Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2020-21 
    
Graduate Catalog 2020-21 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Arts in Special Education


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Advisors: Kristal Ehrhardt, Paula Kohler, Shaila Rao, Sarah Summy, Luchara Wallace, Elizabeth Whitten
Room 3506, Sangren Hall

 

Students may focus their studies on obtaining a special education teaching or administration endorsement, in depth study of special education content for personal growth, or preparation for advanced graduate training. Program concentrations include:

Administration: Program for individuals pursuing leadership positions as central office administrators, supervisors, or directors of special education within a school district or ISD. Candidates must have an elementary or secondary teaching certificate and a special education endorsement or related area certification to enter the program.

Clinical teacher: Program for individuals seeking their first endorsement in special education. Candidates must have an elementary or secondary teaching certification to enter the program.

Master teacher: Program for current special education teachers to become a behavior specialist or earn additional endorsement in cognitive impairment, emotional impairment, or learning disabilities. Candidates must have an elementary or secondary teaching certificate to enter the program.

 

Admission Procedures by Program

WMU has a new online graduate application system that allows all students (domestic and international) to submit required information into one system. General application information for the University, as well as specific requirements for individual programs, are captured into this one system.

 

Special Education: Administration (M.A.)

Within the online application system, applicants must provide general information (including educational history details), as well as the following specific program requirements.

Applicants must also request official transcripts, and any required graduate test and/or language proficiency official scores, be sent to WMU.

Application deadlines

On-going; students may be admitted for each semester.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) is required; please submit within the online application system.

Graduate test

This program does not require a graduate test.
Note: International applicants may have to provide evidence of English language proficiency. More information can be found within the online application.

Recommendations

This program requires three recommendations. Please send email requests for such recommendations from within the online system.

Written statement

Please prepare a statement which covers the following information, and attach it within the online application:

This program is for certified teachers with at least one endorsement in special education. Please prepare a statement which covers the following information, and attach it within the online application:
In three (3) typed, double-spaced pages or less, address the following areas: (1) State which endorsement you are pursuing: Supervisor or Director; (2) List which teaching certificate you currently hold: elementary, secondary or other; and from what state; (3) List what special education endorsement you already hold; (4) Summarize your prior professional experiences to date; and (5) Identify your professional goals, explaining why an additional special education degree is sought.

Previous written work

This program does not require any previous written work be submitted.

Other program materials

This program does not require any other program materials to be submitted.

Additional information

Note: Students seeking leadership positions in public school administration should have at least three (3) years of professional experience in a special education setting.

 

Special Education: Clinical Teacher (M.A.)

Within the online application system, applicants must provide general information (including educational history details), as well as the following specific program requirements.

Applicants must also request official transcripts, and any required graduate test and/or language proficiency official scores, be sent to WMU.

Application deadlines

On-going; students may be admitted for each semester.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) is required; please submit within the online application system.

Graduate test

This program does not require a graduate test.
Note: International applicants may have to provide evidence of English language proficiency. More information can be found within the online application.

Recommendations

This program requires three recommendations. Please send email requests for such recommendations from within the online system.

Written statement

Please prepare a statement which covers the following information, and attach it within the online application:

This program is for certified teachers pursuing their first endorsement in special education. Please prepare a statement which covers the following information, and attach it within the online application:
In three (3) typed, double-spaced pages or less, address the following areas: (1) State which endorsement you are pursuing: EI (Emotional Impairments), CI (Cognitive Impairments), or LD (Learning Disabilities); (2) List which teaching certificate you currently hold: elementary, secondary or other; and from what state; (3) Summarize your prior professional experiences to date; and (4) Identify your professional goals, explaining why an additional special education degree is sought.

Previous written work

This program does not require any previous written work be submitted.

Other program materials

Attach a copy of your Teaching Certificate and Endorsements (if you have any).

Additional information

None

 

Special Education: Master Teacher (M.A.)

Within the online application system, applicants must provide general information (including educational history details), as well as the following specific program requirements.

Applicants must also request official transcripts, and any required graduate test and/or language proficiency official scores, be sent to WMU.

Application deadlines

On-going; students may be admitted for each semester.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) is required; please submit within the online application system.

Graduate test

This program does not require a graduate test.
Note: International applicants may have to provide evidence of English language proficiency. More information can be found within the online application.

Recommendations

This program requires three recommendations. Please send email requests for such recommendations from within the online system.

Written statement

Please prepare a statement which covers the following information, and attach it within the online application:

This program is for certified teachers with at least one endorsement in special education. Please prepare a statement which covers the following information, and attach it within the online application:
In three (3) typed, double-spaced pages or less, address the following areas: (1) State which endorsement you are pursuing: EI (Emotional Impairments), CI (Cognitive Impairments), or LD (Learning Disabilities), Behavior Intervention or Autism; (2) List which teaching certificate you currently hold: elementary, secondary or other; and from what state; (3) List what special education endorsements you already hold; (4) Summarize your prior professional experiences to date; and (5) Identify your professional goals, explaining why an additional special education degree is sought.

Previous written work

This program does not require any previous written work be submitted.

Other program materials

Attach a copy of your Teaching Certificate and Endorsements (if you have any).

Additional information

None


Application Review

Applications are evaluated on the basis of: 1) undergraduate grade point average, minimum GPA of 3.0 (a graduate grade point average may be considered if at least 9 hours of recent and relevant course work have been completed), 2) experience in special education, general education, or a related field, 4) congruence of professional goals and requested program option, 5) writing skills, 6) professional references. International students must submit a CELCIS transcript with a minimum grade of “BA” or a TOEFL score of 550 or better to be considered for admission. Admission deadlines are on-going and students may be admitted each semester.

Program Requirements (all options)


All students who receive a Master of Arts in Special Education must complete the following requirements:

  1. A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.00. Advisors will designate specific course requirements for each option described below.
  2. A  capstone experience. This may take the form of a comprehensive written examination or a capstone course. The capstone experience, whether it is a capstone course or a comprehensive examination, is to be taken at the end of an academic program. It is recommended that the capstone experience be the final, culminating activity in the Master of Arts in Special Education program. Responsibility for scheduling the capstone is assumed by graduate students in consultation with their program advisors.

Master Teacher Option


This option is designed for persons who have special education certification and who plan to remain directly involved with students with disabilities in an instructional capacity or who plan to pursue advanced graduate preparation beyond the master’s degree. Additional special education teaching endorsements or concentrations that can be earned through this option are Autism, Behavioral Specialist, Cognitive Impairment, Emotional Impairment, and Learning Disabilities.

Prerequisites

  1. Michigan Teaching Certificate or equivalent
  2. Endorsement or other teaching credential in at least one area of Special Education or related area
  3. Admission by Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies

Clinical Teacher Option


This option is available to certified teachers seeking a master’s degree and an initial endorsement in one of the following areas of special education:  Autism, Cognitive Impairment, Emotional Impairment, and Learning Disabilities.

Prerequisites

  1. Michigan Teaching Certificate or equivalent
  2. Admission by Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies

Special Education Technology Option (no longer offered)


This option, designed for persons who have special education certification, provides comprehensive knowledge, skills, and experience in the development and use of various special education technologies.

Prerequisites

  1. Michigan Teaching Certificate or equivalent
  2. Endorsement in at least one area of Special Education
  3. Admission by Department of Special education and Literacy Studies

Special Education Administration Option


This option, designed for certified and experienced special education teachers, provides course work and field-based experiences necessary to gain Michigan K-12 Administrator Certificate & Basic Principle Endorsement with Special Education Director or Supervisor approved.

Prerequisites

  1. Michigan Teaching Certificate or equivalent
  2. Endorsement in at least one area of Special Education
  3. Admission by Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies

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