Severe Disabilities/Autism Certification in Exceptional Children and Youth
The M.Ed. in Exceptional Children and Youth requires a minimum of 33 credits of graduate-level coursework, including 6 Core courses (18 credits) and 5 Specialization courses (15 credits). Candidates who are seeking initial certification in severe disabilities/autism follow the program outlined below. If you are not seeking severe disabilities/autism certification, on the other hand, follow the link to the other requirements depending on whether you are already certified or if you are seeking elementary or secondary certification.
Core Course Requirements (18 credits)
- EDUC 623: Applied Human Development in the Schools
- EDUC 679: Methods of Instructing Learners with Mild Disabilities
- EDUC 680: Educational Diagnosis
- EDUC 681: Techniques for Behavior Change
- EDUC 682: Research in Special Education
- EDUC 745: Collaborative Teaming in Special Education
Specialization Area Requirements (15 credits)
All candidates must take each of the following 3-credit courses:
- EDUC 624: Introduction to Severe Disabilities/Autism
- EDUC 625: Methods of Instruction: Severe Disabilities
- EDUC 626: Functional Communication
- EDUC 750: Teaching Internship: Special Education
All candidates must take one of the following 3-credit courses:
- EDUC 652: Introduction to Technology in Special Education and Rehabilitation, or
- EDUC 653: Computer-Assisted Instruction in Remedial/Special Education, or
- EDUC 655: Assistive Technology
Exit Requirement
During the fall and spring semesters of the second year of study, MPCP students will complete two projects as part of EDUC 750 Internship. An "Academic & Behavior Intervention" (ABI) project will be completed in the fall semester, and a "Teacher Work Sample" (TWS) will be completed in the spring semester. The Masters Program final paper requirement for MPCP candidates consists of two papers based on the internship projects. See the program statement for more details.
Praxis II Requirement
All students in this track who are seeking initial certification are required to show evidence of having taken a state-designated content area knowledge test, such as Praxis II. This test will be considered an exit requirement, and students must take the test no later than the point at which they have earned 27 graduate credits in the program.
Student Teaching Requirement
All students must complete a supervised student teaching experience in order to be eligible for certification. Students complete this requirement by registering for an additional 3 credits of EDUC 750 Teaching Internship: Special Education. These credits do not count towards M.Ed. degree requirements.
Background Requirements
Students who are seeking initial certification as an elementary special education teacher may need to complete the additional coursework listed below as prerequisite courses, depending upon their previous educational background and coursework.
- EDUC 697: Education of the Exceptional Child
- EDUC 620: Foundations of Reading Instruction
- EDUC 731: Foundations of Math Instruction K-12
