Special Education
Program Description
The M.S.E.-Special Education degree program can be completed for a Master's degree with special education licensure, or a Master's degree without special education licensure. It is designed for licensed teachers and other professionals who wish to pursue graduate work in the field of special education. The program is appropriate for professionals working with people with disabilities, as well as elementary, secondary, or K-12 teachers. For licensed teachers, the program can lead to K-12 cross-categorical special education licensure.
The M.S.E. Special Education degree, with special education licensure, is designed for practicing teachers who want to increase their knowledge about and improve their skills for working with students who have special needs. A directed special education student teaching course with a 135-hour field experience is required for this licensure program for students who hold Wisconsin initial teaching licenses through a Wisconsin DPI-approved program. Students in the initial licensure program (students with non-WI DPI approved initial teaching licenses) are eligible for special education licensure by completing directed student teaching over a full semester, full days in a special education classroom according to their school district's placement and calendar.
Notice: UW-Superior education programs are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to fulfill licensure requirements for the state of Wisconsin. If you seek licensure in a state other than Wisconsin, please see the UW-Superior Institutional Certification Office web page for further information and assistance.
The M.S.E. Special Education degree without special education licensure. This degree without certification for licensure is specifically designed for regular education teachers or professionals who work with individuals with special needs who wish to gain new knowledge and skills for working with these students.
An action research project must be completed prior to being granted the M.S.E. - Special Education degree only program.
Admission Requirements & Removal from Program
Admission Requirements
In addition to the requirements for entry to UW-Superior Graduate Studies, applicants for admission to the MSE Special Education degree program must submit:
- Official transcript/s with minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 indicating a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution;
- A resume with teaching experience and a copy of a teaching license for those seeking licensure in special education;
- A criminal background check;
- UW-Superior application for admission to Graduate Studies;
- All applicants must include an academic and professional purpose statement for graduate studies;
- Applicants for the Graduate Special Education degree program with eligibility for Wisconsin special education licensure must submit a UW-Superior Graduate SPED Initial Wisconsin Program Completion Verification Form (indicating completion of an approved Wisconsin Initial Tier II teacher licensure program, including student teaching) available on the UW-Superior Institutional Certification Office Web page.
There is no conditional admission to the graduate Special Education Programs leading to licensure.
Removal from M.S.E. Special Education Program
Students can be removed from the MSE Special Education Degree Programs. Any violations outlined in the University of Wisconsin System Code Chapters 14 and 17 are grounds for disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. In addition, students can be removed or expelled from the program based on grades and violations of the code of ethics for Special Education. No grade lower than a C+ counts toward degree completion. Also, students must be aware of and responsive to life circumstances beyond academic preparation that would exclude them from licensure/certification (e.g., legal history, and/or past professional disbarment).
Accumulated GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate and graduate coursework is required for program completion for Wisconsin licensure.
Master of Science in Education - Special Education
30 credits required
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Component Courses | ||
| SPED 704 | Assessment of Learners with Exceptionalities | 3.00 |
| SPED 750 | The Exceptional Learner | 3.00 |
| SPED 760 | Behavior Analysis and Intervention | 3.00 |
| SPED 769 | Assistive Technology and Transition: From School to Community | 3.00 |
| Methods Component Courses | ||
| SPED 755 | Reading-Issues & Interventions | 3.00 |
| SPED 758 | Methods of Adaptive Instruction | 3.00 |
| SPED 764 | Mathematics Assessment and Strategies | 3.00 |
| SPED 772 | Collaboration and Consultation in Special Education | 3.00 |
| Research Component Courses | ||
| SPED 780 | Foundations of Action Research | 3.00 |
| Certification Component Courses | ||
| Select three to six credits of the following (see requirements below): | 3.00 | |
| Special Education Directed Student Teaching | ||
| Special Education Directed Student Teaching | ||
| Special Education Directed Student Teaching | ||
| Degree Only Component Course | ||
| Action Research Project | ||
| Total Hours | 30.00 | |
Students seeking only the M.S.E. Special Education degree must complete a minimum of 24 credits from courses in the Core, Elective, and Methods components, and 6 credits from the research component.
Students seeking the M.S.E. Special Education degree with Certification for Licensure must complete a minimum of 24 credits in the Core and Methods components, 3 credits in the research component, and a minimum of 3 credits in the Certification Component.
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate and graduate coursework is required for program completion for Wisconsin licensure.
Certification Program for Special Education Licensure
The Special Education program offers courses approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for certification for licensure as a cross categorical special education teacher K-12.
Notice: UW-Superior education programs are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to fulfill licensure requirements for the state of Wisconsin. If you seek licensure in a state other than Wisconsin, please see the UW-Superior Institutional Certification Office Web page for further information and assistance.
Testing Requirements for Special Education Licensure
During the course of completing licensure requirements for a special education teaching license, the teaching candidate will need to successfully complete the following Wisconsin required tests for licensure:
- PRAXIS II - Middle School Content (Calculator Allowed). For more information visit https://www.ets.org/praxis/wi/requirements. Minimum score allowed on PRAXIS II -- 146;
- Foundations of Reading Test. For more information visit http://www.wi.nesinc.com/Home.aspx. Minimum score allowed on the Foundations of Reading Test -- 240 or UW-Superior's WI DPI approved Graduate Special Education Program FoRT Alternative or hold a Wisconsin Lifetime teaching license.
You are responsible for scheduling your testing and providing the information to the Department of Education when you reach a successful level of scoring on these exams. Past students recommend that you schedule the PRAXIS II test after you complete some of your methods classes, especially in the area of math, and that you not schedule it towards the end of your programming.