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Master of Education in Special Education (Ed.M.)
+ Special Education Certification (PreK-8)
Considering a Master's in Special Education and Want to Get Started Now?: Space is still available for Fall 2013 admission! Completed applications received by June 1, 2013 are guaranteed a decision for Fall 2013! Apply today!
The market for highly qualified special education teachers remains unabated. The latest report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the need for special education teachers will increase by 17% percent between 2008 and 2018. This shortage of Special Education teachers has been identified regionally (i.e., Pennsylvania and New Jersey) and is particularly prevalent in urban centers in the immediate environs of Temple University. The Governor’s Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (2006) reported that in Pennsylvania, 52% of districts report challenges recruiting special education teachers.
Temple University's College of Education offers those who already hold an Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Art, Music, or Physical Education teacher certification the opportunity to pursue a Master's in Special Education with Special Education Teacher Certification (PreK-8).
Program Description - Ed.M. in Special Education
The Ed.M. in Special Education offers students the option of concentrating in numerous areas of study including mild disabilities, autism/applied behavior analysis, or severe disabilities.
Students who have completed a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Temple University may also complete course work as part of the Ed.M. degree leading to TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certification, Board Certified Behavior Analyst Certification, or in Instructional Learning Technology.
The Master's in Special Education and Special Education Certification can be completed at the Temple University Main Campus located in Philadelphia, PA or at the Temple University Harrisburg located in Harrisburg, PA. Some courses are offered online or via videoconference. Classes are scheduled during late afternoon hours to accommodate working professionals.
The following principles serve as the foundation for the program:
- Commitment to evidence-based, instructional practices and their implementation in the classroom.
- Commitment to recognizing and ameliorating the impact of socio-cultural factors on the education of children with disabilities.
- Emphasis on preventative approaches that de-emphasize labels and traditional diagnostic categories to support improved teaching and learning.
- Commitment to inclusive practices both within schools and within society as a whole.
Program Requirements
The Ed.M. in Special Education with Special Education (PreK-8) certification requires the completion of 30 semester hours. Students may elect to transfer a maximum of 6 S.H. of appropriate courses into the Ed.M. with the approval of an Faculty Academic Advisor.
Ed.M. in Special Education with Certification (30 semester hours)
Required Core Requirements (18 S.H.):
- SPED 5106 Literacy Instruction for Individuals with Disabilities (3 S.H.)
- SPED 5107 Understanding and Using Special Education Research (3 S.H.)
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SPED 5108 Assistive Technology and Universal Design (3 S.H.)
-
SPED 5109 Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support (3 S.H.)
- SPED 5187 Graduate Assessment Practicum in Special Education (3 S.H.)
- SPED 5211 Effective Instructional Strategies for Children with Disabilities (3 S.H.)
Concentration/Specialization (6 S.H.)
Students select one of three concentration areas. Click on the area to see the courses required for each concentration:
Practicum in Special Education (6 S.H.)*
- SPED 5587 Special Education Practicum (6 S.H.)
OR - Electives in Teacher Education (6 S.H.)
*Praciticum is required only of students who do not have one year of verified teaching experience with students with disabilities. A student who is not required to complete practicum will complete 6 semester hours in electives selected in consultation with his/her advisor.
All Candidates must pass the necessary PRAXIS exams to be eligible for Special Education Certification (PreK-8).
Admission Requirements
Candidates must meet the general admission standards of the College of Education and the Graduate School.
Admission is determined according to professional letters of recommendation, A Professional Goals Statement, undergraduate and graduate (when applicable) grade point average and scores on required tests (see below). Students must also present a valid Pennsylvania teaching certification for Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Art, Music, or Physical Education.
Applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4 point scale.
Minimum Testing Requirements:
- GRE or MAT are not required. Applicants must hold a valid Pennsylvania teaching certification for Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Art, Music, or Physical Education.
- Non-native speakers of English must take the TOEFL examinations. Scores of at least 575 are necessary for admission to the program (230 on the computer based version). Students who score between 575 and 600 (230-250 on the computer- version) must take an English refresher course.
Credit for Graduate Study Prior to Admission
Students may take up to, but not more than, nine semester hours of graduate study in the program before being admitted to the program (Graduate School Bulletin 02.24.19). The S.H. will transfer into the program, if the student is admitted. Students enrolling in certification courses before being admitted to the program are NOT guaranteed admission.
How to Apply
A completed application will include:
- Graduate School Online Application – Follow these 3 easy steps:
- Select “Teacher Certification MED”
- Select Planned Course of Study: Special Education MED
- Select concentration from one of the following:
- Applied Behavorial Analysis
- MId Disabilities
- Severe Disabilities
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges and graduate schools attended. Applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0.
- Two (2) professional letters of recommendation [pdf] are required. Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members and others who can provide insight into the applicant's academic competence.
- A Statement of Professional Plans and Goals. In the Statement of Goals, applicants should indicate their goals and objectives for obtaining a master's degree and certification in Special Education. The statement should be approximately 500-1,000 words in length and should include the following elements: your specific interest in Temple’s program; your future career goals; any job-related experiences that are relevant to the program; and your academic and research achievements and interests.
- A current professional resume.
- A copy of a valid certification in teaching for Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Art, Music, or Physical Education
- TOEFL examinations scores for non-native speakers of English. Non-native speakers of English must take the TOEFL examinations. TOFEL scores of at least 575 are necessary for admission to the program (230 on the computer based version). Students who score between 575 and 600 (230-250 on the computer-version) must take an English refresher course.
Submitting Your Materials
See the Application Checklist for complete details on how to submit your application materials. Required supplemental materials should be sent attention to:
Graduate Programs Office
Attn. Application Processing
Temple University - College of Education
150 Ritter Annex
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091
Please allow delivery and processing time before your application will be reviewed. For faster service, the College of Education at Temple University also receives supporting application materials for graduate admissions electronically via the Interfolio service.
To better assist you with determining the status of your application, it is strongly recommended that students routinely check their application status via Temple University’s online graduate application.
Application deadlines:
To be considered for admission, your complete application, including all required supplemental materials must be post-marked no later than:
- For Fall admission: April 1
- For Spring admission: October 1
Completed applications received by the deadline are guaranteed a decision for the upcoming term. Applications received after the stated deadlines will be reviewed on a space available basis. Once an application is complete and all required materials have been received, students can expect to receive a decision within 30 days (excluding summer).
We strongly encourage applicants to apply early and to periodically check TUPortal (http://tuportal.temple.edu) as to the status of their materials.
Contact Information
If you have additional questions about this program, please contact:
Dr. S. Kenneth Thurman, Professor
email: kenneth.thurman@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-6018
department: (215) 204-2117
Special Note: Changes in Special Education Certification from PDE
After August 2013, the comprehensive kindergarten through 12th grade special education certification will no longer be issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and will be replaced by separate pre-kindergarten through 8th grade and 7th through 12th grade certifications. Temple's preparation program serves students seeking the pK-8 certification. For more information on certification options, visit PDE at www.education.state.pa.us.
