Special Education, M.A.T. (Traditional Program)
This program prepares candidates for a variety of roles working with children and adolescents with exceptional needs. It is designed for students with baccalaureate degrees seeking the a Professional Educator License endorsed for LBS I (preK to age 21). Visit Licensure and Endorsements at NLU for more details.
In addition to National College of Education Graduate Admissions Requirements, applicants must:
Program Details:
- Requires 44 SH for completion
- Please note, any candidate who wishes to teach in a preK special education setting must have completed SPE 510, SPE 532, SPE 533 and SPE 534
- Requires practicum/ student teaching. Student teachers spend a minimum of 11 weeks in the classroom at an assigned school.
Required Courses
MAT Core - 7 SH
| EPS 511 | Human Learning and Development in Instructional Contexts | 2 OR 3 |
| ESR 514 | Research in Action: Becoming Practitioner Researchers | 3 |
| FND 510 | Social Justice Perspectives on the History and Philosophy ofAmerican Education | 1 TO 3 |
Program Requirements - 37 SH
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPE 501 | Educational and Diagnostic Assessment of Exceptional Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| SPE 506 | Frameworks, Perspectives, and Collaboration in Special Education | 3 |
| SPE 507 | Methods of Social/Emotional Support | 3 |
| SPE 508 | Literacy Across the Curriculum for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPE 509 | Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| SPE 523 | Teaching Students with Math Disabilities | 3 |
| SPE 572 | Practicum I | 2 OR 3 |
| SPE 573 | Differentiated and Inclusive Curriculum & Instruction I | 3 |
| SPE 576 | Practicum II: Curricular Content Strategies for the Inclusive Classroom | 3 |
| SPE 592C | Practicum/Teaching Children and Adolescents with Special Needs | 2 TO 6 |
| SPE 502 | Language Development and Challenges in Children and Adolescents | 2 |
| or | |
| SPE 526 | Expressive Language Difficulties: Impact on Academic Learning | 2 |
Notes: SPE 572 must be taken for 3 semester hours. SPE 592C must be taken for a total of 5 semester hours. SPE 500 may be waived per advisor.
Special Education Practicum/Student Teaching Enrollment Requirements
Admission to and continuance in student teaching are contingent on the following actions.
Candidates must:
- Be accepted into the graduate program of National College of Education
- File, by the designated deadline, the application form for student teaching
- Submit to their advisor a report of a TB test taken within 90 days of the student teaching placement, results of criminal background check and acknowledgement of Mandated Reporter status form
- Turn in a signed log of all the pre-clinical hours specified in their pre-clinical hours required for the program
- Pass the LBSI (155) and Special Education General Curriculum (163) Content Tests before student teaching/practicum
- Complete all of their licensure courses except for SPE 592C
- Pass all methods courses at National Louis University with a grade no lower than a B
- Participate in faculty assessment and receive approval of his or her portfolio (Livetext)
- Provide evidence of emotional stability, adequate personality adjustment and competency as indicated by licensure coursework and departmental assessments