Apr 20, 2024  
2017-2018 Course Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Arts in Teaching: Special Education


Also see
Graduate Teacher Licensure in Early Childhood/Special Education  
Graduate Teacher Licensure in Education  
Graduate Teacher Licensure Progression  
Special Education - Comprehensive, M.A.T.  
Early Childhood Education/Special Education, M.A.T.  
Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis, M.S.  

This program is designed for candidates who want a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education. This program meets the Connecticut requirements for initial teacher licensure in Special Education Grades 1-12. Additional requirements to achieve teacher licensure in Special Education Grades 1-12 include passing all required state licensure exams.

Program Outcomes

The candidate will:

  • Understand the physical, emotional, psychosocial, and cognitive aspects of development
  • Understand and apply, diagnosis, assessment and intervention practices as they provide access to the general education curriculum for children with special needs
  • Evaluate learning and behavior of students
  • Identify classroom organization and management techniques to enhance learning
  • Understand historical, social, cultural, and political forces influencing public education and the role of a teacher in the resulting issues and the role of special education
  • Accrue and use in-depth knowledge of professional literature
  • Become a lifelong independent learner and reflective practitioner
  • Demonstrate responsibility, initiative and sensitivity in working with all children in education-related settings
  • Teach all children effectively in a constructivist and collaborative manner using best practice

Other opportunities In education


Laboratory schools


The School of Education benefits from two laboratory schools. The Gengras Center, an on campus school for students with significant disabilities, and the School for Young Children, an early childhood school nearby, offer students pre-professional opportunities in working with teachers, children and families.

Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society


Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education has been active at USJ since 2009. The society has a long-standing commitment to “recognizing excellence and fostering mutual cooperative support, and professional growth for educational professionals.” Letters of invitation are sent in March to students eligible for membership informing them of an April orientation meeting and an initiation ceremony in the spring.

Partnerships


The School of Education has partnerships with several school districts and agencies, which provide candidates the opportunity to interact with K-12 students under faculty supervision. Longstanding partnerships include: Bloomfield School District, Connecticut Department of Children and Family Services, and West Hartford Schools. Candidates are provided authentic opportunities to assess, teach and collaborate with others.

Internship


Special Education Literacy (2-year internship)

This two-year internship is for licensed teachers. Selected interns receive 30 credits of paid tuition plus a stipend for working in a school district as a reading tutor. The program places an emphasis on developing candidates’ reading, diagnosis, intervention and assessment skills.