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Master of Science in Special Education

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Preparing Teaching Professionals to Educate and Develop Today’s Diverse Students

The Master of Science in Special Education program equips teaching professionals with the fundamental skills, knowledge and competencies needed to meet the needs of students with disabilities in multiple settings. The program is a flexible and convenient part-time graduate program that gives current teachers a comprehensive understanding of developing the potential of students with disabilities.

Concentrations:

  • Autism: 
    The number of children diagnosed with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome has increased drastically over the past decade.  Consequently, there is an increasingly high-demand for professionals trained in educating children diagnosed with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. The Autism concentration is designed for those who seek additional expertise in this critical field. The concentration’s curriculum provides knowledge and skills for working with these students. Effective teaching methods, interventions, and support will also be emphasized.
  • Technologies for Special Education: 
    Best practices in the education of students with disabilities require educational professionals to be proficient with a wide range of technologies.  This concentration is designed for those seeking additional expertise in the area of educational technologies and assistive technology that can be used to create accessible learning opportunities and increased outcomes for students with disabilities.
  • Languages & Cultural Issues: 
    Today’s students not only possess a diverse range of abilities, but diverse language and cultural backgrounds as well.  This concentration is designed for those who are seeking to work with linguistically and culturally diverse students who have or are at-risk for disabilities. The coursework in this concentration can be applied to PA Program Specialist - English as a Second Language (ESL) certification.
  • Customization: 
    Students who already posses a special education certification or students not interested in obtaining a special education certification, but want to enhance their skills in specific special education topic areas, may choose to take two of the concentrations (24 credits) and 18 credits of their choosing from the special education certification core in addition to completing the research courses.

The Special Education program consists of 49.5 credits divided between 31.5 credits in Core Special Education Certification courses, 12 credits in concentration courses, and 6 credits in research.

The Master of Science in Special Education is intended for those interested in gaining greater skills and expertise in the area of Special Education and/or a teaching certificate in the area of special education.  Candidates seeking PA special education certification must have been issued a prior PA Instructional I or Instructional II teaching certificate. Students who do not have their teaching certification have the following options: 

  • Earn a Instructional I certificate through a post-bachelor’s teaching certification program, such as the one offered through Drexel- http://www.drexel.com/online-degrees/education-degrees/cert-pbt/index.aspx, to apply to the MS in Special Education program.
  • Rather than enroll in the MS in Special Education program, take the MS Teaching, Learning and Curriculum: Teacher Certification Track program and take Special Education electives (four additional classes beyond those needed for the MS degree to earn both certifications).  At the end of this option, students would have both an Instructional I and a Special Education certifications, as well as a Masters in Science.  More info can be found here- http://www.drexel.com/online-degrees/education-degrees/ms-si/index.aspx. 
  • Take the Special Education program as a non-certification student.  Students who choose this option will not be able to teach in public schools in Pennsylvania. However, many teachers in states outside of Pennsylvania choose this option after contacting their state’s Department of Education to determine special education certification requirements in their state. 

 

*In order to qualify for PA Instructional I Special Education N-12 certification, all certification courses must be completed (with the required minimum grade), the Praxis Special Education:  Core Knowledge and Applications Test (code 0354 or 5354) must be taken and passed, and the application for PA certification must be in TIMS (Teacher Information Management System) by August 31, 2013.  Students completing the certification courses and passing the PECT Special Education PreK-8 Modules (Modules 1 and 2) after 8/31/13, will be eligible for the PA Instructional I Special Education PreK-8 certification.

 

Drexel also offers a Supervisor of Special Education certification program. Click here to view more information about this program.

 

Graduate Education Non-Matriculated Option
Do you need continuing education requirements, Act 48 credits, or just looking for professional development and only want to take a couple of classes? Learn more about our non-matriculated option. 

 

Related Programs of Interest 

Join us for our on-campus open house to learn more about this program.

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