Theory track provides a deeper understanding for students pursuing doctoral studies or careers in schools, community agencies, or advocacy organizations focused on disability inclusion. The program requires a 3.0 GPA and features faculty from both Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education.

Program Outline

Assessment:

• The Graduate School requires that students maintain a graduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for all graduate courses (excluding research) to receive a degree.
• Grades of Incomplete are considered to be unsatisfactory if they are not removed during the next enrolled semester.

Teaching:

• Faculty:
• Rehabilitation Psychology: Malachy Bishop, Jina Chun, Kyesha Isadore, Sang Qin, David Rosenthal, Susan Smedema, Timothy Tansey, and Susan Wiegmann
• Special Education: Zhe An, Aydin Bal, Heather Dahl, Bonnie Doren, Hailey Love, Carlyn Mueller, Andrea Ruppar, Susan Syverud, Beverly Trezek, Ashley White, and Kimber Wilkerson

Careers:

• Teacher Certification program prepares students to go directly into positions as Special Education teachers.
• Research and Theory program prepares students with deeper understanding to choose pursue further study in a doctoral program, or to pursue positions in schools or community-based agencies, or advocacy organizations that promote independence and inclusion for individuals with disabilities.