The Special Education program is designed for teachers who want to earn a Master's degree enabling them to better teach children with special needs who come from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school special education teachers is expected to grow 8% from 2019 to 2029. This program will expand one’s job opportunities, allowing one to become an intervention specialist working with children with special needs in grades K-12.

Second Licensure Special Education Option

The second licensure option is designated for individuals who already possess a current Ohio teaching licensure in any subject or grade level. This second licensure also is embedded within the Master of Arts degree. However, individuals may select to only focus on the second special education license and not earn a Master’s degree.

Note: Teachers who have not completed a minimum of 6 credit hours in reading methods for their first Ohio teaching license will be required to take an additional 6 credits of reading methods, per the Ohio State Board of Education licensure office.

Program Requirements

Hours: 31

Professional Core - 12 hours

EDU 500 Statistics and Research (3)
EDU 604 Integrative Research Project (3)
SED 515 Human Exceptionalities Across the Lifespan (3)
SED 521 Assessment & Communication Develop for Special Education (3)

Concentration Courses - 19 hours

RDG 505 Psychology of Reading (3)
RDG 530 Phonics/Linguistics (3)
RDG 538 Diagnosis & Remediation of Reading Problems (3)
RDG 540 Fluency and Comprehension Development in Reading (3)
SED 522 Formal & Informal Assessment for Special Education (3)
SED 611 Curriculum & Methods for Special Education (3)
SED 634 Special Education Practicum in Secondary Environments (1)

Second Licensure Only - 19 hours

EDU 631 Promoting Student Development P-12 and The Effects of Trauma (3)
RDG 515 Foundations of Literacy (3)
RDG 530 Phonics/Linguistics (3)
SED 515 Human Exceptionalities Across the Lifespan (3)
SED 521 Assessment & Communication Develop for Special Education (3)
SED 611 Curriculum & Methods for Special Education (3)
SED 634 Special Education Practicum in Secondary Environments (1)

Program Outcomes

The outcomes of the Special Education Program are to prepare intervention specialists with the knowledge, skill and dispositions to work in collaborative and consulting roles with general educators and other support personnel in order to provide high quality instruction to children who come from culturally and/or linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds and are in need of special education services. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be proficient in providing culturally responsive teaching practices within the context of special education.