Special Education, MA

Students may earn the Master of Arts degree in Special Education after completing a minimum of 33 specified credit hours as outlined in their graduate plan. In the final course (SPED 5090 Applied Research Project) students complete a field-based research project. Students must complete additional course work as outlined on their graduate plan to be eligible for licensure.

Learning Outcomes

Develop new special education knowledge and translate special education and related research into practice.
Promote and model excellence in special education practice.
Use assessment data to plan instruction, monitor student progress, and determine effectiveness of instruction.
Work collaboratively with general educators and communicate in an effective, professional manner with parents, staff, administrators, students and related service personnel.

Faculty

Christi Kasa, Ph.D., Department Chairperson and Associate Professor
Elaine Cheesman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Emily Nusbaum, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Laura Marshall, M.A., Senior Instructor
Scott Kupferman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Applications and Admissions Requirements

Please visit our website for admissions information.

Course Requirements

The Master of Arts in Special Education requires 33 credits to be completed at the graduate level. Students must complete 18 credits of core classes and 15 credits of elective course work. This is an MA only and does not result in recommendation for a teaching license.

Core Courses - 18 Credit Hours

*SPED 5090 should be one of the final courses taken to complete the MA in Special
Education. LEAD 5700 should be taken early on in the student’s program.

Elective Courses - 15 Credit Hours

Choose 15 credits from the following*:

*Students can propose additional classes that can count as elective. If you want to take a class that is not on the list above, please speak with an advisor.

Special Education Generalist Added Endorsement

In the newly designed program students will complete the requirements to be recommended for the added endorsement as Special Education Generalist. The added endorsement is available to students who hold a valid Colorado teaching license in another discipline.

Students in the Department of Special Education Added Endorsement program are provided the experiences and academic support to learn how to meet the needs of all students with disabilities in the general education classroom. Students will be taught to focus on student strengths in order to support academic and social progress in inclusive environments. Course work and practicum placements will be linked by assignments. These carefully planned assignments will allow students to practice their skills and develop techniques and materials that will lead to their successful development as teachers.

The Added Endorsement program is a cohort model program that begins each fall. The program requires students to take each class in the semester as indicated on the Added Endorsement program planning form. Students must commit to completing these courses in sequence.

Students have the option of taking SPED 5000 and 5001 in the summer as unclassified students before they start the program.

The Added Endorsement program requires students to participate in one field experience. Students can choose to complete this experience in the spring or summer semesters.

>>Graduate Added Endorsement Planning Form

Applications and Admissions Requirements

Please visit our website for admissions information.

Course Requirements

First Year Courses - 21 Credit Hours

Fall (6 credit hours)

Spring (9 credit hours)

SPED 5020 - Significant Support Needs
SPED 5022 - Consultation and Collaboration
SPED 5030 - Elementary/Secondary Internship
(one day per week in the field **)

Summer (6 credit hours)

SPED 5021 - Designing Positive Classroom Environments
SPED 5025 - Fieldwork in Inclusive Classrooms
(4 weeks 1/2 day in the classroom)

*SPED 3000/5000 and SPED 3001/5001 can be taken in the summer prior to beginning the program. Students would take this as an unclassified student. SPED 5000 will be offered the first 8 weeks of the semester. SPED 5001 will meet the second 8 weeks of the semester and will have online components.

** Added endorsement students may choose either SPED 5030 or SPED 5025. Added endorsement students who are working as classroom teachers and are supporting students with disabilities in inclusive environments may have the option of performing SPED 5030 in their own classroom.

Second Year Courses - 6 Credit Hours

Fall (6 credit hours)

Additional Courses for Masters Degree - 9 Credit Hours

Students wishing to receive a Masters Degree will need to take three additional courses listed below. These courses can be taken at the same time as licensure courses or after the completion of the license. Courses must be taken in the order listed below. LEAD 5700 and SPED 5091 may be taken concurrently. LEAD 5700 must be taken prior to SPED 5090.