PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE
SPECIAL EDUCATION - INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST GRADES 4-12
PURPOSE OF THE DEGREE
The purpose of the M.S.E. degree in Special Education - Instructional Specialist 4-12 is to offer educators an advanced performance-based program of study based on the recommendations of professional organizations and accrediting associations such as the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and NCATE. Students completing this program gain expertise in teaching students exhibiting developmental, learning and behavioral disabilities, and in consulting with general education teachers who have students with disabilities in their classrooms.
Students seeking endorsement in special education, without pursuing the M.S.E. degree, should see an advisor for an analysis of completed courses and the requirements of a program of study.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Students seeking admission into the M.S.E. program in Special Education must
meet 1) the general admission requirements of the Graduate School, 2) submit
three letters of recommendation which attests to the applicant’s ability to
complete graduate study, and work with children with disabilities, and 3)
submit a written statement of your professional goals and how this program
would address those goals. If the applicant desires endorsement as
Instructional Specialist 4-12 to teach Special Education in Arkansas, he/she
must be eligible for general education licensure in either grades 4-8 or grades
7-12, and complete 6 semester hours of undergraduate special education courses,
as specified below.
Unconditional Admissions
In addition to Graduate School criteria, academic proficiency must be established through satisfaction of either of the following admissions selection criteria:
1. A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 (or 3.25 on the last 60 hours) and a raw score of at least 30 on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or a minimum score of 790 on the combined verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or
2. A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 (or 3.00 on the last 60 hours) and a raw score of at least 35 on the MAT (or a minimum score of 820 on the combined verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE).
Conditional Admissions
In addition to Graduate School criteria for conditional admission, academic proficiency must be established through satisfaction of either of the following admission selection criteria:
1. The total undergraduate GPA is at least 2.50 and when the undergraduate GPA is multiplied by 10, and then multiplied by the MAT score the total is at least 600 (GPA x 10 x MAT = 600), or
2. The total undergraduate GPA is at least 2.50 and when the undergraduate GPA is multiplied by the GRE score the total is at least 1850 (GPA x GRE = 1850).
PROGRAM ADMISSION PROCEDURES
1. Contact the Graduate School for an application materials packet.
2. Submit completed application form, fee, and transcripts to the Graduate School.
3. Submit a written statement of your professional goals and how this program would address those goals with your application to the Graduate School.
4. Request that three letters of recommendation, as described above, in support of your application, be sent to the Graduate School for attachment to your application.
5. If seeking Arkansas endorsement in Special Education, enclose a copy of a current Arkansas Teacher Certificate.
6. The application is reviewed by the Graduate School and if the applicant qualifies for general admissions, the application is forwarded to the Department of Special Education.
7. The applicant will be contacted by two members of the department for an screening interview.
8. The committee makes final recommendation to the Graduate School for admissions into the Special Education-Instructional Specialist Program.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Undergraduate prerequisites
SE
2013 Introduction to Special Education as a Profession
SE 3023 Characteristics of
Individuals with Disabilities
I. Core courses required of all candidates for the Master of Science in Education degree:
EDFN
6763 Philosophies of Education or PSY 6513 Advanced Educational
Psychology
EDFN
6773 Introduction to Statistics and Research
II. Courses required of all students majoring in Special Education - Instructional Specialist 4-12
SE 5033 Behavior
Intervention and Consultation
SE
5043 Educational
Diagnosis and Assessment in Special Education *
SE
6053 Educational Procedures for Individuals with Mild
Disabilities
SE
6063 Educational Procedures for Children with Emotional
Disabilities
SE
6073 Educational Procedures for Individuals with Moderate-Profound
Disabilities
SE
6093 Collaboration for Special Education Service Delivery
SE
6103 Seminar - Studies of Research in Special Education
SE 6813
Introductory Laboratory Experiences I in Special Education
(SE 6813 Required only for persons
not licensed in Special Education)
SE 6823
Advanced Laboratory Experiences II in Special Education
Restricted
Elective(s) (advisor approval required)
minimum of 3 cr. hrs.
Minimum hours required for this program: 33 (36 if not licensed/endorsed in special education)
* A restricted elective courses may be substituted for this course if the student has completed the undergraduate course of the same title to fulfill licensure requirements within the preceding five years of becoming a candidate for M.S.E. degree in special education.
ELIGIBILITY TO CONTINUE IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST 4-12 PROGRAM
Continuation in the M.S.E. program is contingent upon maintaining the GPA required by the Graduate School; and before registering for more than 18 credit hours 1) receiving interim approval by two members of the Special Education faculty, including the student’s advisor the student’s professional portfolio, and 2) completion of the candidacy form.
ELIGIBILITY FOR GRADUATION
Upon completion of the required courses, candidates for the M.S.E. degree in Special Education-Instructional Specialist 4-12 must 1) receive final approval of their professional portfolio, which documents proficiency in the knowledge and skill base of special education, as defined by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), 2) pass a written comprehensive examination, and 3) take the appropriate Praxis II examinations for endorsement in special education in Arkansas. A copy of the scores must be sent to the Dean’s Office, College of Education, Arkansas State University, prior to graduation.