SPECIAL EDUCATION
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Contact: Graduate Program Director
Application Deadlines:
For domestic classified status, the deadline is approximately a month before the start of classes (Definite dates are on the application itself). International students, please see the FAQs #16 for your deadline. NOTE: If you are a new graduate student and you intend to apply for a Competitive Graduate Award (CGA), the deadline for having all of your application materials turned in moves up to January 15th. If you apply for the CGA but your SIUE application is incomplete, your application for the Competitive Graduate Award will be removed from consideration.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION
The Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders offers a program of studies leading to the Master of Science in Education (MSEd) degree in special education. This graduate program offers three options. The first option is designed to provide advanced training for certified elementary, secondary, or special education teachers who want additional expertise in the area of special education. Individuals choosing this option are prepared in the areas of characteristics, methodology, assessment, consultation, collaboration, and supervision. This option does not lead to any additional certification. The second option is designed to provide advanced training in the area of curriculum adaptation for certified special education teachers and leads to preparation for an advanced certificate, Learning Behavior Specialist II, in curriculum adaptation. Individuals choosing this option are prepared in the areas of collaboration, consultation, assessment, supervision, and curriculum adaptation and modification. The third option provides specialized training for certified elementary or secondary teachers who want to obtain a second teaching certificate in special education. Individuals choosing this option are prepared in the areas of characteristics, assessment, methods of teaching, collaboration, and assistive technology. Training leads to preparation for the Learning Behavior Specialist I teaching certificate in special education.
ADMISSION
In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School, the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders requires a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 (A=4.0). Applicants must also hold a current initial teaching certificate in special, elementary, or secondary education to be admitted.
Applicants complete an application for admission which is available in the Special Education and Communication Disorders Department office, Founders Hall 1101 or online at: www.siue.edu/graduate. Candidates seeking a second teaching certificate must also complete an application through the Office of Clinical Experience, Certification, and Advisement, Founders Hall 1110. Each candidate is required to meet with his/her assigned adviser as soon as possible after notification of admission to determine which option is appropriate and to discuss the candidate’s official program of study.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
The minimum number of semester hours required to complete the degree program for the Master of Science in Education in special education is 36, not to include any courses at the 400 level. In some instances, additional hours may be required; these hours are determined in a conference between the student and the assigned graduate adviser. Requirements for completing the degree are as follows:
Professional Development in Special Education: EPFR 502, 515 and 520 or 521, SPE 511, 514, 515, 522, 523, 595 and 3 electives. SPE 578 is required if student is not currently teaching.
Learning Behavioral Specialist II: EPFR 502, 515 and 520 or 521, SPE 506, 511, 514, 515, 516, 522, 524, 540, and 595. SPE 578 is required if student is not currently teaching.
Second Certificate in Special Education: EPFR 502, 515 and 520 or 521, SPE 502, 506, 511, 514, 516, 522, 523, 540, and 595. SPE 578 is required if student is not currently teaching.
Final Action Research Project: Preliminary planning of an action research project is initiated in EPFR 502. SPE 595 includes completion of the action research project and oral presentation.
* If the candidate is not currently teaching, he/she must enroll in SPE 578, Field Study, for a degree total of 39 hours. For candidates choosing the Learning Behavior Specialist II option, the candidate must enroll in SPE 578 concurrently with SPE 524. For candidates choosing the Professional Development option, enrollment in SPE 578 can be concurrent with any special education 500 elective. For candidates choosing the Second Certificate option, enrollment in SPE 578 must be concurrent with SPE 522.
RETENTION REQUIREMENTS
Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Students must also obtain a B or better in EPFR 502 Qualitative Inquiry in Education and obtain a B or better on the paper required in EPFR 502.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Students must complete an Action Research Project while enrolled in SPE 595 and attain a grade of at least a B to pass. For candidates seeking the second certificate, the Illinois Learning Behavior Specialist I Exam and the Assessment of Professional Teaching must be passed prior to certificate entitlement. For candidates seeking the advanced certificate, the Learning Behavior Specialist II Exam must be passed prior to graduation and certificate entitlement.
POST MASTER’S CERTIFICATE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
The Post Master's Degree Program in Special Education allows students, who currently hold a master's degree in teaching or a related field and Illinois teaching certification, to gain a subsequent certificate in special education without completing an additional master's degree in special education.
ADMISSION
Applicants complete an application for admission which is available in the Special Education and Communication Disorders Department office, Founders Hall 1101 or online at: www.siue.edu/graduate. Candidates must also complete an application and transcript evaluation through the Office of Clinical Experience, Certification, and Advisement, Founders Hall 1110.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Students must have taken the professional courses in educational research and foundations in their previous master’s degree. They must have classes equivalent to EPFR 501: Research in Education, or EPFR 502: Qualitative Inquiry in Education, EPFR 515: Advanced Educational Psychology, and EPFR 520 or 521: Social Foundations or Historical Foundations / Analysis of Educational Issues. A transcript evaluation will determine if they have taken equivalent coursework in their master’s degree.
Required courses for Post Master’s Certificate in Special Education: SPE 502, 506, 511, 514, 516, 522, 523, and 540.
* If the candidate is not currently teaching, he/she must enroll in SPE 578, Field Study, for a degree total of 27 hours. Enrollment in SPE 578 must be concurrent with SPE 522.
RETENTION REQUIREMENTS
Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
For candidates seeking the second certificate, the Illinois Learning Behavior Specialist I Exam, the Special Education General Curriculum Test, and the Assessment of Professional Teaching Test (code 104) must be passed prior to graduation and certificate entitlement.
