Modality: Online
The Master of Arts in Teaching: Special Education is designed to prepare qualified professionals for teaching in K through age 22 (transition-age) school settings.
Licensure: Upon successful completion of Special Education: Licensure degree requirements, candidates are eligible to apply for a Professional Educator License (PEL) with a special education endorsement from the state of Illinois for grades K through age 22.
Non-Licensure: Upon successful completion of Special Education: Non-Licensure degree requirements, candidates are not eligible to apply for any state of Illinois endorsement.
The Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education provides candidates that are interested in special education with the knowledge and skills to work in a continuum of special education services in Illinois to serve learners with disabilities from kindergarten to age 22. Graduates will be prepared to demonstrate competency and proficiency as a special education teacher regarding specially designed instruction, Individualized General Curriculum, and Individualized Independence Curriculum (CEC, 2015; CEC 2020). Emphasis on instruction / methods, assistive technology, and assessment for the following learners with disabilities' access needs includes: learning disabilities, social/emotional disabilities (internationally known as, and otherwise known as, emotional/behavioral disorders), intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities, other health impairment, and traumatic brain injury. Students who successfully complete Pathway 1 are eligible to apply for an Illinois Professional Educator License with the LBS1 endorsement provided that the appropriate requirements, and state testing standards, have been met.
This program will enable candidates to:
- develop the abilities for research and critical thinking as a special educator
- exhibit high standards of professional competence and ethical practice
- develop competency in
- specialized instruction,
- curricular adaptation,
- accessible technology,
- individual learner needs,
- assessment and data-informed decision-making,
- effective instructional delivery,
- collaborative processes,
- ethical learning and leading,
- social emotional learning,
- reading instruction, and
- methods in supporting diverse learners.
- improve understanding of the needs of families
- understand reflective practice and culture
- explore the role of advocacy for and with key stakeholders
- engage in planning for continuous improvement and professional learning
Pathway 1: Upon successful completion of Pathway 1 degree requirements, candidates are eligible to apply for a Professional Educator License (PEL) with Special Education endorsement from the state of Illinois for grades PK-22.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite to Professional Courses | ||
| SPED-6100 | Introduction to Education: Special Topics | 1 |
| SPED-6425 | Psychology & Methods of Teaching the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| Professional Courses: Students must be admitted to Teacher Candidacy to continue | ||
| EDU-6200 | Beginning Reading Instruction | 3 |
| EDU-6212 | Studies in Literacy and Multiliteracy | 3 |
| or EDU-6230 | Content Reading: Middle and Secondary Schools | |
| SPED-6050 | Teaching Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Students w/ Disabilities: Characteristics Methods | 3 |
| or ESL-6630 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Multilingual Learners | |
| SPED-6230 | Assistive Technology: Principles and Practice | 3 |
| SPED-6350 | Characteristics and Learning Needs of Students with Academic and Physical Challenges | 3 |
| SPED-6355 | Instructional Strategies for Students with Academic and Physical Challenges | 3 |
| SPED-6360 | Characteristics and Learning Needs of Students with Specific Learning and Emotional Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED-6365 | Instructional Strategies for Students with Specific Learning Disabilities and Emotional Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED-6370 | Curriculum Based and Educational Measurements of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| Student Teaching Internship | ||
| EDUC-6985 | Student Teaching Seminar 2 | 0 |
| Select one: | ||
| EDUC-6929 | Student Teaching Internship: Special Education | 6 |
| EDUC-6925 | MAT Capstone 1 | 3 |
| SPED-6900 | MAT-SPED Program Supervision (as needed) | 0 |
| Total Hours | 34-37 | |
- 1
This course may only be taken with special approval of the Director of Field Experience and the Division Chair.
- 2
To be taken concurrently with student teaching or capstone.
Students must have a grade of C or higher in all master's courses and content coursework for successful program completion.
Required Content Coursework (18 semester hours):
- Grades of C or higher in college-level coursework (not remedial) will fulfill content coursework requirements.
- Content coursework must be completed at regionally accredited institution(s) of higher education and be documented on official transcript(s).
- 3 semester hours: Writing
- 3 semester hours: Fine arts or literature
- 3 semester hours: Mathematics
- 3 semester hours: Science
- 3 semester hours: Social studies (American Government or U.S. History)
- 3 semester hours: Social science (psychology or sociology preferred)
Clinical Experience (Pre-Professional Hours)
- Minimum of 100 hours (all pre-professional hours are embedded in the MAT coursework).
- Each course will describe the number of hours required to be completed in classrooms and the nature of the experience that a candidate must complete.
Pathway 2: Pathway 2 graduates are not eligible for any state of Illinois endorsement upon completion of this program.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite to Professional Courses | ||
| SPED-6100 | Introduction to Education: Special Topics | 1 |
| SPED-6425 | Psychology & Methods of Teaching the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| Professional Courses | ||
| EDU-6200 | Beginning Reading Instruction | 3 |
| EDU-6212 | Studies in Literacy and Multiliteracy | 3 |
| or EDU-6230 | Content Reading: Middle and Secondary Schools | |
| SPED-6050 | Teaching Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Students w/ Disabilities: Characteristics Methods | 3 |
| or ESL-6630 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Multilingual Learners | |
| SPED-6230 | Assistive Technology: Principles and Practice | 3 |
| SPED-6350 | Characteristics and Learning Needs of Students with Academic and Physical Challenges | 3 |
| SPED-6355 | Instructional Strategies for Students with Academic and Physical Challenges | 3 |
| SPED-6360 | Characteristics and Learning Needs of Students with Specific Learning and Emotional Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED-6365 | Instructional Strategies for Students with Specific Learning Disabilities and Emotional Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED-6370 | Curriculum Based and Educational Measurements of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Students must have a grade of C or higher in all master's courses and content coursework for successful program completion.
Required Content Coursework (18 semester hours):
- Grades of C or higher in college-level coursework (not remedial) will fulfill content coursework requirements.
- Content coursework must be completed at regionally accredited institution(s) of higher education and be documented on official transcript(s).
- 3 semester hours: Writing
- 3 semester hours: Fine arts or literature
- 3 semester hours: Mathematics
- 3 semester hours: Science
- 3 semester hours: Social studies (American Government or U.S. History)
- 3 semester hours: Social science (psychology or sociology preferred)
Clinical Experience (Pre-Professional Hours)
- 100 hours (all pre-professional hours are embedded in the MAT coursework).
- Each course will describe the number of hours required to be completed in classrooms and the nature of the experience that a candidate must complete.