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 |
Program Structure
| Courses | Credits |
| Professional Core | 6 |
| EDF 501 Research Design and Interpretation OR SPED 502 Research in Special Programs |
3 |
| EDF 530 Advanced Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| Professional Specialization | 18 |
| SPED 510 Professional and Legal Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 530 Curricular Adaptations for Special Populations | 3 |
| SPED 551 Assessment and Program Planning for Special Populations | 3 |
| SPED 574 Data-Based Instruction | 3 |
| SPED 600 Facilitating Positive Behaviors in the Classroom Environment | 3 |
| SPED 650 Current Practices for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| Professional Practice | 9 |
| SPED 590 Internship | 3 |
| And choose two of the following courses: | |
| SPED 503 Assistive Technology | 3 |
| SPED 504 Collaborative Supports in Educational Settings | 3 |
| SPED 520 Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| SPED 580 Autism Spectrum Disorders: Characterizations and Interventions | 3 |
| OR | |
| Thesis | 9 |
| SPED 599 Thesis | 6 |
| And choose one of the following courses: | |
| SPED 503 Assistive Technology | 3 |
| SPED 504 Collaborative Supports in Educational Settings | 3 |
| SPED 520 Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| SPED 580 Autism Spectrum Disorders: Characterizations and Interventions | 3 |
| Total minimum credits | 33 |
|
|
 |
||||||||
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
Office of Graduate Studies | 1500 University Dr, Billings, MT 59101 | 406-657-2011
