Master of Education in Special Education (Initial)
About This Program
The MEd in Special Education (Initial Certification) includes a heavy emphasis on teaching and learning with assistive technology, evidence-based behavioral strategies, and research. This graduate program has multiple emphasis areas such as options for initial teacher certification preparation, high incidence disabilities, and low incidence disabilities. Students who successfully complete the certificate coursework, state and program requirements, and required exams will be eligible to apply for Texas EC-12 (early childhood-12th grade) Special Education certification. This program is uniquely focused on the needs of students with disabilities.
Competencies
- Initial certification candidates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of instructional competencies including assessment of student learning, ability to plan and deliver instruction, ability to differentiate instruction to meet varying student ability levels and needs and demonstrate professional ethics and dispositions.
- Students will be able to display positive professional dispositions during courses and practicum settings.
- The candidate is able to design clear, well-organized, sequential, engaging, and flexible learning experiences that reflect best practices, align with standards and related content, are appropriate for diverse learners, and address all required accommodations and modifications.
Admissions Criteria
Admission to the Master of Education program is competitive. Some qualified students may not be admitted if demand exceeds the program’s capacity to serve all applicants. All students must meet university, college, department, and Texas Administrative Code qualifications in order to participate in educator preparation programs. Out-of-state students will not qualify for Texas educator certification. Therefore, students should review their state's requirements to determine if completion of a program at UTA will lead to certification in their state.
Unconditional Admission
Requires:
- Proof of two or more years of relevant experience.
- Undergraduate transcripts with at least a 3.0 GPA during the last 60 hours or at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The higher of these GPAs will be used for admission purposes. A 3.0 GPA on the last 9 hours of graduate coursework may be considered in place of the undergraduate GPA.
- Two professional letters of reference. Letters from supervisors are strongly encouraged. Applicants for the MEd in Special Education submit a personal statement of interest.
There are additional requirements including documents for TEA reporting, including: 1) a written response to the given prompt (fulfills “other screening instrument” as required by The Texas Education Agency), and 2) completion of Attestation and FERPA forms. The overall grade point average (GPA) of each incoming class admitted between September 1 and August 31 of each year by an educator preparation program (EPP) may not be less than 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent. Certification programs have additional TAC requirements for GPA (used by the program in addition to, not in lieu of, the requirements stated above).
Probationary Admission
- Applicants who have less than 2 years of relevant experience and have a GPA of at least 3.0 and two letters of reference, may be granted probationary admission. The faculty admissions committee may require additional documents (e.g., GRE scores) for consideration. MEd in Special Education program applicants may also be admitted on a probationary status with less than 2 years of relevant work experience, and a personal statement of interest.
- Students granted probationary admission must maintain a 3.0 (B or better) GPA in the first 9 credit hours of graduate coursework in the College of Education program to be converted from probationary to unconditional admission.
Deferred Admission
An applicant’s admission may be deferred when a file is not complete or when denying admission is not appropriate.
Denied Admission
An applicant may be denied admission if the conditions for unconditional or probationary admission are not met. In addition, if a student was suspended or expelled from the University of Texas at Arlington or any other university or program for reasons other than academic, that student may be denied admission or readmission to an educator preparation program in the UTA College of Education.
Curriculum
| MEd Foundations | ||
| SPED 5301 | CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES | 3 |
| SPED 5302 | APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS FOR TEACHERS | 3 |
| SPED 5303 | COLLABORATIVE PRACTICES AND TRANSITION PLANNING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
| SPED 5304 | INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES | 3 |
| SPED 5306 | ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| SPED 5307 | SPECIAL EDUCATION LEGAL AND POLICY ISSUES | 3 |
| SPED 5311 | CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES | 3 |
| SPED 5313 | SINGLE SUBJECT RESEARCH | 3 |
| SPED 5601 | CLINICAL TEACHING | 6 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Program Completion
Time to Degree
The degree must be completed within six years (time in military service excluded) from initial registration in the Office of Graduate Studies. Coursework that is more than six years old at the time of program completion cannot be used toward meeting degree the requirements. Coursework that is more than five years old cannot be used toward state certification requirements for licensure (further restrictions may apply, depending on program).
Professional Dispositions
Each student/candidate in the College of Education will be evaluated on professional dispositions by the faculty and staff. These dispositions are identified as essential for a highly-qualified professional. Instructors and program directors will work with students/candidates rated as “unacceptable” in one or more stated criteria. The student/candidate will have an opportunity to develop a plan to remediate any digressions. If digression(s) are not, or cannot be successfully remediated as in the case of an egregious digression, a determination will be made by committee on continuation or dismissal from the College of Education.
Changes
Program requirements may change as state/TEA certification requirements change.