Special Education, MA

Program Code: MA_476A
CIP Code: 13.1001

Program of Study for the Master of Arts in Special Education

Advanced Licensure: Requirements for this program were designed, and have been approved by the appropriate bodies at the state level, to meet the advanced competencies as mandated in the North Carolina Excellent Schools Act for Master-level (M-level) teacher education programs ONLY for students with A-level license from North Carolina or equivalent. Graduates seeking M-level license must have A-level license at the time of application for M-level license.

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete the application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE or MAT exam scores, unless waived.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School . Meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission.

Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam (GRE or MAT) requirement may be waived for applicants who:

Have completed 6 credit hours of graduate coursework at Appalachian State University or other accredited institution, with a grade of “B” or better, within the last five years; OR
Have three or more years of teaching experience.

Location: On Campus and Off Campus; Off-Campus cohorts begin periodically, and follow a part-time extended format.

Additional Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility Information

Standardized exam (GRE, GMAT, MAT) waiver eligibility for graduate degree programs at Appalachian State varies by program, but requires that applicants hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last earned bachelor’s degree or 3.3 or higher in an earned graduate degree. No exam waiver is automatic but will require review and approval by the program and by the Graduate School upon submission of a complete application. An approved waiver request does not guarantee acceptance into the program. A denied waiver request does not mean that a candidate is denied admission to the program, only that a standardized exam score is needed to more fully evaluate the application. More complete information about standardized exam waivers can be found in the Admissions Requirements section of this Bulletin .

Accelerated Master’s Program

This program offers an Accelerated Master’s option for undergraduate students currently enrolled at Appalachian State University.

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in Special Education

Total Required (Minimum 36 Hours)

Required Courses (21 Hours)

Choose One From the Following Research Courses (3 Hours)

Choose From the Following Practicum Courses (3 Hours)

Choose one course from each disability area (9 Hours)

Emotional/Behavioral Disorders

Learning Disabilities

Intellectual Disabilities

Thesis Option (15 Hours)

Choose One:

With Thesis (15 Hours)

SPE 5999 - Thesis (1-4) (3 Hours)
12 hours of graduate electives chosen with the graduate advisor’s approval, see the list of Suggested Electives below

Without Thesis (15 Hours)

R_E 5525 - Product of Learning (1-3) [CL] (3 Hours)
or
SPE 5525 - Product of Learning (1-3) [CL] (3 Hours)
12 hours of graduate electives chosen with the graduate advisor’s approval, see the list of Suggested Electives below

Suggested Electives

Elective hours must be chosen in consultation with the advisor from Special Education or related areas such as Reading, Curriculum and Instruction, Psychology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Child Development. Recommended Courses are listed below, but other graduate courses may be taken with advisor approval.

Other Requirements for the MA in Special Education

Thesis: Optional
Proficiency: Not required
Candidacy: Not required
Comprehensive: Not required
Product of Learning: R E 5525 or SPE 5525 required unless the thesis option is selected