Location:

Chicago, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Special Education

Program Overview

Program Description:

The field of special education is a diverse collection of academic, social, and physical support services to assist the exceptional child, such as those individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. The Master of Arts in Special Education (LBS I) Program prepares the special education teacher to work diligently to transform the lives of students with disabilities. This graduate program develops professionals who are new to teaching and those who are already licensed but seeking a master’s degree. Candidates graduate with the ability to work effectively with students across a wide range of disabilities (K-12) in public and private school settings. Our program provides initial teaching licensure with endorsement in special education (LBS I) from an accredited institution. Careers Graduates of the MA-LBS I program are prepared to teach children and youth with special needs from grades K to 12 across a wide range of disabilities in public and private school settings. Our graduates secure jobs all over the state and elsewhere in the country. School administrators actively seek to hire our special education teacher graduates. The special education teacher is one of the fastest growing occupations in the state of Illinois. Block I: SPED-500 Research I: Critical Writing and Research in Special Education (3 cr.) SPED-501 Development and Characteristics of Children and Youth with Disabilities (3 cr.) SPED-502 Development of Cognition, Learning and Language (3 cr.) SPED-503 Historical, Philosophical and Legal Foundations (3 cr.) SPED-504 Assessment I: Principles of Educational Assessment in Special Education (4 cr.) Block II: SPED-506 Instructional and Assistive Technology in Special Education (3 cr.) SPED-509 Methods I: Specialized Curriculum & Methods in Special Education (3 cr.) LTCY-402 Issues in Reading Instruction (3 cr.) SPED-507 Internship I: Assessing and Teaching Individuals with Mild to Moderate Disabilities (2 cr.) Block III: SPED-505 Consultation and Collaboration: Special and Regular Education (3 cr.) SPED-508 Methods II: General Curriculum & Methods in Special Education (3 cr.) SPED-511 Alternative Programming and Curriculum in Special Education (3 cr.) SPED-512 Internship II: Assessing and Teaching Individuals with Moderate to Severe Disabilities (2 cr.) Block IV: SPED 510 Strategies of Behavior Management (3 cr.) SPED 520 Assessment Lab: Applied Diagnostic Assessment (2 cr.) SPED 516 Professional Development of the Special Educator (1 cr.) SPED 514A Student Teaching in Special Education (3 cr.) OR SPED 514B Applied Diagnostic Teaching in Special Education (for licensed teachers only)

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Colleges of Teacher Education (NCATE), the premier accrediting body approved by the U.S. Department of Education. This means that our programs and our faculty undergo a rigorous peer review process every seven years. Our theme, COE Professionals; Reflective, Collaborative, Transformative, underpins our emphasis on our performance standards aligned with the Illinois Standards for School Professionals (IPTS). Our programs in School and Community Counseling are not only recognized by NCATE but they undergo a separate peer review process and are accredited by CACREP, the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. So, you can see that the COE at NEIU represents the highest standards of professional excellence, commitment to diversity, and collaboration with each other and with our local community.

Financial Aid:

Yes

Requirements:

Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to the College of Graduate Studies and Research. Additionally, candidates are required to fulfill the following requirements: 1) One of the following: A passing score on the ILTS- Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP), or a composite ACT Plus Writing score of 22, or a composite SAT score of 1030. 2) Spontaneous writing sample and/ or interview at the discretion of the Department GRE: Not required