Online Masters in Special Education
or Blended?
Offered Online?
Classes meet entirely online.
Offered In-Class?
Classes meet face-to-face at our St. Paul campus or other off-campus location.
Offered Blended?
Course work is completed through a combination of in-class and online class meetings.
Overview
The Master of Arts in Education - Special Education is designed to prepare highly effective professional, decision-making, and reflec¬tive educators who are proficient in foundational knowledge; referral, evaluation, planning, and programming; instruction¬al design, teaching, and ongoing evaluation; collaboration and communication, standards of effective practice; and core special education skills including instructional strategies, social/emotional health, social competence, cultural competence, classroom management and academic competence.
This program is an online cohort. In general, you will finish one 3 credit hour course every 7-8 weeks. Face to face meetings are not required; however, a weekly one hour synchronous audio/visual chat is required. You will still complete one 3 credit course every 7 weeks.
SPED-580
Educ. of Exceptional Learner
A study of historical and contemporary issues in education of learners with differentiated needs.
SPED-582
Tchg Stdts w/Linguistic Diff
A study of the issues and approaches to educating a culturally and linguistically diverse population and those with reading difficulties.
SPED-583
Collab in Inclusive Settings
A Study and applied practice in collaboration teaching between general educators and special educators and paraprofessionals in both settings.
SPED-581
Tchng Stdts w/Learning & Beh
This course is an examination of the social /emotional needs of learners in contemporary classrooms and research-based practices for meeting those needs. It also provides teachers of students with emotionally/behaviorally disorders an understanding of and practice with positive interventions for the general education classroom. The historical, theoretical, and educational perspectives concerning children and youth who manifest learning disabilities will be considered utilizing diagnostic and remediation of weaknesses in basic content areas. Special emphasis will be placed on teaching cognitive instructional strategies.
SPED-590
Tchng Stdts/Lang or Math Disab
An examination of the writing and mathematical needs of learners in contemporary classrooms and research-based practices for meeting those needs.
SPED-589
Collaborative Consult. SPED
This course studies techniques with relation to collaborating with parents, caregivers, community services, and other support services to enhance the learning of the learner with special needs, within and without the academic setting. Special attention is given to the development of a transition IEP.
SPED-584
Intrv: Stdnt w/Serious Emo.
This course addresses the issues of students with disabilities whose behaviors are so severe as to warrant attention of or intervention through the criminal justice system. The unique nature of the juvenile justice system and its impact on the student’s education, the variety of services and resources available for students identified with disabilities, as well as appropriate academic and social-emotional programming options for students with disabilities is discussed.
SPED-586
Assmt. of Learners w/Spec Need
This course develops competencies in the use and interpretation of instruments to measure educational achievement, learning discrepancies, and inferential thinking and conceptual development. Emphasis is placed on the ability to develop and use formal and informal measures to monitor the progress of students and to determine the occupational and social needs, abilities, and interests of students.
SPED-591
Applied Experience in LD
Students complete supervised practice in teaching learners with special needs. Specialized methods and on going diagnosis are used within a clinical setting. (Prerequisites: All course work within specified licensure program.)
SPED-595
Applied Experience in EBD
Students complete supervised practice in teaching learners with special needs. Specialized methods and on going diagnosis are used within a clinical setting. Prerequisites: All course work within specified licensure program.
ED-521
Educ Research & Applications
Mastering the systematic and rigorous process of posing a focused question, developing a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, collecting and analyzing relevant data and drawing conclusions.
ED-590
Research & Complete Capstone
A review and critical analysis of current educational research focused on a specific question. Students complete the capstone project.
Requirements
1. Apply Online
2. The $50 Application Fee (non-refundable) should be payable to Concordia University by check, money order or pay online. Please allow 2-3 business days for online payment processing.
3. Submit official transcripts from the regionally accredited institution stating the conferral of a Bachelor's degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 based on a 4.0 system.
4. Submit a typed personal statement that answers the questions listed below. Completed statements should be labeled with your name, academic program, and your contact information and submitted via mail, email or fax. Each question should be answered in a minimum of 300 words (1 page).
Why are you choosing to pursue a graduate program at this time in your career, and what are you hoping to accomplish by doing so?
What strengths do you feel make you a strong candidate for the program?
Describe a past or present personal/professional experience that you believe positively influenced your potential to succeed in a graduate program.
5. Submit a curent, professional resume.
Technology Requirements
Students enrolling in a graduate program must have access to a computer that meets Concordia University's technology requirements. Contact Concordia's Help Desk at helpdesk@csp.edu or 651-641-8866 with any questions regarding these requirements.
Concordia University Technology Requirements (PDF)