Special Education, M.Ed.

Degree: Master of Education (M.Ed.)

The Master of Education program provides advanced study to certified teachers* or teacher candidates who have completed a bachelor’s degree. The program builds on the College of Education’s conceptual framework, to prepare educators to become competent and caring professionals who are able to work effectively with diverse populations.

*Licensed or certified in the State of Tennessee or a United States equivalent.

Specifically, the goals are to provide advanced study in the following areas:

• Curriculum and Instruction

Concentrations

• Curriculum Planning (licensed teachers only)
• Educational Technology (non-licensure option)
• Music (non-licensure option)
• Reading Specialist (endorsement only)
• Secondary School Instruction (includes Music Education)
• Teaching English Language Learners (endorsement or non-licensure option)

• Elementary Education
• Special Education

Concentration

• Mild/Moderate

• Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning

Student Learning Outcomes:

Graduates will:

1. Become reflective, caring, competent, and culturally responsive practitioners who are able to work with diverse populations using research based interventions.
2. Generate new knowledge through scholarly research and communication.
3. Apply relevant theory, philosophy, research, policies,legislation, and best practice to their professional goals.
4. Demonstrate growth in knowledge of content, differentiated interventions, and developmentally appropriate pedagogy.
5. Become collaborators with learners, parents, the community,and other professionals.
6. Uphold the ethical standards, values, and attitudes of the education profession

Major: Special Education

The Special Education program provides candidates with courses and experiences designed to prepare competent professionals facilitators of learning with a multicultural perspective to serve in various educational capacities. Graduates are prepared to serve as classroom teachers, and to serve as professionals employed by hospitals, group homes, mental health centers, and other community service agencies, both public and private, serving individuals with disabilities.

Admission Requirements

Unconditional admission to the program requires the applicant to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university, an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale, and satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Millers Analogies (MAT). The GRE or MAT result is used in the evaluation of the academic qualifications of all graduate applicants. *Note: International students must meet all admissions requirements to be accepted into Department programs.

Applicants should refer to the follow ranges to determine the minimum score, based on their GPA of record:

Conditional admission may be gained with a lower grade point average, but the GRE or MAT score must be correspondingly higher based on the above weightings. Applicants with less than a 2.5 undergraduate GPA must submit test scores at the time of application; applicants with a GPA of 2.5 or above may submit test scores in the first semester of attendance, but it is preferable that they submit test scores at the time of original application. The student must remove conditional status by fulfilling required score on graduate exam (GRE or MAT) and earning at least a B (3.0) average in the first nine hours of graduate courses. Failure to achieve this will result in withdrawal from the program. A student with a lower GRE/MAT score does not qualify for conditional admission regardless of a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Admissions to teacher education programs at the graduate level may require additional evidence of academic performance (higher GPA, other test scores). Applicants who are seeking initial teaching license should contact the Office of Teacher Education and Student Services for current requirements.

Applicants who are potential candidates for the Master’s Degree Special Education must be certified to teach or must meet certification (initial licensure) before the degree is awarded.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Master of Special Education degree, and initial certification (K-8 Interventionist), must take a minimum of 42 semester hours of course work. Candidates for the Master of Special Education degree who are adding certification to an existing license must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours of course work. Both candidates must successfully pass a two-part comprehensive examination is required to complete the degree. The first part is an examination that covers the general core courses and the second part is a subject/discipline specific examination.

Program of Study

Candidates in the M.Ed. degree in Special Education must complete 42 semester hours and pass comprehensive examinations in general education and special education. Candidates take the 15 hours required for professional core,15  hours in Special Education, and 15 hours in basic instructional methods courses which includes 3 hours of supervised student teaching.

Candidates seeking initial teacher licensure must satisfy requirements for admission to Teacher Education before enrolling in the final semester of student teaching where 6 semester hours of course work are completed including edTPA portfolio.

The master’s degree will not be awarded until licensure requirements are fulfilled.