M.S. in Special Education
Master's of Science in Special Education
Purpose
The M.S. is an academic degree and is strongly oriented toward research. M.S. programs focus on the development of academic and scholarly skills, not development of superior teaching ability. Thus, an M.S. would be appropriate, for example, for a student who wishes to pursue a doctorate in special education; an M.S. degree would be an important preparatory step for this individual. The M.S. is also appropriate for international students or other students who have sharply defined career objectives and who exhibit very strong academic credentials.
General Program Requirements
M.S. students must accumulate a specified number of credits, pass an M.S. Comprehensive Exam, and write and defend a master's thesis.
Note: Students pursuing this degree should check with The Graduate School for the specific deadlines pertinent to the degree.
Minimum Credit Requirements
Candidates for the Master of Science degree must a complete a minimum of 30 credits at the 400-level and above. (While graduate students may enroll in courses below the 400-level, these courses do not count toward their degrees.) Of the 30 credits, 6 must be thesis credits (i.e., SPLED 600), and at least 12 credits must be 500-600-level. (In all, 18 credits must be above the 400-level). Students must also take 6 credits outside of Special Education but within a single discipline. Because the M.S. is an academic degree, no practicum courses are counted against the minimum number of credits for the degree. The following list summarizes the minimum credit requirements.
Minimum Total Credits: 30 (6 credits thesis + 24 credits coursework)
Required Courses: SPLED 573, SPLED 600, and EDPSY 400
Thesis Credits (SPLED 600): 6
Coursework Credits: 24 (2 cr. SPLED 573 + 10 other SPLED credits + 6 cr. outside SPLED)
Special Education Credits: 18 (6 cr. thesis + 12 cr. coursework)
Non-Special Education Credits: 6 (All 6 credits must be taken within a single discipline.)
Credits at 500- or 600-level: 18 (6 cr. thesis + 12 credits at 500-level)
