Masters of Education — Special Education
Overview
The Master of Education degree in special education is designed to ensure that students are knowledgeable in the field of special education. The degree program prepares students in at least one of the following areas: learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders or mental disabilities. Courses are designed to meet both national and state standards, and all certification areas have been approved by the National Council of Accreditation for Teacher Education and the Council for Exceptional Children. The prescribed program of study enables students to identify important legal and policy issues in special education, demonstrate knowledge of the research processes within the field of special education, demonstrate knowledge of specific characteristics of individuals with mild disabilities and implement scientifically based interventions for students with disabilities in a variety of settings.
The program faculty strive to meet the ever-changing needs of the field through modifications and enhancements in the curriculum and practicum settings. Successful graduates will evaluate critically special education literature, recognize and evaluate current issues and problems in special education and identify potential solutions for these problems.
Special education faculty provide the majority of field supervision, so students receive critical as well as supportive feedback that is tied directly to program goals. Moreover, part-time instructors hired to assist with supervision are closely monitored by special education faculty. Three faculty members have been certified as Assisting, Developing and Evaluating Professional Teaching (ADEPT) Team Members. Consequently, coursework and field experiences also are designed carefully to enable students to meet the current state standards for professional teaching.
The degree requires 36 semester hours. Specific objectives include:
- Demonstrate knowledge of theories, characteristics and educational needs of students with learning disabilities (LD), emotional/behavioral disabilities (E/BD) and/or mental retardation (MR).
- Design and administer formal and informal instruments to assess the abilities and disabilities of students.
- Design an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) for students with disabilities according to federal and state regulations.
- Serve as a team member with parents, school psychologists, social workers, medical personnel, general education teachers, school administrators, vocational counselors and community agencies in providing appropriate services to students with disabilities.
- Implement individualized teaching strategies, using appropriate materials, which will facilitate the development of students with LD, MR and/or EBD.
- Interpret and/or conduct research in the area of special education and use the findings to develop more effective practices for students with disabilities.
- Provide educational assistance in terms of recommendations of procedures and materials to general education teachers for including students with disabilities in general education settings
Admission Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Admission to the Clemson Graduate School
- Meet all requirements of the Graduate School
- Copy of teaching certificate
- Competitive GRE score
Program of Study
Required Courses: (24 hours)
ED F 877 Exp. and Non-exp. Methods Research I
ED SP 820 Literacy Instruction for Individuals with Disabilities
ED SP 821 Educational Assessment of Individuals with Disabilities
ED SP 823 Teaching Individuals with Disabilities in Integrated Settings
ED SP 840 Transition Education and Services for Individuals with Disabilities
ED SP 853 Legal and Policy Issues in Special Education
ED SP 854 Applied Behavior Analysis
READ 865 Evaluation and Remediation of Reading Problems
Area of Emphasis: (9-12 hours)
Students choose from one of three areas of emphasis. Courses in each area partially fulfill requirements for S.C. certification in that area.
Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities Disorders
ED SP 669 Characteristics of Individuals with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
ED SP 674 Educational Procedures for Individuals with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
ED SP 678 Practicum in Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
ED SP 675 Educational Procedures for Individuals with Learning Disabilities*
Learning Disabilities
ED SP 670 Characteristics of Individuals with Learning Disabilities
ED SP 675 Educational Procedures for Individuals with Learning Disabilities
ED SP 676 Practicum in Learning Disabilities
Mental Retardation
ED SP 672 Characteristics of Individuals with Mental Retardation
ED SP 673 Educational Procedures for Individuals with Mental Retardation
ED SP 679 Practicum in Mental Retardation
*This course is required for South Carolina certification in Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities and should be included in the program of studies in lieu of three hours of electives unless it has been taken previously.
Electives: (3 hours)
For elementary emphasis ED SP 822, Teaching Mathematics to Individuals with Disabilities, is recommended.
For secondary emphasis ED SP 841, Instructional Strategies for Individuals with Disabilities in Secondary School Settings, is recommended.
Notes:
NOTE 1: It is the students’ responsibility to remain current on the specific requirements for South Carolina certification. Students should spend time carefully planning their programs with their advisers.
For further details on state-required courses and electives, see South Carolina State Department of Education.
Students entering the special education programs need to understand South Carolina statutes as they apply to the field of teaching.
NOTE 2: If the student has not completed the following three courses at the undergraduate level, (courses may have different numbers on the undergraduate transcript, so look at titles for content), he/she may be required by South Carolina to complete them for certification.
ED SP 370 Introduction to the Exceptional Child (State requires as part of MR & EBD; elective for LD)
ED F 334/335 Child Growth and Development/Adolescent Growth and Development (State requires for MR & LD)
READ 459/460 Teaching Reading in the Early /Intermediate Grades
NOTE 3: Students must declare degree-seeking status in the graduate school prior to the completion of 12 semester hours toward an M.Ed. in addition to the required coursework, certification sequence and electives all candidates for an M.Ed. in Special Education are required to pass a Comprehensive Examination. Comprehensive Examinations are administered following the completion or near completion of an approved program of study.
Contact Information
Antonis Katsiyannis
Tillman 407-C
864-656-5114
antonis@clemson.edu