Special Education, M.Ed.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Master of Education degree with a major in Special Education is to prepare candidates to lead their schools and communities in providing services to students with disabilities.

The Master of Education in Special Education is for teachers who have Texas certification in special education is designed to prepare them as Educational Diagnosticians who can use their leadership in providing services to students with disabilities in their schools and communities. Completion of the degree requirements allows students to apply for professional certification upon satisfactory completion of the state mandated TExES requirement as an Educational Diagnostician.

The Master of Education in Special Education for graduates will prepare them with the knowledge and skills required to provide leadership on their campuses and in their communities in providing services for students who have disabilities. The degree will then help them develop knowledge and skills in a variety of advanced areas of special education. Students completing the Master of Education with a major in Educational Leadership with a Special Education concentration may concurrently include courses for diagnostician certification upon approval of the Educational Leadership and Special Education program coordinators.

The Master of Education in Special Education with an emphasis in dyslexia is designed for teachers interested in working with children or adults who have dyslexia or related disorders. Completion of this degree qualifies the student to apply for professional certification upon completion of a comprehensive examination by the Academic Language Therapists Association (ALTA). Upon passing the exam, graduates will also receive the title of Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT).

An application for professional certification as an Educational Diagnostician requires three years of classroom teaching in an accredited school. An applicant for the Master of Education degree in special education and Texas Educational Diagnostician’s Certificate must present the following minimum criteria for acceptance into the graduate program:

bachelor’s degree and standard Texas Teacher Certificate or equivalent;
a grade point average of 3.0 in previous education courses; and
additionally, successful committee screening on selected criteria.

Major in Special Education (Degree only, non-Educational Diagnostician Pathway)

The program consists of 36 semester hours.

Plus:

Six (6) hours of approved electives.

Major in Special Education (Degree with Educational Diagnostician Pathway)

This pathway completes the required course work for Educational Diagnostician certification. For information regarding the certification, contact advisor. The degree consists of 36 semester hours.

Major in Special Education with Dyslexia Emphasis Only

The Master of Education degree in Special Education with an emphasis in dyslexia provides the opportunity for the student to become a specialist in the field of dyslexia and related learning differences. The program requires two years of graduate study, extensive practice teaching hours, and clinical teaching hours.

Professional certification as a LDT requires the following:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Completion of comprehensive therapist training under the supervision of a Qualified Instructor that includes a minimum of 200 instructional hours, a minimum of 700 clinical/teaching hours, a minimum of 10 demonstrations, clinical/teaching documentation, and proof of the therapist’s progress and competency.
Acceptable performance on a comprehensive examination administered by ALTA.
Completion of 3 CEUs (30 contact hours) every three years.

This program consists of 36 semester hours.

Plus:

Six (6) hours of approved electives.

Additional Information:

Course content and techniques are based on Take Flight:: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia, a curriculum written by the staff of the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC). Take Flight builds on the success of the three previous dyslexia intervention programs developed by the staff of TSRHC: Alphabetic Phonics, the Dyslexia Training Program, and TSRH Literacy Program. Programs delivered at a qualifying IMSLEC accredited center are also eligible for this degree option.

Major in Special Education with Dyslexia Emphasis (Degree with Educational Diagnostician Pathway). Option for students already certified to teach special education.

Educational Diagnostician Certification is available with this Dyslexia emphasis for students holding an undergraduate degree/certification in Special Education. This option consists of 39 semester hours.

Major in Special Education with Dyslexia Emphasis (Degree with Educational Diagnostician Pathway). Option for students without degree or special education certificate.

Educational Diagnostician Certification is available with this Dyslexia emphasis for students without a special education degree or certificate. Nine additional graduate hours will be required as leveling classes. This option consists of 48 hours.

Plus Leveling Courses:

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