Students in Loyola's graduate programs in special education are prepared to provide effective services to children with a wide variety of disabilities, and to take leadership roles in the field of special education. The programs emphasize proven strategies, specialized instructional methods, differentiated instruction, legal issues, comprehensive assessment, and advanced professional skills necessary to provide high-quality services to children and adolescents with special needs, particularly those with high-prevalence disabilities such as language or learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, emotional/behavioral disorders, and mild intellectual disabilities. 

This program meets Maryland State Department of Education's requirements for initial certification in generic special education (grades 1-8), and it is also ideal for teachers seeking advanced professional development. The program attracts applicants from a variety of academic backgrounds and careers. Once accepted, students meet with an academic advisor to determine the need for prerequisite courses (if needed) or experiences and to determine a personalized program plan of prerequisites (if needed), courses, and experiences based upon prior academics, teaching, and volunteer history. Program graduates are prepared to support the comprehensive needs of students in a variety of educational settings across the elementary and middle grades and to take leadership roles in the field of special education. 

Education students must meet the knowledge, skills, and disposition standards as set forth by the School of Education's accrediting body. Students will be assessed by faculty to identify strengths, areas for improvement, and to recommend for continuation in the program. Students who fail to meet these standards in the area of dispositions will have a Professional Assessment Form filed with the department chair by a Loyola faculty member, followed by a Professional Assessment Review. The Professional Assessment Review may result in an improvement plan, course failure, removal from the program and/or internship for the protection of both the Loyola student and the P-12 students. Complete details of this procedure are available in the student handbook. 

Students in the School of Education are required to use a subscription to a web-based software application designated by the school. The platform is used for assessing, documenting, and analyzing student learning in coursework and in clinical experiences. Students' complete assignments, submit artifacts and reflections, and log time spent in the field. Evaluators provide feedback and assess student progress. The resulting ePortfolio becomes a digital record of the full scope of the student's development through the program. 

Appropriate licensure exams must be taken, and scores received prior to the last day of the semester. Passing scores on the licensure exams are required in order to receive the approved program stamp and be eligible for licensure. Students are eligible to receive the program stamp for up to one year after their degree conferral date. Licensure exam requirements are listed on the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) website. Candidates submit an electronic application for graduation to the Office of the Registrar during the first week of the final semester.