Dual Certification "4+1" Master's Program in
Secondary Special Education
The "4+1" program is for current UD undergraduate secondary education majors. Students apply to the program during the winter of their junior year and are admitted as seniors. This is a five year program combining undergraduate and graduate work. Upon completion of the program students will have earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education and a master's degree in special education. Additionally, they are eligible for dual certification in their general education content area and secondary special education.
Course Requirements
Students complete 33 graduate credits in the M.Ed. in Exceptional Children & Youth program. During the senior year students complete 9 graduate credits in lieu of 9 undergraduate credits, and complete all remaining undergraduate requirements, including secondary education student teaching in a content area. During the +1 year students complete 18 graduate credits plus 6 credits of graduate special education teaching internship in a local middle school or high school. For details about required courses and recommended sequencing of courses, refer to the program statement.
Internship Requirement
To fulfill the 6 credit internship requirement, students are placed for 15 hours each week for 9 months in a local partnership high school as a special education teacher intern. Students receive supervision from UD and high school staff.
Exit Requirement
Students must write a case study final paper as the exit requirement for the M.Ed. in Exceptional Children and Youth. In this final paper, students demonstrate their ability to apply the knowledge gained in the program to educational practice.
Praxis II Requirement
All students will complete a state-designated special education knowledge test, such as Praxis II. This test will be considered an exit requirement, and students must take the test in the spring of the +1 year.
