Special Education Moderate Disabilities Levels PreK-8/Professional 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 with Professional Licensure options: Moderate Disabilities Levels PreK-8: Moderate Disabilities Levels 5-12; and Severe Disabilities: All Levels concentrations each require the completion of 39 credits hours. The professional licensure MS option does not require 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/Professional Licensure concentration are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPE 540 | Research in Education | 3 |
| Edu Prof Lic Elec | Electives | 12 |
| Edu Prof Lic Elec II | Electives 1 | 24 |
| Total Credits Required: | 39 | |
- 1
Students must select 24 credits of graduate coursework with an EDU, ESL, RDG, SEA, or SPE prefix.
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RDG 530 | Reading Research | 3 |
| RDG 532 | Methods and Strategies for Comp of Narrative and Non-Fiction Text | 3 |
| RDG 534 | Reading and Writing Assessment | 3 |
| RDG 538 | Language Disorders and Literacy | 3 |
| RDG 548 | Structures of Language and Lit Part 2: Consolidation of Lit Acquisition | 3 |
| SPE 543 | Teaching of Writing | 3 |
| SPE 547 | Structure of Language Part l: Phonology, Orthography, Morphology | 3 |
Academic Requirements
Note: This schedule reflects a possible sequence of courses to be taken in fulfillment of the Master of Science in Education program with a concentration in Professional Moderate Disabilities PreK-8 Licensure. This sequence assumes a fall semester start. Please see program director for specific course sequence. Candidates need to take SPE 540 Research in Education, take 4 of the 7 remaining courses listed below, and take 24 credits of graduate coursework with an EDU, ESL, RDG, SEA, or SPE prefix (not listed below - students should consult with their program director for course availability).
Two-Year Sequence
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| RDG 534 | Reading and Writing Assessment | 3 |
| RDG 538 | Language Disorders and Literacy | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| RDG 548 | Structures of Language and Lit Part 2: Consolidation of Lit Acquisition | 3 |
| SPE 540 | Research in Education | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| SPE 543 | Teaching of Writing | 3 |
| RDG 530 | Reading Research | 3 |
| RDG 532 | Methods and Strategies for Comp of Narrative and Non-Fiction Text | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SPE 547 | Structure of Language Part l: Phonology, Orthography, Morphology | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Credits Required: | 24 | |
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.