Special Education (SPED) Graduate Program - Master in Science
Offered through the Department of Special Education
in the School of Education
A211 Education Building
Phone: 320.308.2041
Fax: 320.308.3475
E-mail:
www.stcloudstate.edu/sped
Department Web site: www.stcloudstate.edu/sped
Graduate Handbook: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sped/handbooks/graduate/default.asp
Department Chairperson: Dr. J. Michael Pickle
Office Manager: Ms. Kathy Sauer
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. J. Michael Pickle
Graduate Faculty: K. Johnson, Kaffar, Markell, Noll, Pickle, D.
Rogers, Salk, Seo, Wellik
Accreditations and Memberships
- Council for Exceptional Children
- NCATE
Program Overview
Special Education Options
- Master of Science in Special Education
Special Education, Master of Science Program
- Most master's degree candidates take a minimum of 18 licensure credits to secure and add a special education licensure degree to their M.S.
- It is possible, though, for students to earn a master's degree in special education that does not lead to teacher licensure if that is the student's preference.
Admission Requirements Specific to the M.S. Program
- For admission to the Master of Science in Special Education a student
must have earned at least a 2.75 GPA over the last two years of their
undergraduate education to meet the minimal requirements established by the School of Graduate Studies.
- A GRE examination is required for admission consideration to the master of science program. Applicants to the M.S. program must score at the 25th percentile or higher on the GRE Writing examination for admission consideration.
- Students who score at the 25th percentile or higher on the GRE Analytical Writing section are granted full admission to the master's degree program and are allowed to register for SPED 601. Full academic admission is required for course registration in SPED 601.
- Students who score between the 10th and 24th percentiles in the writing component may be admitted to the master's degree program but, must take SPED 306 Academic Writing Skills and earn a grade of "A" or "B" before they are granted full admission and allowed to register for SPED 601. Full academic admission is required for course registration in SPED 601.
- Students who score below the 10th percentile on the GRE Analytical Writing section are denied admission.
- A pre-admission advising meeting will be requested by the department once all application materials are received in the School of Graduate Studies. The meeting may take place in person, by phone or Skype. This is a crucial part of the admission process. A faculty advisor will meet with applicants individually to review their teaching and professional background to make recommendations on program fit and where a student may need to start in the graduate program curriculum.
- An admission decision will not be made until a Special Education faculty member can have pre-admission advising contact with an applicant.
- The Special Education department office manager, Ms. Kathy Sauer coordinates the pre-admission advising meeting.
Application Deadlines Specific to the M.S. Program
- Applicants to the M.S. program should note that rolling admission is available.
- Throughout the year, as the department receives a completed application an admission decision will be made immediately and a student will be offered the next available start date.
- The program admits students for fall, spring and summer terms.
- For priority consideration, applicants are encouraged to apply by the deadlines posted. If space remains in the program, applications will continue to be reviewed after the posted priority deadlines.
- Domestic admission application deadlines.
- International admission application deadlines
Length of Program — Measured by Semesters
- Part-time students seeking licensure who already possess a Minnesota teaching license may complete most, but not all coursework during two summer semesters.
- Full-time Master of Science in Special Education students may complete course work requirements in day or evening classes and will be given priority registration.
Graduate Assistantship Overview
- Six graduate assistantship positions are offered for the academic year to students admitted to the master of science program.
- GAs assist in supervision of undergraduate field experiences or with assessment and assistive technology labs.
TEACH Grant Program
- The federal government is sponsoring a TEACH Grant program for up to $4,000 a year for graduate students seeking to become special education educators.
- To explore this opportunity visit SCSU's Financial Aid Office Web site at: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/financialaid/types/grants-teach.asp.
- Access additional details from the federal government at: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp.
Degrees and Plans Offered
- Master of Science: Special Education, Plan A (Thesis) 30 credits --- Complete the graduate program form with your advisor before starting your first semester.
- Master of Science: Special Education, Plan B (One Starred Paper) 33 credits --- Complete the graduate program form with your advisor before starting your first semester.
Master of Science — Special Education
Research Courses
Plan A, 15 credit minimum; Plan B, 9 credit minimum
- CEEP 678. Graduate Statistics, 3 credits
- SPED 601. Trends and Problems in SPED, 3 credits
- SPED 602. Research in SPED, 3 credits
- SPED 699. Thesis (Plan A only), 6 credits
Core Courses
Plan A, 9 credit minimum; Plan B, 18 credit minimum
- SPED 503. Special Education Foundations, 3 credits
- SPED 505. Behavior Theories and Practices in Special Education, 3 credits
- SPED 511. Special Education Procedural Safeguards, 3 credits
- SPED 513. Mathematics and Technology for Students with Special Needs, 3 credits
- SPED 516. Individualized Assessment in Special Education, 3 credits
- SPED 518. General Education Reading and Language Arts for Special Education, 2 credits
- SPED 519. Literacy for Special Educators, 4 credits
- SPED 520. Characteristics of Students with Physical, Health and Developmental Disabilities, 3 credits
- SPED 521. Characteristics of Students with Learning and Behavior Disorders, 3 credits
- SPED 531. Collaboration Skills and Transitional Planning in Diverse Settings, 3 credits
- SPED 545. Social and Natural Sciences for Special Educators, 3 credits
- SPED 650. Practicum in Physical/Health Disabilities, 3 credits
- SPED 660. Practicum in Developmental Disabilities: Mild/Moderate, 3 credits
- SPED 670. Practicum in Emotional/Behavioral Disorders I, 3 credits
- SPED 680. Practicum in Learning Disabilities I, 3 credits
- SPED 651. Practicum in Physical/Health Disabilities I, 3 credits
- SPED 661. Practicum in Developmental Disabilities: Moderate/Severe, 3 credits
- SPED 671. Practicum in Emotional/Behavioral Disorders II, 3 credits
- SPED 681. Practicum in Learning Disabilities II, 3 credits
Professional Education Courses
Plan A or B, 3 credit minimum
- For electives from outside the Department of Special Education, please discuss choices with the advisor.
Elective Courses
Plan A or B, 3 credits
- SPED 690. Topical Seminar, 3 credits
- SPED Non-licensure elective, 3 credits
