M.S. - Special Education Major (Indiana Licensure)

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree with a major in Special Education is designed for practicing classroom teachers seeking initial licensure in special education for students with mild disabilities. Candidates will complete a 33-credit hour M.S. program which aligns to the initial licensure standards established by the Council for Exceptional Children as well as state licensure requirements for Indiana, plus the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation's advanced-level program standards. Courses are designed to provide participants with methods and materials to serve students with exceptional needs through mild intervention.

Upon completion of this program, candidates should be able to:

• Demonstrate strength in the following School of Educational Leadership's dispositional domains: Communication, Critical Thinking, Human Interaction, Leadership, and Professionalism.
• Use knowledge of general and specialized curricular content to individualize learning for students with exceptional needs.
• Select and administer appropriate assessments and analyze data from multiple sources to make data-driven decisions for students with exceptional needs.
• Select evidence-based instructional strategies and resources and implement them effectively to meet exceptional learning needs.
• Demonstrate the ability to create safe, inclusive learning environments by implementing evidence-based behavioral interventions for students with exceptional needs.
• Collaborate with families, colleagues, related service providers, and other stakeholders to provide appropriate learning experiences for students with exceptional needs.
• Use foundational knowledge of the field and the professional Ethical Principles and Practice Standards to develop ethical, legally compliant communications and learning plans for students with exceptional needs.
• Identify diverse cultural and linguistic needs and utilize available technologies to develop culturally responsive learning plans.
• Demonstrate ethical, Christ-like attitudes, values, and Biblical worldview in their professional behaviors with colleagues and students with exceptional needs.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the M.S. program are as follows:

• A baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (USDoE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) verified on original transcripts sent by the institution directly to Indiana Wesleyan University. Transcripts from foreign institutions may need to be sent to an outside agency for evaluation and determination of transferable credits, degrees, and GPA. If this outside review is necessary, students are responsible for the initiation of this evaluation and for any fees incurred during the process.
• An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher from the baccalaureate degree granting institution at which at least of minimum of 30 hours was completed.
• Candidates need:
  • A valid (but not necessarily current) state teacher’s license, or a valid (but not necessarily current) temporary, standard, or professional teaching license/certificate from another recognized accreditation body (e.g., Association of Christian Schools International), or an official letter from a school administrator confirming employment as a teacher of record.
  • At least one year (i.e., a minimum of one semester and one day) of teaching experience from an approved and accredited public, private, or parochial P-12 school in the United States or abroad.
  • Supporting documentation demonstrating access to a P-12 classroom.

• Candidates seeking acceptance into the M.S. with a major in Special Education program leading to Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention licensure in the state of Indiana must have successfully completed one of the following:

  • A current and valid Indiana elementary teaching license or

  • A three-credit hour course in phonics (undergraduate or graduate level) with a minimum grade of "C" or

  • A passing score on ONE of the following Indiana CORE exams:

    • (014) Early Childhood Generalist Subtest 1: Reading and English Language Arts

    • (060) Elementary Education Generalist Subtest 1: Reading and English Language Arts

    • (038) Reading

    • (064) Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention: Reading Instruction

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from the M.S. program, candidates must have completed the following:

• Successful completion of the M.S. curriculum.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above in all graduate work and a minimum grade of "B-" in each course.
• Successful completion of admission, mid-program review, and program completion gateways.
• Provide evidence of passing scores for the Indiana licensure exams for Exceptional Needs - Mild Intervention.
• Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.

M.S. - Special Education - Program of Study

Core Courses

Field experiences will be required in some courses.

EDSE-510	Foundations in Language and Literacy Instruction	3
EDSE-520	Individualized Assessment and Data-Based Reading Interventions	3
EDSE-530	Research-Based Behavior Interventions	3
EDSE-540	Strategies and Interventions for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders	3
EDSE-550	Collaboration With Families and Professionals	3
EDSE-560	Professional Learning and Ethical Practices	3
EDUC-510	How We Learn	3
EDUC-520	The Faithful Teacher	3
EDUC-530	The Craft of Teaching	3
EDUC-600	Classroom Action Research Tools	3
EDUC-630	Research in My School	3
Total Credit Hours:		33