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Exceptional Children and Youth |
Program Policy Statement
Part
I. Program History
A. Purpose Statement
B. Origin of the
Program
C. Administration
and Faculty
Part
II. Admission
A. University
Policy on Admission
B. University
Admission Procedures
C. Specific
Requirements for Admission into the M.Ed. in Exceptional Children
and Youth
Part
III. Degree Requirements for the M. Ed. in Exceptional Children and Youth
1. Degree Candidates who are Currently Certified
2. Degree Candidates who are
Seeking Elementary Certification
3. Degree Candidates who are
Seeking Secondary Certification
B. Non-Registered Degree Requirements
Part
IV. General Information
G. Transfer of Credit from Another Institution
H. Transfer of Credit from the Undergraduate
Division at the University of Delaware
Effective: Spring 2005
Part I. Program History
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Exceptional Children and Youth degree program is designed to develop professional educators committed to careers working with individuals with disabilities. Graduates are prepared to work as special education teachers, education consultants, educational diagnosticians, and educational technology specialists. Areas of specialization are: (1) Elementary Special Education, (2) Secondary and Transition Special Education, (3) Special Education Technology, (4) Severe Disabilities, and (5) Educational Diagnosis. The program is appropriate for teachers with certification in special education who wish to develop professionally and for individuals seeking to enter the field of special education.
B. Origin of the Program
The University's
C. Administration and Faculty
The Committee on Graduate Studies in Education is
the SOE-level committee that administers all the graduate programs, including
the M. Ed. in Exceptional Children and Youth Program. The committee is composed of five faculty
members from the SOE, a graduate student member selected by the Education Graduate
Association, and the Assistant Director
of the SOE, who also serves as the SOE Graduate Coordinator.
The SOE is committed to the recruitment, support,
and retention of full-time, tenure-line faculty members in the area of special
education. Faculty members who teach
graduate courses and advise graduate students in the SOE must have a doctorate
or equivalent. In some instances,
persons with a master’s degree and special expertise in a relevant area of
Education as a result of concentrated study, employment experience, or service
may be recommended for graduate teaching.
In such cases, the faculty member must have a record of successful
teaching in the relevant area of Education, proven scholarly ability, and the
endorsement of the Special Education faculty and the SOE Director.
Special Education faculty members review
candidates for admission to the M.Ed. in Exceptional Children and Youth
Program, serve as advisors to candidates admitted to the program, teach courses
in the program, and evaluate candidates’ exhibits and other performance
products.
D. Degrees Offered
The degree awarded to candidates who complete this
program is an M.Ed. in Exceptional Children and Youth. Most graduates who earn this degree seek to
apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills in their current teaching roles
in
Part II. Admission
A.
University Policy on Admission
Admission to the graduate program is
competitive. Those who meet stated minimum requirements are not guaranteed
admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily
precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.
B.
University Admission Procedures
Applicants must submit all of the following items
to the Office of Graduate Studies before admission is considered:
Completed applications are due by November 1
for admission in the subsequent Spring semester and
by April 1 for admission in the subsequent Fall semester. Admission application forms are available from the Office
of Graduate Studies, from the departments, and online
(http://www.udel.edu/admissions/appinfo.html).
A $60 nonrefundable application fee must be
submitted with the application. Checks must be made payable to the
An official transcript of all previous college
records must be sent directly from the institution to the Office of Graduate
Studies. Students who have attended the
Applicants must submit at least three letters of
recommendation. The Special Education faculty recommend that these letters be
written by teaching supervisors and professors who know the applicant
well.
If English is not their first language, international student applicants must demonstrate a
satisfactory level of proficiency in the English language on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL
is offered by the Educational Testing Service in test centers throughout the
world. TOEFL scores that are more than two years old are not acceptable. In
order for a student visa to be issued, international students first must be
offered admission to the University and provide evidence of adequate financial
resources. The University has been authorized under federal law to enroll
non-immigrant alien students. International students are required to purchase
the University-sponsored insurance plan or its equivalent.
It is a Delaware State Board of Health Regulation
and a
C.
Specific Requirements for Admission into the M.Ed. in Exceptional Children and
Youth
Admission decisions are made by the full-time faculty in Special Education. Students will be admitted to the program based upon enrollment availability and evidence that they meet or exceed the following minimum recommended entrance requirements:
The applicant should address one of the following questions in a brief essay of 500 words or less:
1. Select an important problem facing individuals with disabilities or the schools, teachers, parents, or other people who work with them and propose a solution to this problem.
2. Describe an experience in your own life that influenced your decision to work with individuals with disabilities.
Part III. Degree Requirements for the M.Ed. in Exceptional Children and Youth
A. Degree Requirements
The M.Ed. in Exceptional Children and Youth
requires a minimum of 33 credits of graduate-level coursework, including 6
Core courses (18 credits) and 5 Specialization courses (15 credits). Degree candidates enter into one of the following three
tracks:
1.
Candidates entering the M.Ed. with Special Education Teacher
Certification:
|
Required Core coursework |
18 credits |
|
EDUC 607, Educational Research
Procedures |
|
|
EDUC 623, Applied Human
Development in the Schools |
|
|
EDUC 679, Methods of Instructing
Learners with Mild Disabilities |
|
|
EDUC 680, Educational Diagnosis |
|
|
EDUC 681, Techniques for Behavior
Change |
|
|
EDUC 682, Research in Special
Education |
|
|
|
|
|
Specialization Area Coursework |
15 credits |
|
Students choose a specialization
in one of the following areas: elementary, secondary, severe disabilities,
technology, educational diagnosis. Students take 15 credits in their area of
specialization including one course in assistive or educational technology. |
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|
Students may choose to complete a
Master’s Thesis for 6 credits and take an additional 9 credits of coursework
to satisfy this requirement. |
|
|
TOTAL CREDITS FOR DEGREE |
33 credits |
|
|
|
|
Non-Registered Degree Requirements
for this Concentration: |
|
|
All students will complete a final
paper as an exit requirement for this degree.
Students may complete a thesis (see option above). Alternately, they may complete a Case
Study, Literature Review, or Practitioner Manuscript to fulfill this
requirement. |
|
|
|
|
2.
Candidates entering the M.Ed. who are seeking initial certification in
elementary special education:
|
Required Core coursework |
18 credits |
|
EDUC 607, Educational Research
Procedures |
|
|
EDUC 623, Applied Human
Development in the Schools |
|
|
EDUC 679, Methods of Instructing
Learners with Mild Disabilities |
|
|
EDUC 680, Educational Diagnosis |
|
|
EDUC 681, Techniques for Behavior
Change |
|
|
EDUC 682, Research in Special
Education |
|
|
|
|
|
Specialization Area Coursework |
15 credits |
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EDUC 609, Assessment &
Instruction of Reading Difficulties: Primary Grades |
|
|
EDUC 668, Assessment &
Instruction of Reading Difficulties: Intermed. Grades |
|
|
EDUC 652, Intro. to Technology in
Special Education and Rehabilitation OR EDUC 653, Computer-Assisted
Instruction in Remedial/Special Education OR EDUC 655, Assistive Technology |
|
|
EDUC 658, Discipline and Classroom
Management |
|
|
One additional course selected
with advisor |
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL CREDITS FOR DEGREE |
33 credits |
|
|
|
|
Non-Registered Degree Requirements
for this Concentration: |
|
|
All students will complete a final
paper as an exit requirement for this degree.
Students may complete a thesis (see option above). Alternately, they may complete a Case
Study, Literature Review, or Practitioner Manuscript to fulfill this
requirement. |
|
|
All students in this track who are
seeking initial certification are required to show evidence of having taken a
state-designated content area knowledge test, such as Praxis II. This test will be considered an exit
requirement, and students must take the test no later than the point at which
they have earned 27 graduate credits in the program. |
|
|
All students must complete a
supervised student teaching experience in order to be eligible for
certification. Students may complete
this requirement by registering for either EDUC 400, Student Teaching or for
EDUC 808, Internship in Education.
These credits do not count towards M.Ed. degree requirements. |
|
|
|
|
|
Students in this track who are
seeking initial certification as an elementary special education teacher may
need to complete the additional coursework below as pre-requisite courses,
depending upon their previous educational background and coursework. |
|
|
EDUC 697, Education of the
Exceptional Child |
|
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EDUC
608, Teaching EDUC
620, Foundations of Reading Instruction |
|
|
EDUC
635, Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School |
|
|
|
|
3. Candidates
entering the M.Ed. who are seeking initial certification in secondary special
education:
|
Required Core coursework |
18 credits |
|
EDUC 607, Educational Research
Procedures |
|
|
EDUC 623, Applied Human
Development in the Schools |
|
|
EDUC 679, Methods of Instructing
Learners with Mild Disabilities |
|
|
EDUC 680, Educational Diagnosis |
|
|
EDUC 681, Techniques for Behavior
Change |
|
|
EDUC 682, Research in Special
Education |
|
|
|
|
|
Specialization Area Coursework |
15 credits |
|
EDUC 673, Transitions from
Secondary Special Education |
|
|
EDUC 674, Instructional Methods in
Secondary Special Education |
|
|
EDUC 652, Intro. to Technology in
Special Education and Rehabilitation OR EDUC 653, Computer-Assisted
Instruction in Remedial/Special Education OR EDUC 655, Assistive Technology |
|
|
EDUC 658, Discipline and Classroom
Management |
|
|
EDUC 610, Assessment in Secondary
Special Education OR EDUC 628, Strategy Instruction in
Reading & Writing for Students with LD |
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL CREDITS FOR DEGREE |
33 credits |
|
|
|
|
Non-Registered Degree Requirements
for this Concentration: |
|
|
All students will complete a final
paper as an exit requirement for this degree.
Students may complete a thesis (see option above). Alternately, they may complete a Case
Study, Literature Review, or Practitioner Manuscript to fulfill this
requirement. |
|
|
All students in this track who are
seeking initial certification are required to show evidence of having taken a
state-designated content area knowledge test, such as Praxis II. This test will be considered an exit
requirement, and students must take the test no later than the point at which
they have earned 27 graduate credits in the program. |
|
|
All students must complete a
supervised student teaching experience in order to be eligible for
certification. Students may complete
this requirement by registering for either EDUC 400, Student Teaching or for
EDUC 808, Internship in Education.
These credits do not count towards M.Ed. degree requirements. |
|
|
|
|
|
Students in this track who are
seeking initial certification as an elementary special education teacher may
need to complete the additional coursework below as pre-requisite courses,
depending upon their previous educational background and coursework. |
|
|
EDUC 697, Education of the
Exceptional Child |
|
|
EDUC
608, Teaching EDUC
620, Foundations of Reading Instruction |
|
|
EDUC
635, Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School |
|
|
|
|
B. Non-Registered Degree Requirements
Students will pursue one of two options as a final demonstration of learning:
A. Final Paper
Students will write a paper that demonstrates their ability to apply the knowledge gained in the program to educational practice. Options for this paper include the following:
1. A paper on a practical application of a research-substantiated technique, a model
program, or a policy.
2. A literature review on an important issue in special education.
3. A paper on an applied research project.
B. Master’s Thesis
A student may desire to complete a master’s thesis in place of the final paper and two of the required courses The student must follow the approved Policy and Guidelines for the Completion of a Master’s Thesis in the School of Education. Students will register for six credits of EDUC 869: Master’s Thesis.
To be eligible to conduct thesis research, a student must have:
1. completed all core graduate courses (except those for which the thesis will be substituted) and at least half of the courses that are required in his/her Specialization area,
2. achieved a cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.3 or higher,
3. identified a faculty member in the School of Education who has agreed to supervise his/ her thesis research, and
4. received written approval from his/her faculty advisor and the faculty coordinator of the Exceptional Children Program for the degree requirements that will be waived for the master’s thesis.
A. Financial Assistance
Financial assistance for full-time students in the
M.Ed. program is obtained from a variety of external sources and will therefore
vary in form and availability. Assistance will be awarded on a competitive
basis to applicants best fitting the needs of the granting agencies and
sponsoring faculty. Students receiving full stipends will be expected to
work up to 20 hours per week on faculty projects and students are expected to
maintain full-time status.
B.
Application for Advanced Degree.
To initiate the process for degree conferral,
candidates must submit an "Application for Advanced Degree" to the
Office of Graduate Studies. The application deadlines are February 15 for
Spring candidates, May 15 for Summer candidates, and September 15 for Winter
candidates. The application must be signed by the candidate's adviser and by
the Director or the Assistant Director of the School of Education. There is an
application fee of $35 for master's degree candidates and a $95 fee for
doctoral degree candidates. Payment is required when the application is
submitted.
C.
Graduate Grade Point Average.
Students must have a minimum overall cumulative
grade point average of 3.0 to be eligible for the degree. In addition, the
grades in courses applied toward the degree program must equal at least 3.0.
All graduate-numbered courses taken with graduate student classification at the
University of Delaware are applied to the cumulative index. Credit hours and
courses for which the grade is below "C-" do not count toward the
degree even though the grade is applied to the overall index. Candidates should
see that their instructors have submitted all final grades.
D. Time Limits for
the Completion of Degree Requirements.
Time limits for the completion of degree
requirements begin with the date of matriculation and are specifically
expressed in the student's letter of admission. The University policy for
students entering a master's degree program is ten consecutive semesters to
complete the degree requirements. Students who change their degree plan and
have transferred from one degree program to another degree program are given
ten consecutive semesters from the beginning of the first year in the latest
program.
E.
Extension of the Time Limit.
An extension of time limit may be granted for
circumstances beyond the student's control. Requests for time extensions must
be made in writing and approved by the student's adviser and the Director or
Assistant Director of the School of Education. The Director/Assistant Director
will forward the request to the Office of Graduate Studies. The Office of
Graduate Studies will determine the student's eligibility for a time extension
and will notify the student in writing of its decision to grant an extension of
time.
F. Transfer of Credit Earned as a Continuing Education
Student at the University of Delaware.
Students who complete graduate credits with the
classification of CEND (Continuing Education Nondegree) at the University of
Delaware may use a maximum of 9 graduate credits earned with this
classification toward their graduate degree. The CEND credits, grades, and
quality points become a part of the student's academic record and grade point
average. CEND credit can be transferred provided that: (a) the course was at
the 600 or 800 level, (b) the course was taken within the time limit
appropriate for the degree, (c) the course was approved by the student's
adviser and the Director/Assistant Director of the School of Education, and (d)
the course was in accord with the requirements for the degree.
G.
Transfer of Credit from Another Institution.
Graduate credit earned at another institution will
be evaluated at the written request of the student. Such a request should be
submitted first to his or her advisor using a Request for Transfer of Graduate
Credit form. A maximum of 9 credits required for the degree will be accepted
provided that such credits: (a) were earned with a grade of no less than B-,
(b) are approved by the student's adviser and the Director/Assistant Director
of the School of Education, (c) are in accord with the requirements of the
degree, (d) are not older than five years, and (e) were completed at an
accredited college or university. The credits, but not the grades or quality
points, are transferable to University of Delaware graduate records. Graduate
courses counted toward a degree received elsewhere may not be used. Credits
earned at another institution while the student was classified as a continuing
education student at that institution are not eligible to be transferred to
one's graduate degree at the University of Delaware. Credits from institutions
outside of the United States are generally not transferable to the University
of Delaware.
H.
Transfer of Credit from the Undergraduate Division at the University of
Delaware.
Students who wish to transfer credits from their
undergraduate record to their graduate record may transfer a limited number by
arranging with the department to have these courses approved by their
instructors before the courses are taken. These courses must be at the
600-level, and the student must perform at the graduate level. They must be in
excess of the total required for the baccalaureate degree, must have grades of
no less than B-, and must not be older than five years. The credits, grades,
and quality points will transfer.