Special Education Moderate Disabilities Levels PreK-8 (Initial) Licensure Concentration, M.S.
Master of Science in Education
The Master of Science in Education is designed to prepare professionals for careers in education and related fields. The degree includes options for individuals with a bachelor’s degree that leads to careers in education in pre-school through secondary levels. While the M.S. in Education seeks to provide graduates with the skills, knowledge, and creativity needed for success in the classroom, community, and organizations, the specializations, certifications and licensure provide depth in a particular area of educational practice, policy, curriculum, and state-of-the-art inclusionary best practices.
Coursework for the Moderate Disabilities program provides practitioners with age-appropriate strategies for education students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. The program focuses on current issues in special education, best practices for inclusive education, including law nondiscriminatory assessment, issues of cultural and linguistic diversity, classroom and behavioral adaptations, integration of new technologies and collaboration with families and service providers. This program includes a yearlong practicum.
Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Education degree with the concentration in Moderate Disabilities Levels 5-12, Moderate Disabilities Levels PreK-8, and Severe Disabilities: All Levels all require the completion of 39 credit hours and a practicum or internship experience to meet degree requirements. The Special Education Non-Licensure concentration requires the completion of 39 credit hours to meet degree requirements. This concentration does not require the completion of a practicum or internship experience.
Additional Program Information
Title II of the Higher Education Act
Title II (Section 207 of the Higher Education Act) requires that institutions with teacher preparation programs that enroll students receiving federal financial assistance prepare annual reports on teacher preparation and licensing. The full report is distributed with admissions materials and is also available upon request.
Degree requirements for the Special Education Moderate Disabilities Levels PreK-8 (Initial) Licensure concentration are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPE 510 | Managing Challenging Behaviors | 3 |
| SPE 515 | Foundations for Promoting Inclusive Schools | 3 |
| SPE 520 | Learners with Special Needs | 3 |
| SPE 525 | Multisensory Language and Literacy Strategies | 3 |
| SPE 528 | Curriculum I: English, Reading, History/Social Science PreK-8 | 3 |
| SPE 530 | Curriculum Design and Assessment | 3 |
| SPE 538 | Curriculum II: Math, Science, Technology and Engineering PreK-8 | 3 |
| SPE 548 | Reading and Language Arts for English Language Learners | 3 |
| SPE 555 | Pre-Practicum | 0 |
| Select the following twice: | 6 | |
| Practicum Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) | ||
| Electives 1 | 6 | |
| Total Credits Required: | 36 | |
- 1
Students can select from Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, English as a Second Language, Reading, Special Education, or Special Education Administrator courses that are not a practicum, pre-practicum, or seminar course.
Academic Requirements
Note: This schedule reflects a possible sequence of courses to be taken in fulfillment of the M.S. Education degree with a concentration in Moderate Disabilities PreK-8. This sequence assumes a fall semester start. Students in this program can begin with any course except the pre-practicum, practicum and seminar courses. Please see program director for specific course sequence for combination with Autism Spectrum Disorders or Language and Literacy. Course sequence is subject to change.
Two-Year Sequence
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| SPE 505 | 3 | |
| SPE 525 | Multisensory Language and Literacy Strategies | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SPE 515 | Foundations for Promoting Inclusive Schools | 3 |
| SPE 520 | Learners with Special Needs | 3 |
| SPE 548 | Reading and Language Arts for English Language Learners | 3 |
| SPE 554 | 0 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| SPE 555 | Pre-Practicum | 0 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SPE 510 | Managing Challenging Behaviors | 3 |
| SPE 528 | Curriculum I: English, Reading, History/Social Science PreK-8 | 3 |
| SPE 558 | Practicum Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SPE 530 | Curriculum Design and Assessment | 3 |
| SPE 538 | Curriculum II: Math, Science, Technology and Engineering PreK-8 | 3 |
| SPE 558 | Practicum Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credits Required: | 39 | |
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Master of Science in Education program are expected to demonstrate achievement in all areas of the program. Specifically, graduates will be able to:
- Prepare students to meet the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Professional Standards for Teachers Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment standard.
- Prepare students to meet the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Professional Standards for Teachers Teaching All Students standard.
- Prepare students to meet the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Professional Standards for Teachers Professional Culture standard.
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills through in-class assignments and presentations, to be applied in the teaching-learning process.