Special Education, M.A.

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Faculty:

Jeremy Brueck, Ph.D.
Daniel Casebeer, Ph.D.
Kathleen Harris, Ph. D.
Jacque Johnston, M.A.
Mary Monsour, Ed.D.
Bonnie Ordonez, Ed.D.
Jennifer Suppo, Ed.D., Program Director
Teresa Vasinko, D. Ed.

The Master of Arts in Special Education is designed to enhance the teaching skills necessary to provide quality education for all students in today’s classroom. Theory and skills are presented to help teachers address the educational needs of children and youth who have a variety of intellectual and/or physical disabilities. The curriculum meets the standards for special education dictated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for certification. Program content and pedagogy are intended to provide comprehensive training for teachers of exceptional children. Upon completion of the master’s program, teachers will be able to serve as master teachers and will be prepared to serve as curriculum specialists and in-service professionals.

To be eligible to add the special education certification (either pre K to grade 8 or grades 7 - 12), the student must hold a current PA teaching certification. The student must consult with the Special Education Program Director to determine which certification track is appropriate. For PA certification, in addition to the listed coursework for the Master of Arts degree, the student must pass the required PECT Modules 1 and 2.

Educational Objectives:

to develop the concepts and skills necessary to analyze and conduct research in special education
to expose teachers to contemporary issues in special education through the use of educational technology
to enable teachers to conduct diagnostic assessment and design and implement instructional strategies for exceptional children
to prepare teachers to participate effectively in parent and family conferencing for exceptional children
to expose teachers to the current educational philosophies of effective management of students with behavioral disorders in the classroom
to prepare teachers to effectively provide educational development for students with exceptional needs

Degree Program

The Master of Arts in Special Education Program is designed for those working with individuals with intellectual, behavioral, and physical/health disabilities.

If you are seeking a Pennsylvania Pre K-8 or 7-12 special education teacher certification with an M.A. degree along with your Autism Endorsement, you must also:

have maintained a minimum of 3.0 GPA while earning an undergraduate degree
hold a Pennsylvania teaching certificate in one of the following areas: N-3; K-6; Pre K-4; 4-8; K-12; reading specialist
have had coursework in English Language Learners (ELL) or English as a Second Language (ESL)
have completed a Developmental Psychology course
have received passing scores on state certification tests to meet Pennsylvania’s requirements for the special education Pre K-8 or 7-12 certification

Special Education Curriculum

Master of Arts

A prerequisite for participation in the program is Introduction to Exceptional Children (SED 205 or equivalent)

SED 560 - Legal Issues & Procedures in Sp Ed (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 565 - Interventions: Reading,Writing, Math (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 570 - Collaboration & Transitions (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 727 - Adapt Curriculum Diverse Learners (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 730 - Managing Behavioral Issues (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 735 - Ed Indv Low Incidence Disabilities (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 740 - Ed Indv High Incidence Disabilities (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 841 - Autism: Theory and Practice (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 860 - Instructional & Assistive Tech (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 936 - Research-Based Practicum (Education) 3 Credit(s)

Total credits: 30

You may select the following Autism Endorsement Program:

This 12-credit, online program is offered to professional educators in the state of Pennsylvania who are interested in adding the Autism Endorsement offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to their professional certification. Seton Hill University does not provide the endorsement.

Upon completion of this PDE approved program, candidates must apply for the endorsement using the Teacher Information Management System available at the Pennsylvania’s Department of Education (PDE) website. The prerequisites for obtaining the Autism Spectrum Disorders Endorsement are:

The candidate must have a Pennsylvania Level 1 or Level II certificate in regular and/or special education, school psychologist, principal, guidance counselor, speech and language clinician, occupational and physical therapist, or reading specialist.
The candidate must successfully complete all four courses, which include a minimum of 80 hours of integrated field experience.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement

Students who do not meet the prerequisites for obtaining the Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement from PDE may be able to complete the online program if they meet the other requirements for taking graduate coursework, but they will not be able to apply for ASD endorsement.

SED 841 - Autism: Theory and Practice (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 842 - Autism Strategies Devel Social Comp (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 843 - Autism: Applied Behavior Analysis (Education) 3 Credit(s)
SED 844 - Autism: Assess, Curriculum & Transi (Education) 3 Credit(s)