Special Education, Master of Education

The M.Ed. degree program in Special Education leads to the T-5 certification in Interrelated Special Education (mildly disabled) and Intellectual Disabilities (MR). Any person who has T-4certification in a teaching field or who has completed a four- year degree program outside the field of teaching and meets the other admission criteria may pursue the master’s-level programs. A degree in intellectual disabilities leads to certification in mental retardation. (Add-on verification requires a passing score on Praxis I/GACE Basic for admission and a passing score on Praxis II/GACE Content prior to the practicum.)

The purpose of the M.Ed. Special Education is to promote leadership for K-12 populations. Candidates complete 36 hours of courses designed to augment resourceful and imaginative problem-solving skills for K-12 populations.  All classes implement the College of Education's conceptual framework: Reflective transformative practitioner, culturally-responsive practitioner, technologically-competent practitioner. Candidates have to be admitted by the Graduate Admissions Office before being admitted into the program.

Objectives

The objectives of the Masters of Special Education program in Special Education is to provide teachers with the opportunities to:

1. Use teaching practices that align with current research

2. Expand their knowledge and skills in a chosen area of educational interest;

3. Present academically-challenging instructions to K-12 to students;

4. Integrate new materials and methods of teaching practices for diverse K-12 populations;

5. Encourage interest in conducting research;

6. Increase competencies in research techniques; and

7. Encourage relevant action research, which they can use to become more effective in their classrooms.

Graduation Requirements

Capstone Research Project

The purpose of the capstone research project is to assess the student's knowledge of educational theory and applied research in a real-world classroom setting.  The research project is a culminating assessment of a student’s competency and skills as an advanced-level candidate in teacher education.

In partial fulfillment of the Masters in Education, students are required to successfully complete a research project. This research project is completed in the research course, EDUC 5592 Applied Research in Teacher Education.  A student must earn a grade of "B" or higher in the course to signify their successful completion of the research project.

Area C Grades

Candidates must earn a B or better in all Area C courses (teaching field) to earn course credit for graduation. 

Admission to the Special  Education Program requires an undergraduate degree in Special Education, or the equivalent, from an accredited college.  In addition, the following is required

• a clear renewable state of GA teaching certificate in the discipline
• three letters of recommendations
• writing sample
• College of Education Disposition Statement

If students lack a sufficient background in Special Education, they may be required to take additional undergraduate courses before beginning the M.Ed. program in Special Education. Students are also governed by the general admission procedures and requirements for the graduate school and the M.Ed. degree program, and they may matriculate in the Special Education program under the same categories of admission.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

¹

If a student is working toward initial certification, SPED 5501 requires a grade of B or better in compliance with House Bill 671 and PSC rules. 

²

Candidates must earn a B or better in all Area C courses (teaching field) to earn course credit for graduation.

³

Required course

⁴

Eligible to receive Reading Endorsement with the completion of all three courses: EDRG 5594, EDRG 5595, EDRG 5596.