This program of advanced study is designed to enhance the skill sets of certified educators (Candidates in this program must hold an A certification). Emphasis is placed on meeting the needs of the increasingly diverse student population and their families in urban settings. Candidates are required to exhibit mastery in the areas of evidence-based instruction, culturally relevant pedagogy, collaborative consultation, technology-based instruction, and inclusive practices.
Department of Special Education Goals and Objectives
The mission of the Department of Special Education supports the broad mission of the University. The University’s mission involves utilization of its human, cultural and physical resources to enhance the surrounding metropolitan community and urban areas of the state of Mississippi, the nation and the world. The Department of Special Education (DSE) seeks to encourage and facilitate the efforts of candidates to acquire knowledge, skills, understandings, appreciations and attitudes necessary for effective interaction and instruction of individuals with disabilities. The instructional curriculum and learning experiences provide opportunities for candidates to develop competencies and attitudes that promote and actualize excellence in teaching and outcomes.
The objectives of the Department of Special Education are:
- To prepare personnel for staffing special education positions in schools and other related human resource agencies.
- To offer candidates a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates a variety of experiences including: campus-based experiences (i.e. microteaching clinics, case studies, computer- assisted instruction) as well as field-based experiences (i.e. internships and tutoring).
- To facilitate candidates’ professional development by broadening the knowledge base as set forth in the curriculum by attending conferences, workshops, seminars and participating in collaborative activities with other community agencies (e.g. public schools, human resource agencies, and so forth).
- To enhance candidates’ ability to work with culturally, linguistically, and exceptionally distinctive populations through selected research, teaching, and field-based experiences.
- To accommodate candidates from various ethnic backgrounds and exceptionalities through an open, multicultural approach to special education personnel preparation.
General Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- An overall GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) on the bachelor’s degree
- Three letters of recommendation
- Acceptable evidence of the applicant’s writing ability as determined by a writing sample completed under the supervision of the screening committee
- A successful interview with the program screening committee
- A recommendation for admission by the screening committee
- A satisfactory GRE score
- Student must hold a valid teaching license
Degree Requirements
- A letter of application to the M.Ed. Special Education Teaching Program faculty that includes an acceptable personal statement of goals for professional development.
- A copy of baccalaureate degree from accredited college or university.
- An “A” teaching certificate. Applicants who do not hold the appropriate credentials or who are not eligible for the appropriate certification must complete the prerequisite teacher certification requirements before continuance of application consideration.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation written by those familiar with applicant’s academic achievement and potential.
- Verbal and Quantitative Scores earned on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (Scores earned within two (2) years of the application are acceptable)
- Satisfactory completion of an interview with DSE faculty.
- Interviews will be held for Fall admission during Spring Semester and Spring semester interviews will be held during Fall Semesters.
- An acceptable writing sample that provides evidence of acquired writing competencies.
Program Curriculum
Course Descriptions
Special Education Faculty and Staff