Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education

A master’s-only track is available for experienced special educators who have a bachelor’s degree in special education or a closely-related field. This track is appropriate for individuals who wish to earn a master’s degree while expanding their knowledge of the field. In this track, students register for a number of common courses covering topics designed to broaden teachers’ knowledge of special education strategies and promote professional development. Students also select, in conjunction with their advisor, additional classes to enhance their knowledge in a selected area of focus. Students in this track culminate their experience with a master’s project, designed by working with their faculty advisor.

Curriculum

Research (Min. 6 cr)

• EDCI 570*: Introduction to Research (3 cr)
• EDSP 531: Single Subject Design Research (3 cr)
• EDCI 573: Action Research (3 cr)

* Required

Special Education Courses (Min. 18 cr)

• EDSP 520: Education of People with Disabilities (3 cr) fall
• EDSP 530: Assistive Technology & Universal Design for Learning for Pre-K12 (2 cr) fall
• EDSP 531: Single subject research (3 cr) spring every other year; if not taken as the research requirement
• EDSP 540: Applied Behavior Analysis (3 cr) fall
• EDSP 548: Special Ed Curriculum (3 cr) fall
• EDSP 549: Language, Communication, and Social/Emotional Enhancement (3 cr) fall
• EDSP 423: Collaboration (3 cr) spring
• EDSP 425: Assessment (3 cr) spring
• EDSP 426: IEP Development (3 cr) spring
• EDSP 519: Orientation to Autism Spectrum Disorder (3 cr) spring every other year 2019
• EDSP 504: Evidence Based Practices in Special Education (2 cr) spring every other year 2020
• EDSP 504: Trends and Topics in Developmental Disabilities (3 cr) fall every other year starting 2019

Additional Courses (3 - 6 cr)

Credits arranged with Major Professor. These credit hours may include coursework in EDSP, EDCI, EDAD, ADOL or ED. Examples of classes:

• EDAD 513 Administration of Special Education Law (3)
• EDAD 582 Special Education Director Administration (3)
• EDAD 595 Supervision of Personnel (3)
• EDCI 511: Planning and Administering the Curriculum (3)
• EDCI 513: History of Education Thought (3)
• EDCI 524: Models of Teaching (3)
• EDCI 572: Measurements and Evaluation (3)

Final Research Project

• EDSP 599*: Research: Non-thesis project/Capstone portfolio (1 - 3 cr)

* Required: EDSP 599 (1 cr) the semester of graduation

The master’s plus certification track is available to people new to special education and affords the opportunity to earn a degree while gaining initial Special Education Exceptional Child K-12 teaching preparation and certification. Students who pursue this track will exit with the master’s degree and an Idaho teaching certification in Exceptional Child Generalist. Because this track results in initial preparation in special education, coursework is paired with field experience so that students will gain the opportunity to link their subject knowledge to pedagogy and practice. The culminating activity for students in this track is a semester long teaching internship during which students will gain valuable hands-on experience. Candidates in this track already will hold an elementary or secondary teaching certificate and have no previous degree in special education.

Curriculum

Prerequisites

• EDSP 300: Education for Exceptionalities (3 cr) (all semesters)
  Or EDSP 520 Education of People with Disabilities (3 cr) (fall)

• EDSP 325: Classroom Application of Learning Theory (2 cr) (summer)
• EDSP 350: Language & Communication Development & Disorders (3 cr) (summer)

• Elementary Certification through U of I
  Or EDCI 463 Content Reading (3 cr)

• *Pass Praxis #5001 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (this Praxis exam must be passed within the first semester of student’s graduate studies)

Fall Courses

• EDSP 540: Behavioral Analysis for Children and Youth (3 cr)
• EDSP 548: Special Education Curriculum (3 cr)
• EDSP 549: Language, Communication and Social/Emotional Enhancement (3 cr)
• EDSP 530: Assistive Technology & UDL in K12 (2 cr.)

Spring Courses

• EDSP 423: Collaboration (3 cr)
• EDSP 425: Assessment (3 cr)
• EDSP 426: IEP Development (3 cr)

Any Semester Courses

• EDCI 570 Research (3 cr) (all semesters)

Final Semester Courses

• EDSP 599: Research: Non-thesis project (1-3 cr) must have one credit of EDSP the semester of graduation
• EDSP 597 :Internship/student teaching (6-8 cr) (8 weeks)

The required courses below depend if certified for elementary or secondary education.

Elementary Education

• EDCI 320: Teaching Reading and Literacy (3 cr)
• EDCI 463: Literacy Methods for Content Learning (3 cr)

Secondary Education

• EDCI 463: Literacy Methods for Content Learning (3 cr)

Note: EDSP 325 and EDSP 350 may be waived based professional experience and equivalent coursework.

EHHS offers a 31 credit endorsement (teaching major) in special education, open to elementary and secondary education majors. Students who complete the endorsement will meet the requirements for an initial Idaho teaching certification/credential and the exceptional child generalist teaching certification, enabling them to teach elementary or secondary as well as special education grades K-12.

The schedule of coursework will be determined with academic advisors based on the required coursework listed below: 

Option 1: Elementary Education

• EDSP 300: Educating for Exceptionalities (3 cr, any semester)
• EDSP 325: Classroom Applications of Learning Theories (2 cr, summer)
• EDSP 350: Language and Communication Development and Disorders (3 cr, summer)
• EDSP 423: Collaboration (3 cr, spring)
• EDSP 425: Evaluation of Children and Youth (3 cr, spring)
• EDSP 426: Developing Instructional Programs (3 cr, spring)
• EDSP 430: Assistive Technology and UDL (2 cr, fall)
• EDSP 448: Special Education Curriculum (3 cr, fall)
• EDCI  463: Content Reading (3 cr)
• EDSP 484: Special Education Internship (6 cr) 

Option 2: Secondary Education

All courses listed above plus:

• MTHE 235: Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I (3 cr)
• MTHE 236: Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II (3 cr)
• EDCI 320: Teaching Reading and Literacy (3 cr)