Elementary/Middle Special Education (Grades 1-8), M.Ed.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

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, 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-incidence disabilities such as language or learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, emotional/behavioral disorders, and mild cognitive impairments.

The master's program in elementary/middle special education can be used to meet requirements for initial certification in generic special education (grades 1-8), and it is also appropriate for teachers seeking advanced professional development. The program attracts students 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 develop a personalized program plan of courses based upon prior academic, 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.

Prerequisite Courses/Experiences

RE 760 - Processes and Acquisition of Literacy
RE 761 - Materials for Teaching Reading
SE 720 - Child and Adolescent Development
SE 761 - Introduction to Special Education
SE 900 - Observation and Participation in Special Education
Observation and Participation in General Education Technology Usage for Research and Writing

Program Requirements

Coursework (33 credits)

Students Who Have Completed Maryland's Required Reading Courses

Students who have completed Maryland's required reading courses substitute the following courses for RE 762 and RE 763 :

SE 901 - Applied Behavioral Programming
Elective (selected jointly with program advisor)

Practicums (6 credits)

Notes:

It may be possible for students already working with young children with disabilities to complete one practicum at their current workplace. To be eligible to register for either practicum, students must demonstrate successful completion of the Praxis II Education of Exceptional Students: Core Content Knowledge test. To be eligible for graduation after completion of both practicums, students must demonstrate successful completion of the Praxis II Special Education: Application of Core Principles Across Categories of Disability test.