Master's Degrees in Special Education

The Graduate School recognizes a difference in purpose, reflected in the requirements, for two types of advanced degrees. The Master of Science (M.S.) degree is academic in nature and strongly oriented toward research whereas the Master of Education (M.Ed.) is a professional degree and strongly oriented toward classroom teaching.

The organizing vehicle of all master's degree programs is 13 Competency Clusters. Persons who complete the baccalaureate Special Education or the nondegree certification program obtain the basic or core competencies. These basic or core competencies are assumed to be prerequisites to the master's degree programs. All master's degree programs rely upon the attainment by new students of the competencies included in the undergraduate certification program. Each of the advanced degree programs then build upon this common core of competencies to develop specialists in the specialty areas. An extremely important function of the Competency Clusters is that they are used not just for teaching purposes but for evaluation purposes. The 13 Competency Clusters are used as the basis of follow-up devices for both our current students and our graduates. Furthermore, the 13 Competency Clusters are used when we communicate with employers about the performance of our program graduates on the job.

Both the Master of Education and the Master of Science degree programs offer flexibility and opportunities for diversification or specialization. Each degree provides

a sequence of professional academic courses in Special Education and related areas
opportunities to observe, discuss, and supervised practice in assessment and instruction
experiences translating research into practice
opportunities to design, conduct, and evaluate experimental programs of intervention in special education settings
experiences in the communication of ideas, including professional writing and presentation of papers at professional meetings

The general sequence of the study for a master's degree is approximately the same.

Admission to Special Education as a master's candidate.
Appointment (by the Professor-in-Charge) of an adviser who is responsible for the student's general guidance.
Selection of a program of study.
Submission of completed master's paper (M.Ed.) or thesis (M.S.) no later than by the second week of the last semester. See Guidelines for Preparation of Master's Papers.
Successful completion of a written comprehensive examination (for M.S. only).
Completion of coursework.
Recommendation to The Graduate School that the master's degree be conferred.

Pertinent Graduate School Requirements

The following quotes regarding degree requirements are from the Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin and apply to both the M.S. and the M.Ed. degrees. The latest edition of the Bulletin is available online or you may obtain a copy from the Office of Graduate Programs, 211 Kern Building, University Park, PA 16802.

Grade Point Average. A minimum grade-point average of 3.00 for work done at the University is required for all graduate degrees. In Fall 1995 a +/- grading system went into effect that includes A-, B+, B-, and C+. The grade-point equivalents will be A-, 3.67; B+, 3.33-, B-, 2.67; and C+, 2.33."
Time Limitation. All requirements for a master's degree, whether satisfied on the University Park campus or elsewhere, must be met within six years or a period spanning seven consecutive summers . . ."
Transfer Credit. A minimum of 10 credits of high quality graduate work done at another institution may be applied toward a master's degree here . . . such academic work transferred must have been completed within five years prior to the date of admission to The Graduate School of The Pennsylvania State University, must be of a least B quality, and must appear on a graduate transcript."
Residence. A minimum of 30 graduate credits is required of which at least 20 must be earned on the University Park campus or at an established Graduate Center."
Continuing Education. A large number of courses carrying credit are given throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by Continuing Education. All 400-series courses so offered carry graduate credit for students who have been admitted to The Graduate School. The adviser's signature is required on the official registration form, which the student submits at the designated place of registration for the course. No more than 10 credits may be counted toward the degree minimum.