Special Education, Master of Education
Program Details
The Master of Education in Special Education requires a minimum of thirty (30-33) hours of graduate coursework. The degree affords the student a choice of three specialization areas: Assessment (Educational Diagnostician Certification), Instructional Specialist, and an Autism/Emotional Behavioral Disorder focus. A “certificate only” plan is also available for professional educators who have a Master’s Degree in special education or a closely related field and wish to seek TEA certification as an Educational Diagnostician. The capstone experience for the Master of Education in Special Education is the completion of one of two options:
- a Graduate Research Project in their EDSE 5301 Research in Spec Education course, or
- Thesis (which is an additional 6 hour requirement).
Additional coursework may be required depending on the option selected. All students, regardless of the capstone experience option chosen, will develop an e-portfolio that documents content proficiency. Candidates seeking certification as an Educational Diagnostician must request an application from the Educator Preparation Program during their first semester of graduate studies.
Prerequisites
Students who apply to the Masters of Education in Special Education program should have a broad base in one or more of the following areas:
- Special Education
- Education
- Child Growth and Development
- Curriculum and Instruction
Course Load
Normal course loads consist of 6-9 hours per semester with a minimum grade of “B” required for all courses. Only grades of “A” or “B” will be accepted toward this degree. Candidates for the Master of Education degree in Special Education must earn a minimum of 30 semester credit hours and maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Students must submit a comprehensive portfolio that follows the given template during the semester of the completion of coursework, as part of the requirements for graduation with the Master of Education degree in Special Education.
Instructional Specialist Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSE 5321 | Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education (Fall/Spring only) | 3 |
| EDSE 5309 | Special Problems | 3 |
| EDSE 5354 | Emotional Behavior Disorders | 3 |
| Additional Coursework | ||
| Select 3 hours of additional coursework 1 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
The program allows students to customize their electives in the specialty/support fields listed below to achieve their academic/career endeavors.
- Early Childhood
- Counseling
- Educational Administration
- Reading (recommend Dyslexia course)
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
Assessment Focus (Educational Diagnostician)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5374 | Ed & Psych Measurement & Eval | 3 |
| EDSE 5375 | Spec Ed Assessment Practicum 2 | 3 |
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| Additional Coursework 4 | ||
| Select six hours of additional coursework 1 | 6 | |
| Ind Psych & Educational Eval 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
- 1
The program allows students to customize their electives in the specialty/support fields listed below to achieve their academic/career endeavors. Additional coursework may include Thesis hours.
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Early Childhood
- Counseling
- Educational Administration
- Special Education
- 2
May be repeated for credit
- 3
Required as an elective if candidate does not have equivalent
- 4
EDSE 5321 Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom is required as an elective if candidate does not have equivalent.
Autism/Emotional Behavior Disorder Focus
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSE 5309 | Special Problems (Professional Collaboration) | 3 |
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5353 | Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Issues | 3 |
| EDSE 5354 | Emotional Behavior Disorders | 3 |
| EDSE 5351 | Adv Behavior Analysis & Interv | 3 |
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Educational Diagnostician Certificate
Candidates seeking only Educational Diagnostician Certification must earn a minimum of 24 semester credit hours as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5374 | Ed & Psych Measurement & Eval | 3 |
| EDSE 5375 | Spec Ed Assessment Practicum 1 | 3-6 |
| Total Credits | 24-27 | |
- 1
May be repeated for credit
Graduate Admission Categories
Unconditional Admission
For unconditional admission, applicants must have:
- an undergraduate cumulative grade point average between 2.60-2.99 or an undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 or higher for the last 60 semester credits (or 90 quarter credits), and a minimum GRE composite (Q+V) score of 297 (1000 for tests taken prior to August 2011), or a minimum MAT score of 388 (MAT scores are for Education majors only),
or - an undergraduate cumulative grade point average between 3.00-4.00 and a minimum GRE composite (Q+V) score of 285 (800 for tests taken prior to August 2011) or minimum MAT score of 388 (MAT scores are for Education majors only).
Conditional Admission
Applicants who do not meet the GPA/GRE (or GPA/MAT) requirement may be conditionally admitted and will be allowed to take program specified required coursework. Students will be unconditionally admitted after successfully completing their first semester with a grade point average of 3.0 or above and by maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or above on all A&M-San Antonio graduate courses.
Program Details
The Master of Education in Special Education requires a minimum of thirty (30-33) hours of graduate coursework. The degree affords the student a choice of three specialization areas: Assessment (Educational Diagnostician Certification), Instructional Specialist, and an Autism/Emotional Behavioral Disorder focus. A “certificate only” plan is also available for professional educators who have a Master’s Degree in special education or a closely related field and wish to seek TEA certification as an Educational Diagnostician. The capstone experience for the Master of Education in Special Education is the completion of one of two options:
- a Graduate Research Project in their EDSE 5301 Research in Spec Education course, or
- Thesis (which is an additional 6 hour requirement).
Additional coursework may be required depending on the option selected. All students, regardless of the capstone experience option chosen, will develop an e-portfolio that documents content proficiency. Candidates seeking certification as an Educational Diagnostician must request an application from the Educator Preparation Program during their first semester of graduate studies.
Prerequisites
Students who apply to the Masters of Education in Special Education program should have a broad base in one or more of the following areas:
- Special Education
- Education
- Child Growth and Development
- Curriculum and Instruction
Course Load
Normal course loads consist of 6-9 hours per semester with a minimum grade of “B” required for all courses. Only grades of “A” or “B” will be accepted toward this degree. Candidates for the Master of Education degree in Special Education must earn a minimum of 30 semester credit hours and maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Students must submit a comprehensive portfolio that follows the given template during the semester of the completion of coursework, as part of the requirements for graduation with the Master of Education degree in Special Education.
Instructional Specialist Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSE 5321 | Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education (Fall/Spring only) | 3 |
| EDSE 5309 | Special Problems | 3 |
| EDSE 5354 | Emotional Behavior Disorders | 3 |
| Additional Coursework | ||
| Select 3 hours of additional coursework 1 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
The program allows students to customize their electives in the specialty/support fields listed below to achieve their academic/career endeavors.
- Early Childhood
- Counseling
- Educational Administration
- Reading (recommend Dyslexia course)
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
Assessment Focus (Educational Diagnostician)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5374 | Ed & Psych Measurement & Eval | 3 |
| EDSE 5375 | Spec Ed Assessment Practicum 2 | 3 |
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| Additional Coursework 4 | ||
| Select six hours of additional coursework 1 | 6 | |
| Ind Psych & Educational Eval 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
- 1
The program allows students to customize their electives in the specialty/support fields listed below to achieve their academic/career endeavors. Additional coursework may include Thesis hours.
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Early Childhood
- Counseling
- Educational Administration
- Special Education
- 2
May be repeated for credit
- 3
Required as an elective if candidate does not have equivalent
- 4
EDSE 5321 Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom is required as an elective if candidate does not have equivalent.
Autism/Emotional Behavior Disorder Focus
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSE 5309 | Special Problems (Professional Collaboration) | 3 |
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5353 | Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Issues | 3 |
| EDSE 5354 | Emotional Behavior Disorders | 3 |
| EDSE 5351 | Adv Behavior Analysis & Interv | 3 |
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Educational Diagnostician Certificate
Candidates seeking only Educational Diagnostician Certification must earn a minimum of 24 semester credit hours as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5374 | Ed & Psych Measurement & Eval | 3 |
| EDSE 5375 | Spec Ed Assessment Practicum 1 | 3-6 |
| Total Credits | 24-27 | |
- 1
May be repeated for credit
The suggested plan of study are intended to be used as a guide in conjunction with official degree requirements outlined in the catalog.
Instructional Specialist Track
This is an example of a degree track for a Master of Education in Special Education- Instructional Specialist Track (30 credit hours). This plan has all electives already selected for the student.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| EDSE 5321 | Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom | 3 |
| EDSE 5309 | Special Problems | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| EDSE 5354 | Emotional Behavior Disorders | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Additional Coursework | 3 | |
| Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil or Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Issues or Adv Behavior Analysis & Interv or Ed & Psych Measurement & Eval | ||
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Assessment Focus (Educational Diagnostician) Track
This is an example of a degree track for a Master of Education in Special Education- Assessment Focus (Educational Diagnostician 33 credit hours). This plan has all the electives already selected for the students.
Required Coursework
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| EDSE 5375 | Spec Ed Assessment Practicum 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5374 | Ed & Psych Measurement & Eval | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Additional Coursework (6 semester credit hours - Select 2 Courses)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Credits | |
| Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom 2, 3 | ||
| Lang Disorders of Except Chld 2 | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Spec Ed Assessment Practicum (May be taken in spring ) 2, 4 | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Summer | ||
| Special Problems 2 | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Total Credits | 0 | |
- 1
Can be repeated for credit
- 2
Required courses, additional approved course or thesis can be substituted
- 3
Must be taken if prerequisite requirement is not met
- 4
If practicum is not completed in one semester (otherwise, a course from Reading, Bilingual, Counseling, or Educational Leadership may be selected with approval)
Educational Diagnostician Certificate Track
This is an example of a degree track for Educational Diagnostician Certificate – 24-27 credit hours). This plan has all the electives already selected for the students.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| EDSE 5321 | Accom Diverse Pop in Classroom 1 | 3 |
| EDSE 5355 | Assmnt & Ed Proc Low Incid Pop 3 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| EDSE 5374 | Ed & Psych Measurement & Eval | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDSE 5375 | Spec Ed Assessment Practicum 2 | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- 1
Pre-req if needed
- 2
Repeat for credit if needed to collect 160 hours of internship
- 3
If not taken the previous year
Autism/Emotional Behavior Disorder Focus Track
This is an example of a degree track for Autism/Emotional Behavior Disorder Focus 30 credit-hours). This plan has all the electives already selected for the students.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| EDSE 5322 | Ed Test & Measure of Exc Lrnr | 3 |
| EDSE 5327 | Fed Leg, Litigation & Advocacy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDSE 5324 | Dsgn Instr & Behav Pgr Sp Pop | 3 |
| EDSE 5326 | Behav Aspcts of Clss Org & Mgt | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| EDSE 5309 | Special Problems | 3 |
| EDSE 5325 | Teaching Stds Low Incd Disabil | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| EDSE 5301 | Research in Spec Education | 3 |
| EDSE 5354 | Emotional Behavior Disorders | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDSE 5353 | Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Issues | 3 |
| EDSE 5351 | Adv Behavior Analysis & Interv | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |