Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Master of Arts in Special Education (SP)


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The Special Education Department offers a Master of Arts Degree that encompasses the range and depth required to accommodate contemporary programs and service delivery systems. The program is designed to allow maximum flexibility in meeting the needs of individual students while maintaining the basic academic integrity implicit in a graduate program.

Model
Eastern Michigan University’s advanced professional education programs develop leaders who demonstrate reflective thought and scholarship within the context of a culturally diverse society. In addition, the master’s level programs in the Department of Special Education produce professionals with the comprehensive knowledge, skills, and attitudes to deliver a continuum of habilitative/rehabilitative services to persons with special needs, and to their families, within a diverse society.

Admission Requirements


The graduate student seeking admission to the Master of Arts degree program in the Special Education Department is required to:

  1. Meet the Graduate School admission requirements;
  2. Present a valid teaching certificate. Students who do not have a teaching certificate must complete requirements as outlined in the SEM-T program.
  3. Achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 as an undergraduate (including “last-half GPA”) or achieve a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 but less than 3.0 and receive acceptable scores on the Graduation Record Examination (GRE) or achieve a GPA of 3.0 in 6-9 credit hours of relevant graduate-level coursework (degree or non-degree) as determined by the Graduate Coordinator;
  4. Submit two outside letters of recommendation regarding professional competence for admission to the program;
  5. Be recommended for acceptance by a faculty member (this may involve a personal interview); and
  6. In the case of international students, provide a score of 90 on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB).
  7. Personal statement from the applicant;
  8. MTTC Basic Skills Test

Admissions and program requirements for Master of Arts programs in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Learning Disabilities, and Speech-Language Pathology are described separately.

Department Information


Special Education, College of Education

David Winters, Ph.D. | Department Head | 128 Porter | 734.487.3300 | david.winters@emich.edu

Derrick Fries, Ph.D. | Graduate Coordinator | 106 Porter | 734.487.2720 | dfries@emich.edu

Advisor Information


Please contact the department for advisor information

Program Requirements


The graduate student seeking a Master of Arts degree through the Special Education Department must:

  1. Complete a minimum of 33 to 37 hours of approved graduate credit with a minimum 3.0 GPA;
  2. Complete an approved master’s degree program that has been planned with a special education graduate advisor;
  3. Complete the degree requirements within six years of enrolling for the first course applicable to the degree program;
  4. Receive a recommendation from the area faculty committee for continuance in the program. This is done upon completion of 12 to 15 hours of courses, and before the internship/practicum. The committee will consider GPA, faculty recommendations, demonstrated competence in academic and professional work, and rate of progress in the program.
  5. Meet all other requirements of the Graduate School.

Exit Requirements


Exit criteria involve achievement of the objectives for graduate study in special education listed previously, as demonstrated by:

  1. Successful completion of all course work on program (minimum GPA of 3.0);
  2. Successful completion of required practica/internship; and
  3. Successful completion of thesis, if pursuing the thesis option, or other culminating experience, which may include but not be limited to comprehensive oral or written examination, portfolio or other product, performance or exhibit.

Degree Requirements: 33-37 hours


Notes


Students choosing to complete an independent study as part of the master of arts program must complete EDPS 667 - Principles of Educational Research , SPGN 699 - Independent Study  and SPEI /SPGN 694 - Seminar: Interdisciplinary Special Education . Students may elect to write a thesis as part of the master of arts program. If pursuing the thesis option, students must complete SPGN /SPEI 694 - Seminar: Students with Emotional Impairment  and SPGN 692 - Master’s Thesis . Additionally, students must complete cognates EDPS 667 - Principles of Educational Research , PSY 600 - Psychological Statistics I , or EDPS 621 - Statistical Applications in Educational Research .

Programs within the Special Education Department include Emotional Impairment, Cognitive Impairment, Physical Impairment and other Health Impairment, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment and General Special Education (this last program does not result in any special education endorsement from the State of Michigan). If endorsement in any area of special education is being sought, the appropriate endorsement sequence must be completed.

Extended Program


This graduate program is available at an EMU off-campus location or entirely online | Locations

 

 

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