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Special Education M.Ed.

Total Semester Credit Hours = 36

The School of Education offers the Master of Education degree in Special Education. The Master of Education degree program is designed to fulfill academic requirements for certification as an educational diagnostician. 

Emphasis in educational diagnosis provides the student with the opportunity to assess the competencies of individuals in language, sociological, physical, and behavioral/emotional areas, intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, and educational performance using informal and formal measures, and prescribe individualized education plans based on test results. The educational diagnostician certificate requires three years of classroom teaching experience as defined by the Texas Administrative Code, an earned master’s degree, and successful completion of the TExES examination for certification.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the graduate program in special education, the individual must:

  1. Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
  2. Hold a Texas teacher certification (any field).
  3. An official copy of your complete teacher service record.
  4. All official transcripts. 
  5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores obtained in the past five years. The GRE can be waived when one of the following requirements have been met:
    1. Last 60-hour GPA of 3.25 or better.
    2. Overall bachelor’s degree GPA of 3.25 or better.
    3. Overall graduate degree GPA of 3.0 or better.
  6. Complete an Admission Interview with Program faculty.
  7. Have an appropriate GPA as set by Texas Administrative Code and other administrative units.
  8. Complete the Student Information Sheet and Statement of Purpose.
  9. Complete a reference request form for 2 professional recommendations:
    1. One recommendation must be from your current principal. If you are not currently employed, the recommendation must come from your former principal.
  10. For the Master’s Degree in Special Education with Certification as an Educational Diagnostician:
    1. Current EC-12 Texas Teacher Certification in any field (Texas residents only).
    2. 1 year teaching experience as the teacher of record at a Texas accredited school.
  11. For the Master’s Degree in Special Education with a UT Tyler Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Specialization:
    1. Current EC-12 Teacher Certification in any field (Texas residents and non-residents).
    2. 1 year teaching experience as the teacher of record at an accredited school in any state.
  12. Admission is determined based on GPA and, if necessary, satisfactory scores on the GRE in combination with the GPA, successful admission interview, recommendations, successful completion of the Statement of Purpose, and
  13. Upon admission, students must:
    1. Sign and submit an acknowledgement of admission and departmental agreements.
    2. Pay the Graduate Program fee of $250 which will be added to the first tuition bill. This program fee is used for supervision during field work and is a one-time fee that will not be added to the tuition beyond the first semester. 

NOTE: In accordance with Texas Administrative Code, all applicants must be fully admitted prior to taking any coursework in the area in which they are seeking certification. Therefore, no provisional admission is allowed.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours = 36

EDSP 5350Overview of Special Education (Birth -21)
EDSP 5357Practicum in Special Education
EDSP 5360Seminar: Learning and Neurological Disabilities
EDSP 5361Overview of Transition Services
EDSP 5363Behavioral Disorders
EDSP 5364Seminar: Assessment in Special Education
EDSP 5365Developmental Testing
EDSP 5366Seminar: Full Individual Evaluation
EDSP 5368Seminar: Educational Strategies for Special Education
EDSP 5370Learning Theory as Applied to Individuals with Disabilities
EDSP 5371Individual Assessment of Cognitive Functioning
EDSP 5378Administrative and Legal Issues in Special Education

Substitutions require advisor approval.