EdM in Special Education

The minimum requirement for an approved program in special education is 36 credits. Students take a core of required courses, listed below, to earn the master’s degree. Beyond these, students take specified courses required for each specialization or they develop an individualized program in consultation with an assigned special education advisor. The required courses are as follows:

Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (Pre-K–Grade 8)

(Total Credits: 52)

• SED 500/501 Bases of Educational Practice (6 cr)
• SED SE 613 Fieldwork (2 cr)
• SED LS 560 Language Acquisition (4 cr)
• SED SE 706 Introduction to Special Education (4 cr)
• SED SE 760 Cognition, Learning, and Behavior (4 cr)
• SED SE 751 Assessment in Special Education (4 cr)
• SED ME 503/504 Mathematical Reasoning in the Elementary Grades (8 cr)
• SED LR 551 Reading Development, Assessment, and Instruction (4 cr)
• SED SE 580 Methods in Special Education (2 cr)
• SED SE 593 Practicum: Students with Moderate Disabilities (Pre-K–8) (8 cr)
• SED SE 534 Classroom and Behavior Management (2 cr)
• SED RS 600 Introduction to Research (4 cr)

Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (Grades 5–12)

(Total Credits: 62)

• SED 500/501 Bases of Educational Practice (6 cr)
• SED SE 613 Fieldwork (2 cr)
• SED LS 560 Language Acquisition (4 cr)
• SED SE 706 Introduction to Special Education (4 cr)
• SED SE 760 Cognition, Learning, and Behavior (4 cr)
• SED SE 751 Assessment in Special Education (4 cr)
• SED ME 503/504 Mathematical Reasoning in the Elementary Grades (8 cr)
• SED DS 502 Adolescent Development (2 cr)
• SED SE 584 Methods and Materials in Special Education (4 cr)
• Secondary Subject Matter Methods Course (4 cr)
• SED LR 551 Reading Development, Assessment, and Instruction (4 cr)
• SED SE 594 Practicum (8 cr)
• SED SE 534 Classroom and Behavior Management (2 cr)
• SED RS 600 Introduction to Research (4 cr)

Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (Ages 3–21)

(Total Credits: 62)

• SED 500/501 Bases of Educational Practice (6 cr)
• SED SE 613 Fieldwork (2 cr)
• SED LS 560 Language Acquisition (4 cr)
• SED SE 706 Introduction to Special Education (4 cr)
• SED SE 760 Cognition, Learning, and Behavior (4 cr)
• SED SE 751 Assessment in Special Education (4 cr)
• SED ME 503/504 Mathematical Reasoning in the Elementary Grades (8 cr)
• SED LR 551 Reading Development, Assessment, and Instruction (4 cr)
• SED SE 504 Introduction to Early Childhood Disabilities (4 cr)
• SED SE 505 Introduction to Severe Disabilities (4 cr)
• SED SE 507 Severe Disabilities: Assessment and Instruction
• SED SE 508 Severe Disabilities: Curriculum and Methods
• SED SE 580 Methods in Special Education (2 cr)
• SED SE 595 Practicum (8 cr)
• SED RS 600 Introduction to Research (4 cr)

Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (Pre-K–Grade 8) combined with Elementary Education (Grades 1–6)

(Total Credits: 68)

• SED 500/501 Bases of Educational Practice (6 cr)
• SED SE 706 Introduction to Special Education (4 cr)
• SED SE 760 Cognition, Learning, and Behavior (4 cr)
• SED SE 534 Classroom and Behavior Management (2 cr)
• SED CT 556 Classroom Assessment (4 cr)
• SED SE 751 Assessment in Special Education (4 cr)
• SED LS 560 Language Acquisition (4 cr)
• SED SE 580 Methods in Special Education (2 cr)
• SED ME 503/504 Mathematical Reasoning in the Elementary Grades (8 cr)
• SED LR 551 Reading Development, Assessment, and Instruction (4 cr)
• SED CH 515 Curriculum Methods 1–6 (10 cr)
• SED CH 655 Practicum: Elementary (8 cr)
• SED SE 593 Practicum: Students with Moderate Disabilities (Pre-K–8) (8 cr)
• SED RS 600 Introduction to Research (4 cr)

Special Education

Core Coursework

(20 credits)

• SED SE 706 Introduction to Special Education (4 cr)
• SED SE 760 Special Education: Cognition, Learning and Behavior 4 cr)
• SED LS 560 Introduction to Language and Language Acquisition (4 cr)
• SED SE 751 Assessment in Special Education: Procedures (4 cr)
• SED RS 600 Perspectives of Inquiry (4 cr)

Elective Coursework

(16 credits, minimum)

Students complete a minimum of four elective courses (16 credits) chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.

*Note: If students enter with coursework at the undergraduate level that is comparable to these courses, other courses are substituted with the approval of the advisor.

Special Education and Social Work (Dual Degree Program)

The Special Education Graduate Program also offers a Special Education Administrator specialization, which includes additional requirements and can lead to Massachusetts licensure as a Special Education Administrator.