Master of Science in Special Education

Admission Requirements

1. Completed School of Education application, including the application fee.
2. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. A candidate with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be allowed to take up to four courses on a conditional basis and must earn a grade of B or better in each course in order to continue registration. Upon completion of four courses with grades of B or better in each the candidate will be reviewed for full acceptance into the School of Education.
3. Two letters of recommendation. Letters from family members or current School of Education students are not acceptable.
4. Evidence of effective written communication skills and suitability for the teaching profession as demonstrated by the submission of candidate’s personal statement.
5. One official transcript from every college or university attended. Transcripts must be received by the School of Education in a sealed envelope from the college or university.

Required Courses

Candidates who do not hold a current valid teaching license complete the following 39 credit hours, including 33 hours in classroom/theory coursework and 6 credit hours in internship/clinical practice:

• EDUA 589 - Cognition, Learning, and Assessment
• ECE 503 - Child, Family, And Community Relations
• SPED 646 - Special Education Internship
• SPED 522 - Exceptional Students: Characteristics and the Special Education Process
• SPED 656 - Collaboration and Adaption in General Education Settings
• SPED 659 - Managing Challenging Behavior
• SPED 662 - Academic Methods of Special Education
• SPED 663 - Planning and Assessment in Special Education
• SPED 664 - Curriculum and Methods for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities
• SPED 702 - Clinical Practice Seminar in Special Education
• SPED 703 - Clinical Practice in Special Education
• EDU 533 - Reading and Writing Instruction and Improvement
• EDU 560 - Integrating Technology into the Curriculum
• EDU 657 - Foundations of Minority Language Education

Additional Requirements

General Education Competencies for Unlicensed Candidates

Persons seeking the State of Illinois Learning Behavior Specialist I Special Education licensure as their initial teaching license must meet required general education competencies as outlined by the School of Education.

Illinois Licensure Testing System Requirements

Persons seeking a State of Illinois Professional Educator License with Learning Behavior Specialist I (P-21) Endorsement must pass the Illinois Licensure Testing System’s required content area tests for Learning Behavior Specialist I.

1. The candidate must take and pass the LBSI (#155) test prior to placement for clinical practice (student teaching) or clinical internship as specified by the School of Education.
2. The candidate must pass the Special Education General Curriculum Test (#163) prior to applying for clinical practice or clinical internship as specified by the School of Education.
3. As of September 1, 2015 any candidate seeking initial licensure must pass the edTPA.

Additional Information

Endorsement requirements for candidates who already hold a current valid teaching license are adjusted as follows:

• SPED 646 - Special Education Internship  is not required
• In place of SPED 702 - Clinical Practice Seminar in Special Education  and SPED 703 - Clinical Practice in Special Education , students are required to complete SPED 705 - Clinical Internship In Special Education .

Candidates who hold an elementary teaching endorsed license or those who have taken a reading methodology course are not required to complete EDU 533 - Reading and Writing Instruction and Improvement .