The master’s degree in special education supports the needs of working adult learners through flexible programs of study. The program is designed for full-time students as well as working professionals who take one or two courses a quarter during the academic year and one or two courses during the summer. Up to 24 credits offered through the Professional Development/Continuing Education Endorsement Academies in ELL/Reading and/or Special Education may transfer into the master’s degree with program permission. Students take a planned program of course work in special education, culminating in a capstone project in the field working with K-12 students with special needs. Students who wish to earn the master’s degree in special education enroll in the MEd in Special Education program. Students with a master’s degree enroll in the EdS in Special Education program. Students with a teaching certificate and who want only the special education endorsement enroll in the endorsement-only special education graduate program.

The Special Education Program will prepare graduate students who will become leaders, transformative action researchers, and expert practitioners in the field of special education with the skills to provide specially designed instruction to a linguistically and culturally diverse population of children and adolescents (K to 12th grade) with disabilities. This 3-pronged approach will provide training, support and opportunities for graduate students to positively affect the educational, vocational and post-school outcomes for students with disabilities. As leaders, students will develop competencies that will prepare them to advocate with and for their students with disabilities and their families and to work as teacher-leaders in their schools, districts and diverse communities; As researchers, students will design, conduct and reflect upon transformative action-based research in the classroom, school and community and be prepared to use these skills to improve instructional practices; As expert practitioners, students will demonstrate skills and be well-prepared to teach K-12 students with disabilities with a broad range of specialized learning needs and from diverse backgrounds including English Language Learners (ELL) and Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE). Professional and personal reflection will serve to integrate theory and application in leadership, action-based research and as an expert practitioner in the field.