Master of Science in Special Education
For teachers certified in other areas
This program is for teachers with current certification in either
elementary or secondary education. There are two strands to this
program.
Strand A is for currently certified elementary or secondary teachers who
are not seeking a cross endorsement in special education.
Candidates investigate how to enrich their current teaching by
studying the characteristics and education of exceptional learners.
In addition, students complete an action research course to enable
them to put into practice, in their own classrooms, the skills and
techniques they learn from their coursework.
Strand B is for currently certified (Connecticut certification required)
elementary or secondary teachers who are seeking a cross endorsement
in special education. Upon completion of this program, a student
can apply to the Connecticut State Department of Education and,
through a transcript review, receive a cross endorsement in special
education within the same age range as their original teaching
certificate. The capstone (culminating) experience in Strand B
is also an action research project in which the student investigates
teaching/curriculum development strategies for use with exceptional
students. There are no electives in this 36-39 credit program
and the student and his/her advisor must develop a sequence of courses
that contains the requirement leading to a cross endorsement in
special education.
Strand A.
Completion of Planned Program Does Not Provide Coursework
That May Lead to a Cross Endorsement in Special Education (30
credits)
Professional Requirements (6 cr.)
- SPED 532 Contemporary Issues in Special Education (3)
and
- SPED 566 - Legal and Administrative Issues in Special Education (3)
Research Requirements (9 cr.)
- SPED 596
Designing Action Research in Special Education
(Plan E) (3)
** Fall semester only
- SPED 597
Implementing and Documenting Action
Research (Plan E) (3)
*** Spring semester only
- SPED
598
Research in Special Education (3)
* must be
taken before SPED 596; summer only.
Specialization
Requirements (15 cr.)
Choose
6 credits from:
- SPED
511
Behavioral/ Emotional Disorders (3)
- SPED
512
Learning Disabilities (3)
- SPED
513
Developmental
Disabilities (3)
Choose
at least 9 credits from: *
- SPED
506
Foundations of
Language for the Exceptional Child (3)
- SPED
510
Inclusive
Education (3)
- SPED
536
Introduction to
the Autistic Child (3)
- SPED 541
Transition Services
(3)
- SPED
560
Crisis
Intervention in the Schools (3)
- SPED
578
The Juvenile
Offender as an Exceptional Learner (3)
- SPED
580
The Special
Education Teacher as Consultant (3)
- SPED 581
Assistive Technology
in Special Education (3)
- SPED 595
Special Topics (3)
*
Other courses offered in the department of special education may be
substituted
as they become available; i.e., special topics.
Strand B:
Completion of Planned Program Provides Coursework
That May Lead to a Cross Endorsement in Special Education
(36 credits)
Professional Requirements (3 cr.)
One of the following
- SPED 532 Contemporary Issues in Special Education (3)
Research Requirements (9 cr.)
- SPED 598 -
Research in Special Education (3) * must be taken prior to SPED 596;
summer only.
- SPED 596 -
Designing Action Research in Special Education (Plan E) (3)
** Fall semester only
- SPED 597 - Implementing and Documenting Action Research (Plan E) ( (3)
*** Spring semester only
Specialization Requirements (24 cr.)
- SPED 511 -
Behavioral/ Emotional Disorders (3)
- SPED 512 -
Learning Disabilities (3)
- SPED 513 -
Developmental Disabilities (3)
- SPED 514 -
Cognitive Behavior Management and Social Skills Strategies (3)
- SPED 515 -
Assessment in Special Education (3)
- SPED 516 -
Instructional Programming for Students with Exception. (3)
- SPED 517 -
Instructional Methods for Students with Special Needs – Elementary (3)
- SPED 518 -
Instructional Methods for Students with Special Needs – Secondary (3)
One of the following:
- SPED 521 -
Student Teaching in Special Education - Elementary (3)
- SPED 522 -
Student Teaching in Special Education - Secondary (3)
- SPED 523 -
Practicum in Special Education - Elementary (3)
- SPED 524 -
Practicum in Special Education - Secondary (3)