This program is designed for students who have an undergraduate degree in special education, have a special education endorsement on their teaching license, or who wish to pursue advanced studies in special education but do not wish to teach P-12 special education.

Students studying for this degree must have taken the following prerequisite courses within six years of beginning the master’s program: SPED 260 or SPED 540, SPED 310, SPED 311, SPED 312, SPED 375, SPED 405, and RD 417 or equivalents. Degree completion requires three courses in the Professional Core (9 credits) and ten courses in the Professional Specialization (30 credits). In the area of Professional Practice, candidates may choose with consent of their faculty advisor the combination of SPED 590 and SPED 597 Internship for 6 credits or SPED 599 Thesis for 6 credits.

Many of the courses in this program are offered online or in the evening allowing for flexible completion of the program.

Careers: What can you do with a degree in Special Education with Advanced Studies Option?

This degree prepares students to teach in a categorical or cross-categorical area of special education, advance toward administrative positions, pursue positions in related fields, do research in special education, or pursue a doctoral degree.

Admission Criteria/Application Procedures

• Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
• Graduate GPA of at least 3.0

Online? Mostly Online Evening Classes? Yes Program Length If you take a full load of 9 credits per semester, you could finish this program in about 5 semesters.

Program Structure

courses	credit	courses	credit
EDF 501 Research Design and Interpretation OR SPED 502 Research in Special Programs	3	SPED 650 Current Practices for Students with Disabilities	2
EDF 530 Advanced Human Development & Learning	3	SPED 590 Internship	2
SPED 510 Professional & Legal Issues in Special Ed.	3	SPED 503 Assistive Technology	2
SPED 530 Curricular Adaptations for Special Populations	3	SPED 504 Collaboration in Ed. & Human Services	2
SPED 531 Assessment & Program Planning for Special Populations	3	SPED 593 Workshop (to be approved by advisor)	2
SPED 574 Data-Based Instruction	3	SPED 599 Thesis	6
SPED 600 Facilitating Positive Behaviors in the Classroom Environment	3	Total minimum credits required for degree	33
Disclaimer

See also: Graduate Faculty for the College of Education

Contact Us

Please contact the office of Graduate Studies for information about this program, admission requirements, application forms, graduate assistantships and other scholarship information. Contact us as well for information about any of our graduate degree programs.

Our office is located in McMullen Hall, First Floor.
The office is open from 8:00 to 5:00 (Mountain time) Monday through Friday. Office: 406-657-2238 Fax: 406-657-2302