Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Course Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Special Education - Comprehensive, M.A.T.


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Also see

Early Childhood Education/Special Education, M.A.T.  
Special Education, M.A.  
Special Education Literacy, M.A.  

This master’s program prepares highly effective practitioners in Special Education whose work is grounded in current research, theory and evidence-based practice. Candidates develop professional skills and dispositions to effect positive change for students with specialized learning needs. Candidates will earn K-12 teacher licensure in Special Education.

This program meets the new State Board of Education policy, which reads: Applicants for a professional educator certificate who are first certified in Connecticut after July 1, 2016, shall complete a minimum of 15 graduate credits of content or content pedagogy, either as part of or in addition to a master’s degree. 

Program outcomes

The student will:

  • Be a critical thinker and effective problem solver who is concerned with the social, emotional and intellectual issues of all children and adolescents in contemporary educational settings
  • Apply advanced pedagogy in curriculum, instruction and assessment to engage all students in reaching their potential as people and as learners
  • Develop the capacity to influence and advance positive change for students, professionals and the profession in a complex global society

Acceptance requirements

  1. Graduate admission application and nonrefundable admission fee
  2. A conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  3. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.67
  4. Two sealed official transcripts of all undergraduate work and any prior graduate work
  5. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the candidate’s suitability as a prospective teacher or to work with children and families, accompanied by the Graduate School’s cover form on the University website
    Note: Recommendations must be from individuals who are not family members, personal friends or members of the USJ School of Education
  6. Immunization record using the Graduate School form on the University website
  7. A planned program of study developed by the candidate and the faculty advisor, approved by the department chair

Continuation requirements

Students must earn a grade of B or better in their first attempt in their first two classes to remain in the program. They must earn a B or better in all courses for continuous progression throughout the program.

Exit requirements

Eligible candidates for the Master of Arts in Teaching -Special Education degree must complete the edTPA portfolio during their student teaching placement. the edTPA portfolio is a requirement for licensure that was announced by the State of Connecticut in 2017-18. Candidates seeking licensure beginning in the 2018-19 academic year must complete this assessment. Beginning in academic year 2019-20, candidates must pass this assessment to be eligible for licensure. The program is facilitated by Pearson Publishing and is scored by national scorers. The cost to candidates is $300.00.

Comprehensive exam

Before taking the comprehensive exam, you must complete 100% of your planned program, including all courses in Autism Spectrum Disorders specialization plus at least two additional Special Education courses.

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