Special Education, MEd

Student Learning Outcomes

• Program will align with PDE K-12 Competencies for those seeking certification 
• Students will be competent special educators after completion of the program.
• Students will analyze the needs of students with disabilities or at risk for disabilities and develop goals and design as well as create and implement indivudualized education plans.
• Students will exhibit teacher behaviors consistent with the range of evidence-based models of education.

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.80 or a 3.00 in last 48 credits earned (students with a GPA below 2.80 may apply for conditional admission)

• Any master’s degree is accepted with a GPA of 3.30 or higher (students with a GPA below 3.30 may apply for conditional admission)

• Official transcripts from an accredited undergraduate institution
   

Conditional Admission Requirements

• Conditional Admission may be granted with the following modifications of the Regular Admissions Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree with a GPA under 2.80 will be reviewed for a decision

  • Behavior Analyst Prep Certificate Only: Master’s degree with a GPA under 3.30 will be reviewed for a decision
     

Provisional Admission:
Applicants who have provided unofficial documentation of test scores, prerequisite courses, transcripts or lack of letter(s) of recommendation may be admitted provisionally.

This policy also applies to undergraduate students who apply for graduate admission pending bachelor degree completion. Upon receipt of all official documents, a student will be changed from Provisional Admission to either Regular Admission or Conditional Admission. Provisional Admission students may take classes for one term but will not be eligible for Federal Financial Aid.
 

Program Requirements

• Current Act 24, 34, 151 and 114 clearances
   

Out of State Students:
All students who will be seeking certification outside of Pennsylvania are responsible for securing and following the certification requirements in the state in which they intend to apply for certification.

Curriculum Requirements

Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration, MEd

The M.Ed in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis is an all-online 36-credit program that provides the coursework required to be eligible to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam. This certificate will develop knowledge in the areas of Applied Behavior Analysis foundations, professional and ethical standards, single-subject design, and interventions appropriate for behavioral change as well as advanced concepts in special education.

Special Education, Autism Concentration, MEd

The M.Ed in Special Education with a concentration in autism is a 36-credit all-online program that provides instruction and knowledge of characteristics, assessment for instructional planning, instructional interventions, and collaboration with families and agencies relative to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Upon successful completion of the coursework, holders of Level I and II certification may make an application to PDE for the autism endorsement.

Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Concentration, MEd

The M.Ed in Special Education with a concentration in autism and Applied Behavior Analysis is a 36-credit all-online program that provides instruction and knowledge of characteristics, assessment for instructional planning, instructional interventions, and collaboration with families and agencies relative to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as the coursework required to be eligible to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam.

• SPED 7000 - Nature/Characteristics Autism Spectrum Disorders Credit Hours: 3
• SPED 7100 - Communication, Behavior, and Instruction: ASD Credit Hours: 3
• SPED 7200 - Life Transitions & Partnerships: ASD Credit Hours: 3
• SPED 7300 - Navigating the Social World: ASD Credit Hours: 3
• SPED 7500 - Foundations of Measurement and Experimental Design in Applied Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 3
• SPED 7510 - Introduction to Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 3
• SPED 7520 - Professional and Ethical Practice for the Behavior Analyst Credit Hours: 3
• SPED 7600 - Concepts, Principles, and Assessments Credit Hours: 3
• SPED 7700 - Applied Behavior Analysis Interventions Credit Hours: 3
• SPED 7800 - Behavior Assessment, Intervention, and Supervision in Applied Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 3
• SPED 7955 - Seminar in Advanced Behavior Analysis and Research Design Credit Hours: 3

Related Electives

• SPED XXX - Special Education Elective (Any Special Education graduate course below 7000)

Total Number of Credits to Complete the Program: 36