Special Education M.S.Ed.
CIP: 131007
A graduate degree is offered in Special Education with a focus on working with students with mild to moderate disabilities. These disabilities include students in multicategorical areas of learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbance, and physical and other health impaired. The subject field required courses and many of the elective courses are offered as on-line courses. Check with the Special Education Coordinator for periodicity of the courses.
Program Admission Requirements
- A minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 on the undergraduate transcript or an undergraduate overall GPA of 2.50 to 2.74 and a 3.25 GPA on eight hours of required graduate coursework at Northwest in the major program where admission is requested.
- Teaching certificate on file
- Admission Assessment Options: PRAXIS or Missouri Content Area Assessment scores submitted prior to admission AND successful completion of a supervised Analytical Writing Assessment (which may include the student being required to read, summarize and critique a pre-selected scholarly journal article that is evaluated using a writing scoring guide based on the Modified CUNY with a 4.0 or higher) conducted by the department during the first trimester of enrollment. OR GRE Score on file with a score of 3.5 or higher on the Writing section.
A student who has successfully completed the Alternative Certification program in Special Education (3.0 GPA or higher) is exempt from the writing assessment.
Prerequisites for this program include:
The State designated content assessment in special education for certification is necessary for Missouri certification for those who do not already have special education certification. This program does not grant certification.
- A valid teaching certificate. The following prerequisites may be reviewed if the teaching certificate was issued prior to the following course being included in certification requirements:
- Two or more years of teaching experience or completion of directed teaching in a special education area or completion of an additional three semester hour practicum course in special education.
- Courses in child psychology and adolescent psychology of at least two semester hours or one combined course of at least three semesters in child and adolescent psychology.
- An introductory course in special education or education of the exceptional child of at least two semester hours.
- Reading—five semester hours.
- Mathematics methods—five semester hours. (Shall include coursework in teaching remedial mathematics. This remedial mathematics requirement can be met by completing EDCI 62603 and/or EDCI 62574.)
Course Requirements
Core Requirements (6)
Subject Field Requirements (18)
| EDCI 62522 | Technology for Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| EDCI 62635 | Techniques for Conferencing and Collaboration | 3 |
| EDCI 62642 | Introduction to Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities | 3 |
| EDCI 62643 | Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities | 3 |
| EDCI 62621 | Administration of Special Education | 3 |
| EDCI 62699 | Seminar: Selected Topics in Special Education | 3 |
Electives (see advisor for certification requirements and approved electives) (8)
Certification Electives
| EDCI 62508 | Transition/Career Education for Students with Disabilities | 2 |
| EDCI 62540 | Behavior Management Techniques | 3 |
| EDCI 62553 | The Reading Program in the Secondary School | 3 |
| EDCI 62574 | Teaching Math to Students with Disabilities | 2 |
| EDCI 62652 | Psych-Education Measurement | 3 |
| EDCI 62654 | Analysis and Correction of Reading Disabilities | 3 |
| EDCI 62655 | Reading in the Elementary School | 3 |
| EDCI 62666 | Practicum in Mild to Moderate Disabilities: Elementary | 1 to 4 |
| EDCI 62667 | Practicum in Mild to Moderate Disabilities: Secondary | 1 to 4 |
| EDCI 62641 | Educating the Exceptional Child | 3 |
| COM 29553 | Language, Speech, and Hearing of the Exceptional Child and Adult | 3 |
Approved Electives
| EDCI 62504 | Creating Inclusive Classrooms | 3 |
| EDCI 62520 | Introduction to Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| EDCI 62542 | Curriculum and Methods in Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| EDCI 62544 | Practicum in Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| EDUC 61665 | School Law | 3 |
| EDCI 62622 | Internship in Special Education Administration | 2 to 4 |
| Other electives as approved by advisor | |
Total Credit Hours: 32