Special Education (SED) MS

Overview

Program Coordinator: Michelle Concepcion

Program Delivery Format: Online

Total Credits: 33 - 45

Program Options:

• Special Education Area Licensure Specialization (for currently licensed teachers) (33 credits)
  • Elementary/Middle (Grades 1-8) or
  • Secondary/Adult (Grade 6-12 [adult])
• Special Education Initial Teacher Licensure Specialization (45 credits)
  • Elementary/Middle (Grades 1-8) or
  • Secondary/Adult (Grades 6-12 [adult])

Admission Cycle: Fall, Spring, and Summer

Admissions Contact: Crystal Perry, Assistant Director, Graduate Enrollment Management (cperry@mcdaniel.edu | 410-386-4833)

GPS Student Support Liaisons: gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu | 410-857-2500

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 33-credit hour Master of Science degree in Special Education in Elementary/Middle (grades 1-8) or Secondary/Adult (grade 6-12 [adult]) for candidates who hold a current teacher license or who are licensure eligible and would like to add special education as a licensure area to a current teaching license.

The program also offers an initial teacher licensure specialization for candidates who are seeking initial teacher licensure in special education in Elementary/Middle (grades 1-8) or Secondary/Adult (grades 6-12 [adult]). Candidates seeking initial licensure will be required to complete 45 credits and may also be required to take additional coursework to meet prerequisites required for Maryland licensure. The program coordinator will review the candidate’s transcript and determine the courses which the candidate must take to meet the initial licensure specialization requirements.

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. The Master of Science in Special Education program has been awarded initial accreditation status by AAQEP through June 30, 2029. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the program must:

• Complete an application for graduate study 
• Submit official bachelors degree transcripts with a minimum of 3.0 GPA* from an accredited institution, master’s transcripts if applicable.
• Students who are currently licensed teachers and are seeking an additional area of licensure must provide copies of their current teaching license or Praxis II scores in the content area.

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

*Please note: Students who have a 2.75-2.99 GPA may be admitted provisionally and will be required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first 9-12 credit hours. Students with less than a 2.75 GPA may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis for provisional admission but may be required to provide additional documentation and/or participate in an interview. Admission may also come with additional conditions.

International Students:

This program is delivered primarily online and as a result does not meet the federal regulations for international students to study in the US. If you are a US citizen living outside of the US, you should contact gps@mcdaniel.edu to discuss your eligibility for admission to this program.

Special Education Area Licensure Specialization (Total Credits: 33)

Elementary/Middle (Grades 1-8) or Secondary/Adult (Grades 6-12 [adult])

Students who are currently licensed teachers or who are teacher licensure eligible (must have completed a teacher licensure preparation program and passed content Praxis II tests) can complete this master’s degree in 33 credits and will be prepared to take the Praxis II content test to seek special education licensure in the state of Maryland. 

Special Education Initial Teacher Licensure Specialization (Total Credits: 45)

Elementary/Middle (Grades 1-8) or Secondary/Adult (Grades 6-12 [adult])

Exit Requirements

Students must complete all courses required for the degree, including the practicum and internship (if required), and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Additional exit requirements include taking and submitting scores on all state of Maryland required assessments for special education licensure. While McDaniel College will post the candidate’s degree to their transcript when scores are received, a Maryland Approved Program (MAP) statement on the transcript will not be issued until passing scores are received. This is a requirement of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

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 licensure 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 and with McDaniel College’s Professional Licensure Representative (gps@mcdaniel.edu) 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

 

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

Professional Licensure

Requirements for professional licensure in fields such as accounting, education, counseling, psychology, and social work vary from state to state. McDaniel’s academic programs are designed to meet Maryland’s licensure requirements and may not meet requirements from other states. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, McDaniel highly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s licensing requirements. You may also contact McDaniel College’s Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire.

For more important information regarding professional licensure and the completion of McDaniel degrees, please review our Professional Licensure webpage.

Students who complete this program and are seeking Maryland licensure will be required to meet all Maryland-specific requirements in addition to completing this Maryland approved program. The requirements may include but are not limited to any of the following:

1. Additional coursework in reading
2. Passing scores on content specific exams (i.e. - Praxis)
3. Pedagogy Assessment (edTPA)
4. Teaching experience
5. Payment of application or processing fees

More information about Maryland State Department of Education requirements can be found at https://marylandpublicschools.org