Program Coordinator: Dr. Mary Ellen Gordon-Scudder
The M. Ed. in Special Education Program is dedicated to preparing special educators to make positive contributions in the lives of persons with disabilities and to serve as positive change agents in their work settings. The curriculum is aimed at helping graduate students understand the complexities of issues related to the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, as well as the delivery of services needed in order to assist such persons as they strive for independence. Learning experiences are structured in a way that graduate students develop a comprehensive knowledge of the multifaceted nature of special education. The M. Ed. in Special Education program includes three areas of emphasis: preparing teachers to work with students with special needs in the K- 12 general curriculum (for students with learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, and mental retardation); early childhood special education; and autism spectrum disorders. Graduate students in the program select one or more of these areas of study and may align their graduate program with specific endorsements on their teaching license.
Students will be able to:
define and articulate differing perspectives related to issues, trends, and legal aspects in the field of special education;
use in-depth knowledge of the biological, psychological, and sociological (including culture, SES, and gender) dimensions of disability, when engaging in responsibilities expected of a special educator (e.g., assessment, IEP development, instruction, and collaboration);
demonstrate the ability to assess, interpret, synthesize, and summarize the abilities and needs of individuals with disabilities using appropriate formal and informal assessment measures in applicable areas (including academic, adaptive behavior, social-emotional, physical-motor, and communication skills);
using informal and formal assessment data, demonstrate the ability to design individualized educational programs that take into account the comprehensive needs (e.g., academic, cognitive, social, health-medical, and communication) of individuals with disabilities;
implement data-based special and general educational programs that meet the needs of individuals with disabilities using knowledge of theories, techniques, and principles in the areas of:
human relations (e.g., teacher-student relations, student-student interactions, teacher-family collaboration)
classroom management behavior management (with special emphasis on Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plans)
instructional procedures
curriculum development and adaptations
medically-related accommodations (for students seeking endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education)
assistive technology
use effective communication and problem-solving (based upon an action research model) skills in collaboration with professionals and families in order to enhance the educational opportunities and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.