Special Education, M.Ed. (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 and Professional Educator Licenses endorsed in areas or levels other than special education. Graduates, with the completion of other state requirements, may be eligible for a subsequent teaching endorsement in special education. Visit Licensure and Endorsements at NLU for more details.

In addition to National College of Education Graduate Admissions Requirements, applicants must:

• Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or ISBE approved alternative or have passed the TAP or Illinois Test of Basic Skills for a previous certificate or Professional Educator License
• Have a Professional Educator License endorsed for an area or level other than special education 

Program Details:

• Requires 38-41 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

Required Courses

MED Core - 8 SH

EPS 541	Cognition and Instruction	1 TO 2
ESR 505	Educational Inquiry and Assessment	3
FND 511	Social and Cultural Politics of Education: Personal and Contextual Perspectives	3

Note: EPS 541 must be taken for 2 semester hours.

Special Education Program Requirements - 30-33 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 502	Language Development and Challenges in Children and Adolescents	2
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 526	Expressive Language Difficulties: Impact on Academic Learning	2
SPE 527	Differentiated and Individualized Curriculum and Instruction	3
SPE 572	Practicum I	2 OR 3
SPE 592C	Practicum/Teaching Children and Adolescents with Special Needs	2 TO 6

Notes: SPE 500 may be waived per advisor. SPE 572 must be taken for 2 semester hours. SPE 592C must be taken for 3 semester hours.

For more information about this program, visit  http://www.nl.edu/academics/educationmastersadvanceded/specialeducation/