M.Ed. in Inclusive Special Education: 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 in their schools and communities. It requires a combination of content and pedagogical course work with field-based assignments, a supervised pre-practicum experience, and a supervised 14-week practicum experience that provides application of skills across a variety of settings serving students with Individual Educational Programs.

Program prerequisites:

Active Initial or Professional teaching license with Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) endorsement

OR the following courses, completed with a grade of B or better

an approved child development or adolescent course (requirement varies depending on licensure area)
an approved general education math methods course
an approved general education literacy methods course
a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education-approved SEI course/endorsement

Prerequisites may be waived based on previously-completed coursework or professional experience. Prior coursework must be completed with a grade of B or better. Students may be accepted into the program without the prerequisites and will develop an advisor-approved plan for completion of equivalent courses.

Orientation requirement: accepted students must complete a new student orientation at the start of their first semester (taken in conjunction with ESPED 5020).

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.

All courses must be completed prior to each practicum, and many courses include field-based assignments.

Program of Study

Courses may have prerequisites for registration; please check course descriptions before registering.

Courses may be waived based on previous coursework, which may reduce the total number of program credits. Minimum program credits: 34.

Core courses (29 credits)

Please note that students will need to register for a zero-credit pre-practicum workshop, EWKSP 6131, concurrent with ESPED 6130.

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 PreK-8 Courses (12 credits)

One elective selected under the advisement of the academic advisor (3 credits)

EEDUC 6173	Literacy in the Disciplines (1-6)	3
ESPED 7717	Practicum and Seminar in Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8)	6

Moderate 5-12 Courses (12 credits)

EEDUC 6170	Middle and High School Content Literacy	3
ESPED 6150	Laying the Groundwork: Fundamentals of Transition	3
ESPED 7718	Practicum and Seminar in Moderate Disabilities (5-12)	6

Severe Courses (12 credits)

ESPED 6154	Curriculum, Instruction, and Supports: Severe Disabilities	3
ESPED 6150	Laying the Groundwork: Fundamentals of Transition	3
ESPED 7719	Practicum and Seminar in Severe Disabilities	6