Overview
Special Education Programs: M.A., License
The purpose of the M.A. in Special Education, and Special Education License programs, is to equip, educate, empower, and engage special education teachers for the 21st century across the state of Minnesota and beyond. The Special Education programs emphasize the practical application of the theoretical and research bases of the discipline, special education foundations, data-based decision-making, as well as ethical/spiritual issues related to the profession. Students will learn from current researchers in the field along with current practitioners in Minnesota K-12 public schools. Students will have the option to choose from four different license tracks: Academic Behavioral Strategist, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Cognitive Disabilities, and/or Emotional Behavioral Disorders.
Program Design and Delivery
Courses offered are generally taken one at a time sequentially throughout the calendar year, including the summer months. M.A. in Special Education courses are delivered fully online with 2-3 Saturday intensives over the course of 18-24 months.
Accreditation
Bethel's graduate teacher education degree programs are accredited by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) which has approved Bethel's Graduate education programs leading to initial and add-on licenses in various K–12, 9-12, and 5-12 content areas; initial and add-on licenses in various special education disability areas; as well as an add-on license in Teacher Coordinator of Work-based Learning.
If PELSB changes any content standards or education standards after a student is admitted into a Bethel education program, the student is responsible to find, complete, and pay for appropriate classes to meet the standard(s) either at Bethel or another college/university.
Admission Requirements
The M.A. degree and licenses in special education will consider applicants who:
- Meet the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School.
- Submit an official transcript (U.S. schools) or NACES or AICE evaluation (international schools) showing an earned baccalaureate degree and official transcripts or NACES or AICE evaluations from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended. Undergraduate transcript(s) may be waived if transfer credit(s) are not used being used to fulfill content area requirements.
- Have earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited (or internationally recognized as equivalent) institution.
- Have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on the highest degree completed.
- Submit two professional Admission References.
- Submit a written Statement of Purpose.1
- Interview with the program director or enrollment counselor.1
- Submit a copy of current or most recent state or internationally recognized teaching license at the elementary, secondary, or K–12 (or equivalent) level. Applicants without a current teaching license will be considered for admission to the special education program.
NOTE: Students who become licensed in ABS K–12, ASD B–21, DD K-12 or EBD K–12 but do not have a regular teaching license prior to entering the program will only be eligible to teach in those areas of special education license, not as regular education teachers. - Submission of current Tier 3 or 4 Minnesota teaching license is sufficient documentation of completion of equivalent Standards of Effective Practice (SEP) coursework listed in the degree requirements.
- Submit a current resume.
Students who have not achieved the minimum GPA, grade standards, or other assessment criteria may still apply to be considered for provisional acceptance. See Admission Categories.
- 1
Required if this is the student's first special education license.
Degree Requirements
M.A. in Special Education
The required curriculum for the M.A. in Special Education comprises a 37-58 credit sequence of courses. Students must complete one to two of the following concentrations: Standards of Effective Practice, Academic Behavioral Strategist K–12; Autism Spectrum Disorders B–21, Developmental Disabilities K–12, and/or Emotional/Behavioral Disorders K–12; or complete the basic program sequence. Bethel offers each concentration fully online with 2-3 Saturday intensives.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Bethel Core Courses | ||
EDUC 614 | Locating Resources for Educational Research * | 1 |
EDUC 755 | Preparing the Thesis/Collaborative Research Project * | 1 |
EDUC 790 | Writing the Thesis/Collaborative Research Project * | 3 |
SPED 618 | Foundations of Instructional Strategies for Students with Mild-Moderate Disabilities | 3 |
SPED 655 | Classroom-Based Assessment | 3 |
SPED 670 | Special Education Assessment Field Experience | 1 |
Minnesota PELSB Special Education Core | ||
SPED 605 | Introduction to Special Education | 1 |
SPED 608 | Introduction to Academic Instruction and Behavior Management for the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
SPED 610 | Norm-Referenced Assessment | 3 |
SPED 620 | Reading Foundations | 3 |
SPED 621 | Reading Field Experience | 1 |
SPED 625 | Special Education: Planning and Programming | 3 |
SPED 675 | Consultation, Collaboration & Resources | 2 |
Select one to two concentrations | 9-30 | |
Total Credits | 37-58 |
- *
Course must be taken for credit at Bethel.
M.A. in Special Education Concentrations
Concentration in Standards of Effective Practice
In order for students to be able to access financial aid for the standards of effective practice (SEPs) courses, the 16 credits of SEPs must be part of the Master's degree program as an additional required concentration. Students who enroll with a Minnesota Tier 3 or 4 teacher license are not required to take this SEP concentration.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDUC 594 | General Methods of Effective Instruction | 3 |
EDUC 595 | School-wide Systems Field Experience | 1 |
EDUC 621 | Foundations in Education | 3 |
EDUC 624 | Introduction to Theories and Practices of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
EDUC 663 | Understanding Diversity and Student Needs | 2 |
EDUC 668 | Classroom Technology | 1 |
EDUC 751 | Special Education Student Teaching Seminar | 3 |
Total Credits | 16 |
Concentration in Academic Behavioral Strategist
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SPED 600 | Characteristics of Mild-Moderate Disabilities | 3 |
SPED 631 | Responsive Instruction, Intervention, and Assessment | 3 |
SPED 641 | Introduction to Behavioral Methods & Mental Health for Mild to Moderate Special Needs | 3 |
SPED 673 | ABS Field Experience | 1 |
SPED 780 | Student Teaching - Academic Behavior Strategist * | 3-4 |
or SPED 786 | ABS: Practicum | |
or SPED 782 | SPED Practicum for Teachers of Other Licenses | |
Total Credits | 13-14 |
Concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SPED 601 | Characteristics of ASD | 3 |
SPED 611 | Autism Spectrum Disorders: Assessment, Communication and Instructional Strategies | 3 |
SPED 612 | Planning, Instruction & Consultation for ASD | 3 |
SPED 671 | ASD Field Experience | 1 |
SPED 781 | ASD: Student Teaching * | 3-4 |
or SPED 787 | ASD: Practicum | |
or SPED 782 | SPED Practicum for Teachers of Other Licenses | |
Total Credits | 13-14 |
Concentration in Developmental Disabilities
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SPED 607 | Foundations of Developmental and Cognitive Disabilities/Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
SPED 615 | Instruction and Intervention for Students with Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
SPED 619 | Supporting Students with Intellectual Disabilities Across Systems | 3 |
SPED 674 | Development Disabilities: Field Experience | 1 |
SPED 779 | Developmental Disabilities: Practicum * | 3-4 |
or SPED 784 | Developmental Disabilities: Student Teaching | |
or SPED 782 | SPED Practicum for Teachers of Other Licenses | |
Total Credits | 13-14 |
Concentration in Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SPED 604 | Child & Adolescent Psychopathology | 3 |
SPED 613 | Intervention Strategies for Moderate to Severe Behavioral Disabilities | 3 |
SPED 641 | Introduction to Behavioral Methods & Mental Health for Mild to Moderate Special Needs | 3 |
SPED 672 | Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities: Field Experience | 1 |
SPED 783 | Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities: Student Teaching * | 3-4 |
or SPED 788 | Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities: Practicum | |
or SPED 782 | SPED Practicum for Teachers of Other Licenses | |
Total Credits | 13-14 |
Basic Program Sequence
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SPED 600 | Characteristics of Mild-Moderate Disabilities | 3 |
SPED 631 | Responsive Instruction, Intervention, and Assessment | 3 |
SPED 641 | Introduction to Behavioral Methods & Mental Health for Mild to Moderate Special Needs | 3 |
Total Credits | 9 |
- *
Course must be taken for credit at Bethel.