Special Education
- Program Description
- Admission Requirements
- Degree Requirements
- Course Requirements
- Two and Three Year Schedule Options
- Request Additional Information
- Program Website
Program Description
The Master of Science in Special Education is designed to further professional skills in the areas of Special Education and related research. The program focus is to understand advanced concepts, critically review research, and apply these concepts and research to the professional practice through ongoing, systematic professional development. Within the Master's Degree, a student may choose to study a specific area of disability in one of the following areas: Specific Learning Disabilities, Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Developmental Disabilities, Physical and Health Disabilities, Autism or Early Childhood Special Education.
Admission Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Minimum of one year documented, successful PreK-Grade 12 experience as a licensed teacher OR an undergraduate degree in education. Applicants with a comparable work experience and/or a related degree will be considered on an individual basis as determined by the department's graduate faculty. Information on specific requirements for individuals with a related degree or comparable work experience is available through the Special Education Graduate Coordinator.
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall or 3.25 in the last 30 semester credits of course work.
- Completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study form.
- Undergraduate and other transcripts sent directly from the institution to the Graduate Studies Office.
- Non-refundable $20.00 fee for first-time applicants to Minnesota State University Moorhead.
- Score on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) of 380 or above or combined score of 800 or above on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Only official scores are accepted; no more than five years old.
Degree Requirements
The degree is offered with an action research project. You will be guided through this process in your ED 603 and ED 609 coursework. Successful completion of written comprehensive exams are is required as is a leadership/emphasis implementation project as part of your SPED 695 coursework.
Additional Requirements:
1. 3.0 grade point average required for courses submitted for the degree.
2. Written comprehensive examination.
3. Oral examination of thesis or project by committee.
Detailed information on these requirements and department policies and procedures may be obtained from the Special Education Graduate Program Coordinator. Further information on degree requirements may be found in: General Degree Requirements. Students who wish to transfer credits from other institutions or have taken coursework before admission to the graduate program should refer to the "Residence and Transfer of Credit" section for further information.
Course Requirements
Core Requirements (18 Credits)
SpEd 613: Diagnostic Strategies (3)
SpEd 620: Perspectives and Policies in Special Education (3)
SpEd 664: Theory and Process of Consultation and Collaboration (3)
SpEd 695: Special Problems (1)
ED 603: Methods of Research (2)
ED 609: Action Research (2)
ED 632: Curriculum, Instruction and Learning Theory (4)
Autism Emphasis (15 Credits)
SpEd 531 Survey of Autism Spectrum Disorders (2)
SpEd 532 Identification and Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
SpEd 534 Instructional Strategies for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
SpEd 535 Asperger's Disorder: Instructional Strategies (2)
SpEd 536 Communication Strategies ad Social Skills for students with ASD (2)
SpEd 606 Research and Applications in Behavior Analysis (3)
Developmental Disabilities Emphasis (15 Credits)
SpEd 519 Biomedical Aspects of Physical and Health Disabilities (3)
SpEd 517 Educating Student with Severe Disabilities (3)
SpEd 559 Communication Programming for Persons with Severe Disabilities (3)
SpEd 670 Career Education/Transition Planning for Secondary Students (3)
SpEd 606 Research and Applications in Behavior Analysis (3)
Early Childhood Special Education Emphasis (15 Credits)
SpEd 517 Educating Student with Severe Disabilities (3)
SpEd 519 Biomedical Aspects of Physical and Health Disabilities (3)
SpEd 523 Young Children with Disabilities and Their Families (3)
SpEd 526 Infant Strategies (3)
SpEd 527 Instructional Strategies: Preschool (3)
Emotional/Behavior Disorder (16 Credits)
SpEd 555 Characteristics of Students with Learning and Behavior Problems (4)
SpEd 563 Assessment Strategies (3)
SpEd 578 Educational Interventions: Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (3)
SpEd 670 Career Education/Transition Planning for Secondary Students (3)
SpEd 606 Research and Applications in Behavior Analysis (3)
Physical/Health Disabilities Emphasis (15 Credits)
SpEd 517 Educating Student with Severe Disabilities (3)
SpEd 519 Biomedical Aspects of Physical and Health Disabilities (3)
SpEd 547 Physical and Health Disabilities (3)
SpEd 559 Communication Programming for Persons with Severe Disabilities (3)
SpEd 670 Career Education/Transition Planning for Secondary Students (3)
Specific Learning Disabilities Emphasis (16 Credits)
SpEd 555 Characteristics of Students with Learning and Behavior Problems (4)
SpEd 563 Assessment Strategies (3)
SpEd 575 Informal Assessment/Teaching Strategies: Students with Learning Disabilities (3)
SpEd 606 Research and Applications in Behavior Analysis (3)
SpEd 670 Career Education/Transition Planning for Secondary Students (3)
Request Additional Information
Program information: |
Application information: |
Dr. Deanne Borgeson, Graduate Coordinator |
Graduate Studies Office |