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Saturday November 21, 2009
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Master of Science in Special Education Degree ProgramProgram overviewThe Master of Science in Special Education Degree program is an advanced academic program. The program is aimed at developing advanced skills and knowledge of current research in special education and demonstration of the ability to engage in reflective inquiry. As an academic program, we provide candidates with multiple opportunities to build upon their critical thinking and writing skills throughout their coursework with those skills being applied in the capstone experience of a comprehensive exam or a thesis. The Master of Science in Special Education Degree does not result in a credential for teaching individuals with disabilities. Prospective applicants to the Master of Science in Special Education program are expected to already hold a teaching credential in Special Education or have equivalent experience. Candidates who want to teach special education must earn their preliminary Level I and Professional Level II Education Specialist credentials. While an Education Specialist Level I credential is not an eligibility requirement for the Master's degree in Special Education, core courses in the program are at an advanced level and build on preliminary special education credential coursework. Candidates who have not had this coursework will work with the program advisor in developing their program plan. Program Faculty. The faculty in the Master of Science in Special Education Degree program bring a wealth and variety of practical and research experience to the program. Program faculty have had experience as teachers or support personnel in a variety of special education public school programs. They have experience in large scale longitudinal research as well as smaller scale qualitative research. Program faculty have published textbooks in a variety of areas including inclusive educational models, transition, and sheltered instruction. They also have published research in a variety of journals across the spectrum of special education. These papers address social aspects of inclusive educational models, the adaptations of families of children with disabilities, and issues of assistive technology. Faculty bring a wide variety of interests and expertise into our broad and collaborative advanced academic program. Please follow the Faculty link on the homepage for further information about our program faculty. Masters Program Goals. 1) To provide candidates with the skills necessary for program review and development, and research analysis and utilization that will benefit individuals with disabilities and their families. Consistent with the CED mission, our goal is to nurture life long learners who engage in program development and evaluation reflective of best practices in special education as documented in the current research base. 2) To expand the scope and depth of the candidate’s understanding about and experience with individuals with disabilities and the system of special education which serves them. The majority of our candidates already have regular and/or specialist credentials for teaching school age children. Candidates also need to understand the demands that individuals with disabilities encounter prior to formal education and in their adult years as well as consideration of the life-span adjustments (birth through adulthood) of individuals with disabilities. Our candidates also need to understand a greater number of service delivery models and emerging research and practice which supports the knowledge base in special education.We build upon the understanding our candidates gained in their credential programs by continuing to emphasize our program themes: Collaboration, Diversity, Literacy, Technology, & Transition, in coursework, activities, and examinations. 3) To increase the candidate’s awareness and understanding of the multiple roles through which professionals meet the needs and interests of individuals with disabilities and their families. Our candidates are competent and caring teachers and service providers, who are partners with parents and others in the development of high quality intervention programs for individuals with disabilities. The degree program prepares candidates to look beyond their current positions as teachers and practitioners and to consider leadership roles in education, policymaking, and service delivery. Alignment with Education Specialist Level II Program. The Masters Degree course requirements are closely aligned with the Education Specialist Level II credential requirements. The Masters Degree and Level II credential programs have very different outcomes however. In the credential program, the focus is on effective reflective practice based upon an analysis of research on current best practices. The Masters Degree program extends that to require a strong background in research methods and to require a final synthesis of the research on current best practices in a comprehensive exam or thesis. In other words, though individual course requirements for the Level II and Masters degree are aligned, there are very different outcomes from the professional credential preparation and the advanced academic degree. Candidates should take this into account when they make the decision about applying to the Masters Degree program. Application processApplications for the Masters Degree program are due March 1st for candidates who plan to begin the program in the following Fall semester and October 1st for candidates who plan to begin the program in the following Spring semester. Applications are available by clicking on the Documents and Forms link to the left of this page, or from the Graduate Studies Office in the College of Education, ED1 Room 7 (562-985-8476). Candidates should review all program requirements in the current University Catalog prior to applying to the Masters Degree program. Candidates must submit a separate application to the University. Once candidates have been accepted to the program, they will be invited to a mandatory orientation meeting. Required essays should clearly articulate the outcomes a candidate expects to gain from the Masters degree program. CSULB candidates hoping to be accepted in our Masters degree and Level II credential program after completing the Level I credential, should apply for the 2 programs concurrently. If concurrently applying to the Level II Credential Program, a candidate should identify what outcomes they hope to achieve from the Level II program and from the Master's program. Masters Degree Program RequirementsAt the mandatory orientation meeting, candidates will complete a program planner with the Masters degree program coordinator. This program planner will assist candidates in taking courses in their appropriate sequence. Course offerings are somewhat limited at the Masters degree level so it is important that candidates take courses in the advised sequence. Candidates will therefore need to be available to take courses on whatever night, day, and semester they are offered. 1. Complete Prerequisite Courses:
2. Degree Requirements A minimum of 30 units of upper division and graduate courses with a minimum of 21 units at the 500/600-level taken at CSULB. Degree requirements include the following courses: Core Courses (15 units):
One of the following Advanced Methods Courses (3 units): (Both Fall semester only)
Electives to meet the required minimum of 30 units selected with a special education faculty advisor And one of the following in consultation with faculty advisor: Comprehensive Exam pathway (6 units)
OR Thesis pathway (9 units)
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