Graduate Catalog 2022-2023 
    
    Dec 21, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Special Education, Ed.S.


The EDS-SPED degree is designed to meet the needs of teachers certified in Special Education who have completed a master’s degree in special education. The program consists of a minimum of 27 graduate credit hours, including an Exit Examination and Research Project. Students who do not have a master’s degree in special education may qualify for entrance to the program through the completion of two 3-credit hour courses. In this program, candidates will be required to read, write, and research the major topics in Special Education. Candidates enroll in 15 hours of 7000 and 8000 level special education Content Specialization courses, and 12 hours of special education research. Most of the required courses include a designated artifact that is utilized as a part of the assessment plan for each candidate. Students may begin the program any semester. During the initial advising session, a projected sequence of courses is developed for each student. Any changes in the projected sequence need to be determined jointly between student and advisor in order for the student to be able to complete the program in a timely manner.

Degree Requirements


The program has been designed to meet the needs of individuals who wish to obtain advanced training in Special Education.

Applicants with a Master’s degree in special education must:

Provide proof of a Master’s degree in special education from an accredited institution.

Present a cumulative 3.2 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all graduate work.

Present a clear and renewable T-5 teaching certificate in special education or service certificate in speech-language pathology.

Document 2 or more years of successful experience as a special education teacher, collaborative teacher working directly with students with disabilities, or speech-language pathologist in the school setting.


Applicants without a Master’s degree in special education must:

Provide proof of a Master’s degree in education from an accredited institution.

Present a cumulative 3.2 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all graduate work.

Present a clear and renewable T-5 teaching certificate in special education or service certificate in speech-language pathology.

Document 2 or more years of successful experience as a special education teacher.

Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 300 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study.

Complete two of the following prerequisite courses: SPED 6701, SPED 6709, SPED 6715, SPED 6721, SPED 6766, and SPED 6776

All out-of-state students must verify with their local certification agency to determine if sought after degree will result in a certification upgrade.

The courses and experiences of the Ed.S. program require a minimum of 27 semester hours. See Area of Special Education advisors for specific program sheets and development of a program of study.

Program Areas and Requirements


Total Credits: 27 hours