Special Education - M.Ed.
The Master of Education degree in Special Education provides students with advanced understanding of contemporary research and practice issues in special education. Students in the program are typically interested in pursuing enhanced professional competence, career advancement, leadership roles, advocacy and systems change; or they may be wanting to prepare for doctoral-level study. Students do not need to have an undergraduate degree in special education (or in education) to be successful in the master's degree; however, they should be motivated to develop a deeper understanding of the field of special education.
The M.Ed. degree program does not prepare students for teacher licensure; however, some of the coursework required for the degree may count toward licensure. Students interested in both licensure and a M.Ed. degree will need to apply and be fully admitted into both the master's degree and the non-degree graduate licensure preparation program.
The Special Education major comprises the following concentrations:
The Deaf Education concentration focuses on needs of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The Early Childhood Intervention Specialist concentration focuses on needs of young children with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, birth to grade 5 (birth to age 10) and their families.
The General Special Education concentration provides a broad focus on special education across all ages and types of student needs. Students work with a graduate adviser to develop a personalized plan of study.
The Mild/Moderate Educational Needs concentration focuses on needs of students with mild to moderate educational needs who most often participate in the general education academic curriculum with special education supports.
The Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs concentration focuses on students with moderate to intensive educational needs who most often require modifications to the general academic curriculum and/or other extensive special education supports.
The Pre-Kindergarten Special Needs concentration focuses on the needs of preschool children with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities.
Campus Information
Kent Campus
Intakes
- April
- Oct
Application Processing Time in Days: 20
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Develop advanced skills in designing, implementing and evaluating research-based practices that meet the special education needs of learners with disabilities.
- Understand the conceptual underpinnings of special education, as well as policies that guide its implementation in school and community settings.
- Analyze contemporary issues surrounding special education and the impact of exceptionality on individuals and their families.
- Understand the roles that research plays in special education theory.
- Demonstrate mastery of special education content within a particular specialization (e.g., mild/moderate, deaf education).
PSW Opportunity
Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.
Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).
STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.
Contact our PSA counselor for more information
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
All graduate applicants must obtain a minimum TOEFL-IBT score of 71 -or- a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 -or- a minimum PTE score of 48 -or- a minimum DET score of 100 for full-time academic admission, with the many exceptions for individual graduate programs:
Graduate Program Minimum English Proficiency Requirement
IELTS 6.5
TOEFL (Internet-based) 79
PTE 58
DET (Duolingo English Test) 110
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Masters/PG Degree
- Duration: 01 Year
-
Total Tuition Fee:
39980 USD
Average Cost of Living: 14000 USD /year
Application Fee: 70 USD
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