Special Education (SED) MS

School-Based Program with Certification

The graduate program in special education offers candidates the opportunity to join the ranks of professionals who are committed to ensuring that all children and adolescents, including those with identified disabilities, receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. The program emphasizes a strength-based perspective and is founded on the standards on the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Candidates develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of accomplished special educators.

McDaniel College offers a minimum 36-credit hour Master of Science degree in Special Education. The Program is open to candidates who are not seeking certification as well as those who are seeking certification. Candidates seeking Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) teaching ceritification at the elementary (1-8) levels and secondary (6-12) levels are usually accredited teachers. In limited cases the program will work with candidates who are not accredited on obtaining initial certification. Candidates complete a capstone portfolio for the program; master’s only students may elect to complete a thesis in lieu of the portfolio. Candidates interested in certification should meet with the Program Coordinator to review certification and field-based requirements.

The Special Education program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the MSDE. Pennsylvania State Department of Education guidelines are addressed during the advisement process for students seeking employment and/or licensure in Pennsylvania.

Admissions Requirements

Candidates required to submit:

application for graduate study with non-refundable fee
official transcripts conferring bachelors degree (minimum 3.0* GPA) from an accredited institutionthree reference forms
Praxis I test scores that meet MSDE minimum score requirements

*Students not meeting this criterion may be reviewed on an individual basis for admission to this program.

To begin the program, candidates must meet with program coordinator to develop an initial 9-credit preliminary plan or study.

Courses

Candidates complete coursework in Foundation Knowledge and Special Education, as well as meeting state certification and fieldwork requirements as appropriate.

Foundation Courses (12 credit hours)

Special Education Courses (12 credit hours)

Certification Courses (minimum of 3 credit hours)

Coursework is chosen in consultation with the Program Coordinator who reviews previous coursework required for MSDE intial certification. Relevant courses include:

CUR 509 - Monitoring and Aligning Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
CUR 512 - Curriculum Analysis and Planning
RDG 521 - Reading Processes and Acquisition
RDG 522 - Balanced Literacy Instruction
RDG 523 - Assessment for Reading Instruction
RDG 524 - Materials for Reading Instruction
RDG 532 - Reading in the Content Areas: Part I
RDG 534 - Reading in Content Areas: Part II
Master’s only students may select electives from the Certification Courses or other courses as approved by the Program Coordinator.

Fieldwork and Capstone Courses (minimum of 9 credit hours)

All content coursework must be completed before students may enter fieldwork and capstone experiences. In addition, students must submit passing Praxis II scores before entering fieldwork.