Master of Science in Education - Special Education

The Graduate Special Education Program offers four major areas of study which may lead to WI DPI teacher licensure, and/or a Master of Science in Education degree with a concentration special education.  The four major areas of study are:

            1) Cross-Categorical Special Education (CCSE) (DPI license #2801, grades K-12).  The CCSE add-on teacher licensure program requires approx. 15 credits, a practicum and portfolio.

            2) Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) (DPI license #1809, birth-age 8).  The ECSE add-on teacher licensure program requires approx. 24 credits, a practicum and portfolio.

            3) Visual Impairment (VI) (DPI license #1825, grades PK-12).  The visual impairment add-on teacher licensure program requires approx. 39 credits, a summer residency, a practicum, and portfolio.

           4) Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) (DPI license #1805, grades preK-12).  The deaf or hard of hearing add-on teacher licensure program requires approx. 39 credits, a summer residency, 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.

Licensure courses16
Master's courses6
Elective courses8
Total Hours30

Required for licensure:

EDG 5000Assessment for Special Education3
EDG 5005Principles of Behavior Management3
EDG 5010Legal Issues in Special Education3
EDG 5015Literacy for Diverse Students3
EDG 5030Teaching Methods for Exceptional Students3
EDG 7001Special Education Portfolio I0
EDG 7002Special Education Portfolio II0
EDG 7003Special Education Portfolio III0
EDG 7010Cross Categorical Special Education Practicum and Seminar1
Total Hours16

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 visual impairment program, deaf and hard of hearing program, and the alternative education program are also available as electives.

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:

EDG 5100Educational Research Methods3
EDG 7040Special Education Capstone Project Seminar3
or EDG 7600 Graduate Education Thesis Seminar
Total Hours6

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION-WI DPI add-on license #1809, Ages Birth-8

This program enables teachers to work with children:

· from birth through age 8 in home, daycare, center, and school settings.

· learning in their most developmental years.

This program prepares you through specialized curricula, and also requires a practicum and professional portfolio.

Licensure courses25
Master's courses6
Total Hours31

Required for licensure:

EDG 6000Teaching Methods for Young Children with Disabilities3
EDG 6005Assessment for Young Children with Disabilities3
EDG 6010Language and Literacy Development in Young Children with Disabilities3
EDG 6015Lifespan Development and Disabilities3
EDG 5005Principles of Behavior Management3
EDG 5010Legal Issues in Special Education3
EDG 5015Literacy for Diverse Students3
EDG 5030Teaching Methods for Exceptional Students3
EDG 7001Special Education Portfolio I0
EDG 7002Special Education Portfolio II0
EDG 7003Special Education Portfolio III0
EDG 7015Early Childhood Special Education Practicum and Seminar1
Total Hours25

Required for the master's degree:

EDG 5100Educational Research Methods3
EDG 7040Special Education Capstone Project Seminar3
or EDG 7600 Graduate Education Thesis Seminar
Total Hours6
 

VISUAL IMPAIRMENT - WI DPI add-on license #1825, Grades PreK-12

**This is Wisconsin’s Only Visual Impairment Licensure Program

This program enables teachers to work with students who have visual impairments such as:

-Blindness

-Low vision

-Cortical vision impairment (CVI).

Graduate students in this program learn about teaching students with vision impairments, and become familiar with braille, orientation and mobility skills, assistive technology, the vision system, the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), and other topics.  This program prepares you through specialized curricula, and also requires a Summer Residency, practicum, and professional portfolio.

Licensure courses40
Master's courses6
Total Hours46

Required for licensure:

EDG 5045Low Incidence Sensory Disabilities3
EDG 6025Assessment for Vision Disabilities3
EDG 6030Assistive Technology for Vision Disabilities3
EDG 6034Braille for Teachers I3
EDG 6036Braille for Teachers II3
EDG 6038Braille for Teachers III3
EDG 6045Fundamentals of the Vision System and Vision Loss3
EDG 6050Orientation and Mobility for Vision Disabilities3
EDG 6055Teaching Methods for Students with Vision Loss3
EDG 5005Principles of Behavior Management3
EDG 5010Legal Issues in Special Education3
EDG 5015Literacy for Diverse Students3
EDG 5030Teaching Methods for Exceptional Students3
EDG 6058Special Education Summer Residency0
EDG 7001Special Education Portfolio I0
EDG 7002Special Education Portfolio II0
EDG 7003Special Education Portfolio III0
EDG 7020VI Special Education Practicum and Seminar1
Total Hours40

Required for the master's degree:

EDG 5100Educational Research Methods3
EDG 7040Special Education Capstone Project Seminar3
or EDG 7600 Graduate Education Thesis Seminar
Total Hours6

DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING - WI DPI add-on license #1805, Grades PreK-12

**This is Wisconsin’s Only Deaf or Hard of Hearing Licensure Program

This program enables teachers to work with students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Graduate students in this program learn about teaching students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and become familiar with visual language, the hearing system, the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), assistive technology, language and literacy development, audiology, aural rehabilitation, and other topics.  This program prepares you through specialized curricula, and also requires a Summer Residency, practicum, and professional portfolio.

Licensure courses40
Master's courses6
Total Hours46

Required for licensure:

EDG 5045Low Incidence Sensory Disabilities3
EDG 6060ASL and Communication I3
EDG 6065ASL and Communication II3
EDG 6070Assessment for Hearing Disabilities3
EDG 6075Assistive Technology for Hearing Disabilities3
EDG 6080Aural Rehabilitation and Speechreading3
EDG 6085Fundamentals of the Auditory System and Hearing Loss3
EDG 6090Teaching Methods for Students with Hearing Loss3
EDG 6095Language and Literacy for Hearing Disabilities3
EDG 6058Special Education Summer Residency0
EDG 5005Principles of Behavior Management3
EDG 5010Legal Issues in Special Education3
EDG 5015Literacy for Diverse Students3
EDG 5030Teaching Methods for Exceptional Students3
EDG 7001Special Education Portfolio I0
EDG 7002Special Education Portfolio II0
EDG 7003Special Education Portfolio III0
EDG 7025DHH Special Education Practicum and Seminar1
Total Hours40

Required for the master's degree:  EDG5100 and either EDG7040  OR  EDG7600

EDG 5100Educational Research Methods3
EDG 7040Special Education Capstone Project Seminar3
or EDG 7600 Graduate Education Thesis Seminar
Total Hours6