Overview
Contact: Michelle Concepcion, Program Coordinator
Options:
- Specialty Endorsement (For Certified Teachers) Elementary (1-8) or Secondary (6-12) (36 credits)
- Initial Certification – Special Education Elementary (1- 8) or Secondary (6-12) (45 credits)
The Master of Science 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 of 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 in Elementary (grades 1-8) or Secondary (grades 6-12) for candidates who hold a teacher certification or who are certification eligible and would like to add a special education endorsement.
The program is also open to candidates who are seeking initial teacher certification in special education in Elementary (grades 1-8) or Secondary (grades 6-12) as well; however, candidates seeking initial certification will be required to complete the 45 credits and may be required to take additional coursework to meet prerequisites required for Maryland’s certification. The program coordinator will review the candidates transcript and determine the courses which the candidate must take to meet the initial certification track requirements. These courses will be required to complete the degree.
The Special Education program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Candidates seeking special education endorsement or initial teacher certification in states outside of Maryland should check with this state’s board for more information regarding education, testing, and other requirements for licensure. McDaniel cannot confirm whether this program meets the educational requirements to obtain initial or specialty licensure outside of the state of Maryland.
Certification:
This program is designed to meet the educational preparation requirements for MSDE (Maryland State Department of Education) Special Education certification. While reciprocity is often granted by other states, candidates are encouraged to consult their state certification offices about additional requirements such as teaching experience, testing or specific course completion. Candidates may also be required to meet other MSDE endorsement requirements to meet the state certification requirements such as work experience or passing identified assessments.
The Special Education program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. This program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in other states. Candidates who plan to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Maryland should contact the gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu and the appropriate licensing board associated with your program of interest for additional information and guidance. Contact information related to licensure for states outside of Maryland can be found here.
McDaniel College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. McDaniel is working toward Initial Accreditation Status for its educator preparation programs with an anticipated accreditation review in Spring 2024.
Admissions Requirements
Candidates required to submit:
- online application for graduate study
- official transcripts conferring bachelors degree (minimum 3.0* GPA) from an accredited institution. Students with GPA of 2.75 to 2.99 may be admitted provisionally but must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first 9-12 credit hours of study. Those with less than a 2.75 GPA can be considered for admission on individual basis but may be required to submit additional documents for review.
- Students seeking special education endorsement must provide copies of current teaching license or Praxis II scores in the content area
To begin the program, candidates must meet with program coordinator to develop an initial 9-credit preliminary plan or study.
Exit Requirements
Students must complete all courses required for the degree to include the practicum and internship and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Additional exit requirements include taking all Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) tests required for special education certification or endorsement and have scores reported to McDaniel College. McDaniel College will not post the degree to the transcript until all scores are received.
Students should be aware that while McDaniel requires students to take all required tests which lead to Maryland certification in the student’s respective content area, obtaining an MSDE special education certification requires passing scores in addition to completing a Maryland approved teacher preparation program . Students who are seeking teacher certification in states outside of Maryland should check with the state’s board for more information regarding education, testing, and other requirements for licensure and whether a student who obtains a Maryland teacher certification is eligible to obtain licensure as a teacher from this state’s board.
For more information related to Maryland State Department of Education Teacher licensure requirements:
https://marylandpublicschools.org/Pages/default.aspx
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-2595
Phone: 410-767-0406
E-mail: info.msde@maryland.gov
State Authorization
McDaniel is an approved institutional member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Membership in SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses/programs offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. For more information about SARA, including the states currently participating in the agreement, visit http://www.nc.sara.org.
SARA membership allows McDaniel to accept and deliver our programs/courses online to students in 49 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students who reside in California, currently the only state not a member of SARA, should contact the admissions office prior to application to verify if you are eligible to participate in the online program of interest.
For more information about state authorization requirements and complaint resolution, visit https://www.mcdaniel.edu/academics/graduate-professional-studies/state-authorization-requirements-complaints-resolution
