Teaching Students with Disabilities - Autism/Severe Disabilities - MPCP Autism/SD (MEd)

Program Educational Goals:

These goals are derived from the Council for Exceptional Children’s Professional Preparation Standards. By the end of the program, graduates will have demonstrated the ability to:

Engage in professional learning and culturally responsive practice that adheres to ethical guidelines.
Understand and address the developmental and learning needs of students with autism and severe disabilities.
Develop instructional plans for students with autism and severe disabilities that demonstrate subject matter content and specialized curricular knowledge.
Engage in data-based decision making based on assessments conducted to understand the strengths and needs of students with autism and severe disabilities.
Make evidence-informed instructional decisions to support student learning.
Support the social, emotional, and behavioral growth of all students.
Collaborate with families and other team members to plan programs and to access services for students with autism and severe disabilities.
Demonstrate the ability to create standards-based lesson plans for students with autism and severe disabilities.

Program Policy Document:

Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

Program Requirements

Candidates entering the M.Ed. who are seeking initial teaching certification (MPCP track) must select one of the three concentration areas related to state-approved grade-band and certification specialization: (1) elementary special education; (2) secondary special education; or (3) autism/severe disabilities. Courses must be taken in a prescribed sequence.

Courses

A total of 36 credits is required to complete the master’s degree program. Specified non-registered degree requirements, including an additional 3 credits of First Year Teacher Seminar are necessary for state-approved certification.

1. Preliminary Course

Candidates in all concentrations must take this 3-credit course.

EDUC 753 - Special Education Instruction and Curriculum: Introduction Credit(s): 3

2. Core Courses

Candidates in all concentrations must take 18 credits of core masters coursework.

EDUC 623 - Applied Human Development in the Schools Credit(s): 3
EDUC 625 - Special Education Instruction/Curriculum: Autism/Severe Credit(s): 3
EDUC 680 - Educational Evaluation: Exceptional Children & Youth Credit(s): 3
EDUC 681 - Techniques for Behavior Change and Positive Behavior Support Credit(s): 3
EDUC 682 - Current Issues in Special Education Credit(s): 3
EDUC 745 - Collaborative Teaming in Special Education Credit(s): 3

3. Concentration Courses

Candidates in the Autism/Severe Disabilities concentrations must take 15 credits as follows:

EDUC 624 - Introduction to Autism and Severe Disabilities Credit(s): 3
EDUC 626 - Functional Communication for Individuals with Autism and Severe Disabilities Credit(s): 3
EDUC 655 - Assistive Technology: Autism/Severe Disabilities Credit(s): 3
EDUC 669 - Engagement in the General Curriculum for Students with Severe Disabilities Credit(s): 3
EDUC 673 - School-to-Adult Life Transitions & Disability Credit(s): 3

Non-Registered Degree Requirements

All students in th MPCP track are required to show evidence of having taken a state-designated content area knowledge test, such as Praxis II. This test will be considered an exit requirement, and students must take the test by April 1 of their first year in the program.

All students in the MPCP track must complete a supervised teaching experience in order to be eligible for certification. MPCP students complete this requirement by registering for a total of 3 credits of EDUC 725 First-Year Teacher Seminar. As part of EDUC 725, students must complete a final paper in the form of a performance assessment aligned with state requirements. These credits do not count towards M.Ed. degree requirements.

EDUC 725 - First-Year Teacher Seminar Credit(s): 1-3