Master of Science in Education - Special Education
The Graduate Special Education Program offers educators the opportunity to teach grades K-12 children and youth who are experiencing developmental delays and disabilities. This program not only prepares you through the curriculum but also requires a practicum and portfolio for program completion.
This major area of study in Cross-Categorical Special Education (CCSE), may lead to WI DPI teacher licensure #2801 (grades K-12), and/or a Master of Science in Education degree with a concentration special education. The CCSE add-on teacher licensure program requires approx. 15 credits, a practicum and portfolio.
The Master of Science in Education degree requires a minimum of 30 credits including 6 research credits: a 3-credit research course, and a 3-credit capstone project or thesis course. All credits in the licensure programs, and research courses count toward the 30-credit minimum.
All of the Graduate Special Education Programs are accelerated fully online programs with asynchronous courses offered every 8-weeks. For licensure programs applicants must have a current Tier II or above teaching license and bachelor’s degree.
Council for Exceptional Children National Initial Teacher Preparation Standards
Standard 1: Learner Development and Individual Learning Differences
Beginning special education professionals understand how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
Standard 2: Learning Environments
Beginning special education professionals create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments so that individuals with exceptionalities become active and effective learners and develop emotional well-being, positive social interactions, and self-determination.
Standard 3: Curricular Content Knowledge
Beginning special education professionals use knowledge of general and specialized curricula to individualize learning for individuals with exceptionalities.
Standard 4: Assessment
Beginning special education professionals use multiple methods of assessment and data sources in making educational decisions.
Standard 5: Instructional Planning and Strategies
Beginning special education professionals select, adapt, and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities.
Standard 6: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
Beginning special education professional use foundational knowledge of the field and their professional ethical principles and practice standards to inform special education practice, to engage in lifelong learning, and to advance the profession.
Standard 7: Collaboration
Beginning special education professionals collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, across a range of learning experiences.
CUW Outcome - Servant Leadership
Model Christian servant leadership through consistent, moral, and ethical behaviors and, by example, inspire others to do likewise in their personal, professional, and community life.
CROSS-CATEGORICAL SPECIAL EDUCATION - WI DPI add-on license #2801, Grades K-12
This program enables teachers to work with students with the following disabilities:
· Intellectual Disabilities (ID)
·Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)
· Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities (EBD)
This program prepares you through specialized curricula, and also requires a practicum and professional portfolio.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Licensure courses | 16 | |
| Master's courses | 6 | |
| Elective courses | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Required for licensure:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDG 5000 | Assessment for Special Education | 3 |
| EDG 5005 | Principles of Behavior Management | 3 |
| EDG 5010 | Legal Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| EDG 5015 | Literacy for Diverse Students | 3 |
| EDG 5030 | Teaching Methods for Exceptional Students | 3 |
| EDG 7001 | Special Education Portfolio I | 0 |
| EDG 7002 | Special Education Portfolio II | 0 |
| EDG 7003 | Special Education Portfolio III | 0 |
| EDG 7010 | Cross Categorical Special Education Practicum and Seminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
Electives. The master's degree requires a minimum of 30 hours. Add elective courses (3 hours each) below to the required hours to reach a minimum of 30 hours for the master's degree, with 6 hours for the research and capstone courses. Courses from the alternative education program are also available as electives.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Assistive Technology for Special Education | ||
| Language and Communication Disorders | ||
| Low Incidence Sensory Disabilities | ||
| Teaching Methods for Students with Autism | ||
| Teaching Methods for Young Children with Disabilities | ||
| Assessment for Young Children with Disabilities | ||
| Language and Literacy Development in Young Children with Disabilities | ||
| Lifespan Development and Disabilities | ||
| Teaching Methods for Students with Significant Disabilities |
Required for the master's degree:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDG 5100 | Educational Research Methods | 3 |
| EDG 7040 | Special Education Capstone Project Seminar | 3 |
| or EDG 7600 | Graduate Education Thesis Seminar | |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| EDG 5000 | Assessment for Special Education | 3 |
| EDG 5005 | Principles of Behavior Management | 3 |
| EDG 7001 | Special Education Portfolio I | 0 |
| EDG ELECTIVE | 2 | |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| EDG 5010 | Legal Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| EDG 5015 | Literacy for Diverse Students | 3 |
| EDG 7002 | Special Education Portfolio II | 0 |
| EDG ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| EDG 5030 | Teaching Methods for Exceptional Students | 3 |
| EDG 7003 | Special Education Portfolio III | 0 |
| EDG 7010 | Cross Categorical Special Education Practicum and Seminar | 1 |
| EDG ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| EDG 5100 | Educational Research Methods | 3 |
| EDG 7040 | Special Education Capstone Project Seminar | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |