Exceptionalities, MEd

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Program Description

The Exceptionalities degree program is offered at the graduate level and provides a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree for candidates desiring to gain knowledge and experience working with individuals with exceptionalities, but who do not seek to obtain a professional teaching license in the Intervention Specialist field. The program provides candidates insight on both high-incidence disabilities and low-incidence disabilities across multiple age ranges and how exceptionalities impact the process of learning.   

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7

OR

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with a cumulative undergraduate GPA between and including 2.6 - 2.69,, but with a 3.0 or better for the last 60 semester hours earned toward the undergraduate degree.

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Program Learning Objectives

Prepare candidates on:

• The impact of learners’ academic and social abilities, attitudes, interests, and values on instruction and career development.

• The educational implications of characteristics of various exceptionalities.

• The relationship of special education to the organization and function of educational agencies.

• The issues in definition and identification of individuals with exceptional learning needs, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

• Educational implications of characteristics of various exceptionalities.

• Characteristics and effects of the cultural and environmental milieu of the individual with exceptional learning needs and the family.

• Similarities and differences of individuals with and without exceptional learning needs.

• Similarities and differences among individuals with exceptional learning needs.

• Differing ways of learning of individuals with exceptional learning needs, including those from culturally diverse backgrounds and strategies for addressing these differences.

For More Information

• Exceptionalities, M.Ed.
• School of Education and Leadership
• College of Health, Education, and Human Services

Required Professional Core

The following 24 credit hours of coursework are required for all candidates in the Exceptionalities M.Ed. program.

• ED 6040 - Phonics and Word Study for Intervention Specialists Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 7110 - Student Learning and Motivation Credit Hour(s): 3
• EDS 6510 - Foundations of Special Education Credit Hour(s): 3
• EDS 6570 - Instructional and Behavioral Management for Intervention Specialists Credit Hour(s): 3
• EDS 6590 - Assessment for Intervention Specialists Credit Hour(s): 3
• EDS 7030 - Learners with Exceptionalities Credit Hour(s): 3
• EDS 7050 - Special Education Research & Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3

Professional Electives

Choose any two of the following courses

• EDS 6650 - Transitions of Students with Exceptionalities Credit Hour(s): 3

• OR

• EDS 6670 - Collaboration for Inclusion Credit Hour(s): 3

Total Program Hours: 30 Credit Hours