The department offers three programs in Special Education; Varying Exceptionalities, Teaching of Exceptional Children, and a Military Career Transition Program (MCTP). There is a critical shortage of teachers, administrators, related professionals and specialists in many areas of special education.

The department offers an NCATE approved program of study leading to an M.A. degree and certification in Varying Exceptionalities. It is designed for teachers and support personnel responsible for services to exceptional children and youth. The coursework and field experiences provide the student with a foundation of varying exceptionalities, standardized and alternative methods of assessment, integrated curriculum and instruction, management of individual and group behavior, instructional technology, home/school/community collaboration, and applied research.

The department offers a program of study leading to a M.A. degree in clinical teaching of children who are exceptional in three areas: emotional handicaps, learning disabilities, and mental handicaps. It is designed for teachers and auxiliary personnel responsible for services to exceptional children and youth. The course work provides the student with a knowledge of assessment and educational evaluation, behavior management, and remedial and/or compensatory educational activities relative to children with mental handicaps, specific learning disabilities, and emotional handicaps. Lectures, research projects, and practicum experiences are utilized.

A master's program in Military Career Transition (MCTP) is an innovative program that has been designed as a field-experience intensive, fast-track into one of three areas of special education: learning disabilities, emotional handicaps, or mental handicaps. The program takes into consideration military teaching and leadership experiences and is condensed into 42 semester hours. The student must select one area for specialization and should understand that this is not a platform program on which to add other special education certificates. Students enrolled in this program will be in a cohort group with specially designed courses that are open only to MCTP candidates.

Course descriptions are listed alphabetically by prefix at Course Listings/Descriptions.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In addition to meeting the minimum University standards for admission to graduate studies, students should contact the Office of Teacher Education for information on admission to professional education programs.

Comprehensive Examination (0 sh)
Students must successfully complete a comprehensive examination.

Required Core Courses: (9 sh)
Same as Varying Exceptionalities with Certification

Divisional Core Course ( 24 sh)
Same as varying Exceptionalities with Certification

Comprehensive Examination (0 sh)
Students must successfully complete a comprehensive examination.

In addition to general University requirements, students seeking the M.A. in Clinical Teaching must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of approved course work including the core plus additional courses prescribed by the student's committee. A research project or action research and a comprehensive examination are required for graduation.

In addition to general University requirements, students seeking the M.A. in MCTP must meet the following requirements:

1. verification of status as active duty or recently retired military or civilian displacement due to downsizing of the armed forces;
2. completion of a bachelor's or master's degree with 3.0 GPA or 1000 on the GRE;
3. completion of the GRE before second semester enrollment in the program;
4. submission of a personal portfolio to be evaluated by faculty members including: (1) impressions of teaching special education in each of the areas during 10 hours of observations in public schools; (2) documentation of military teaching and leadership experiences; and
5. Interview with a committee to ascertain the best program for the candidate.