Accelerated M.Ed. in Inclusive Special Education (38 or 41 credits)
This program of study is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Initial Teacher License in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8); Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (5-12); or Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (All Levels) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
This program provides the knowledge and skills to teach, support, and advocate for individuals with disabilities, and is grounded in evidence-based practices. Each licensure option requires coursework with field-based assignments, a supervised pre-practicum experience, and a supervised 14-week practicum that provides application and refinement of skills across settings serving students with Individual Educational Programs.
Program prerequisites: Initial Teacher License from Lesley University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Early Childhood (Prek-2), Elementary (1-6), Middle School (5-8) or High School (8-12) with SEI endorsement. All courses must be completed with a grade of B or better.
Practicum prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of core and license-specific courses, pre-practicum hours, and appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). This full-time, full-semester experience is accompanied by a weekly seminar and requires a field experience fee.
Orientation requirement: accepted students must complete a new student orientation at the start of their first semester (taken in conjunction with ESPED 5020).
Program of Study
Courses may have prerequisites for registration; please check course descriptions before registering.
Shared Coursework (29 credits)
All of the required courses must be completed prior to the practicum, and many courses include field-based assignments.
| ESPED 5020 | The Special Education Profession: Orientation & Overview | 1 |
| ESPED 5100 | Inclusion, Social Justice, and Disability | 3 |
| ESPED 6130 | Speech, Language, and AAC | 3 |
| EWKSP 6131 | Pre-Practicum: Inclusive Special Education | 0 |
| ESPED 5114 | Universal Curriculum Design and Assistive Technology | 3 |
| ESPED 6124 | Formal Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| ESPED 6134 | Developing IEPs in Collaboration with Schools and Families | 3 |
| ESPED 6107 | Assessment for Instructional Design and Decision Making | 3 |
| ESPED 6014 | Targeted Reading and Writing Instruction | 3 |
| ESPED 6128 | Targeted Math and Science Instruction: Access and Fluency | 3 |
| ESPED 6143 | Positive Behavior Support: Shifts in Paradigms and Practices | 4 |
Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) Courses (9 credits):
| EEDUC 6173 | Literacy in the Disciplines (1-6) | 3 |
| ESPED 7717 | Practicum and Seminar in Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) | 6 |
Moderate Disabilities (5-12 ) Courses (9 credits)
| ESPED 6150 | Laying the Groundwork: Fundamentals of Transition | 3 |
| ESPED 7718 | Practicum and Seminar in Moderate Disabilities (5-12) | 6 |
Severe Disabilities Required Coursework 12 credits
| ESPED 6154 | Curriculum, Instruction, and Supports: Severe Disabilities | 3 |
| ESPED 7719 | Practicum and Seminar in Severe Disabilities | 6 |
| ESPED 7719 | Practicum and Seminar in Severe Disabilities | 6 |