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:
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
Special Education 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 |
Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Core Courses
Field experiences will be required in some courses.