& Student Handbook - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

226 Master Degree Programs
Master of Arts in Special Education
The Master of Arts in Special Education program is designed for students
who would like to become licensed to teach in the Special Education areas
of Learning Disabilities (LD) and/or Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD).
The M.A. in Special Education is based on the standards required by the
Minnesota Board of Teaching. All standards and requirements must be
successfully completed by candidates prior to recommendation to the
Minnesota Board of Teaching for licensure. Students may choose to
complete only the courses leading to licensure which results in earning one
or both graduate certificates in special education (LD and/or EBD). Those
students who wish to earn the Master of Arts in Special Education must
also complete the additional 6 credits of the master’s completion sequence.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Special Education program,
graduates are expected to do the following:
1. Interpret the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and the history of special
education within the context of birth to 21 regular education settings.
2. Manage the use of effective ethical and legal practices to lead the
special education team through special education processes.
3. Develop, design, and implement effective individualized programs for
students with disabilities using appropriate instructional strategies.
4. Communicate and collaborate effectively with families and professionals.
5. Apply the standards of effective practice in teaching special needs
students at primary, intermediate, and high school levels across a
range of service delivery models.
6. Analyze current research and apply it to special education curriculum
and instruction.
7. Develop leadership skills to guide and direct services for the special
education needs of students.
8. Utilize knowledge of disabilities and other conditions to integrate strategies
applicable for students, including those with co-existing disabilities.
9. Recognize and plan for personal and professional growth and development.
10. Deliver professional education services in a nondiscriminatory
manner with sensitivity to diversity.
Program Requirements
For those students working toward their initial teaching license, the
following courses are required for licensure in Learning Disabilities and
Emotional Behavioral Disorders:
Standards of Effective Practice Courses:
EDUC515 Foundations of Education ..................................................2 cr.
EDUC517 Learning, Development, and Exceptionality.......................3 cr.
EDUC565 Human Relations, Cultural Diversity,
and American Indian Culture..........................................................2 cr.
EDUC511 Educational Measurement and Assessment......................2 cr.
EDUC525 Curriculum and Instruction .................................................4 cr.
EDUC530 Reading in the Content Areas............................................2 cr.
EDUC534 Technology in the Classroom .............................................2 cr.
EDUC554 Practicum ...........................................................................0 cr.
See Master of Arts in Instruction program information for course descriptions.
Special Education Core Courses:
EDSE601 Special Education Foundations ..........................................4 cr.
EDSE602 Survey of Special Populations............................................2 cr.
EDSE603 Individualized Assessment .................................................3 cr.
EDSE604 Transition Planning through Collaboration ..........................3 cr.
EDSE605 Behavior Theories and Practices........................................3 cr.
EDSE606 Characteristics of Students with Learning
Disabilities and/or Emotional Behavioral Disorders........................3 cr.
EDSE607 Literacy Development and Interventions ............................3 cr.
Learning Disabilities Course:
EDSE610 Instructional Strategies for Students
with Learning Disabilities................................................................2 cr.
Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities Course:
EDSE611 Instructional Strategies for Students with EBD ...................2 cr.
Practicum:
EDSE621 Special Education Student Teaching
(for students seeking initial teaching license).................................6 cr.
*The Standards of Effective Practice courses are required by the state of
Minnesota for any teaching license. It is not necessary for those courses
to be taken prior to the Special Education courses, but it is necessary for
those courses to be completed before a recommendation can be made
to the state for licensure.
For students who currently hold a Minnesota teaching license, the
following courses are required for adding licensure in Learning
Disabilities and Emotional Behavioral Disorders:
Special Education Core Courses:
EDSE601 Special Education Foundations ..........................................4 cr.
EDSE602 Survey of Special Populations............................................2 cr.
EDSE603 Individualized Assessment .................................................3 cr.
EDSE604 Transition Planning through Collaboration ..........................3 cr.
EDSE605 Behavior Theories and Practices........................................3 cr.
EDSE606 Characteristics of Students with Learning
Disabilities and/or Emotional Behavioral Disorders........................3 cr.
EDSE607 Literacy Development and Interventions ............................3 cr.
Learning Disabilities Course:
EDSE610 Instructional Strategies for Students with
Learning Disabilities .......................................................................2 cr.