Master of Science in Education –
Interdisciplinary- Special Education with
Licensure
The Master of Science in Education with a major in Interdisciplinary- Special Education with licensure is available to individuals who obtained a bachelor's degree in education from an accredited college or university and who are professionally licensed to teach elementary or secondary education. Complete admission requirements are shown below. This online degree allows the candidate to complete the 37 credit hour Master’s program with 18 credit hours in special education. To determine any additional classes you may have to take, students must submit a transcript to Jenny Hahn, licensure officer, in 205 Gooch.
Conceptual Framework
The theme, "Professional Educators as Leaders and Enhancers of Human Development," is our goal in continuing the professional
development of future educators. The advanced program's conceptual framework is depicted as four keys that the graduate faculty
feel will unlock each candidate's potential. They are:
KEY 1 Knowledge, Skills and Application
KEY 2 Human Relations
KEY 3 Inquiry
KEY 4 Professional and Ethical Behavior
Inherent within each key component are outcomes that the candidate is expected to master upon completion of his/her individual
program. These keys are linked together by a solid ring representing the faculty's commitment to diversity, technology and
assessment.
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Advanced Common Core Standards
In addition to the conceptual framework, the Advanced Special Education concentration is aligned with CEC Standards.
SPED Concentration Curriculum
For students seeking a Master’s Degree, this program includes 19 hours of core curriculum, 18 hours of Special Education
concentration coursework, which includes a 6 hour practicum that can be completed in your classroom. This may also be done as
non-degree seeking with an add-on endorsement. Master’s seeking students must successfully complete a comprehensive exam to
fulfill the requirements for a degree.
Course Format
The core and concentration course materials are accessible 24/7 using Blackboard CourseWare. The courses have discussion,
email, chat, assignments and web-conferencing capability. Students also have free tech support 24/7 through UT Martin’s Help
Desk.
The Practicum is the experiential component of the program and it may be completed in the candidate’s own school and/or
system. Students work closely with UT Martin faculty and a supervising mentor to complete the requirements.
Tuition
Online graduate tuition for the 2007-2008 academic year: in-state students ($359/credit hour) and out-of-state students
($391/credit hour).
Faculty
The Special Education program faculty hold Graduate Faculty status at UT Martin and all have experience in P-12 classrooms and
online teaching.
Accreditation
UT Martin is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS, 1866 Southern
Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone number 404-679-4501) to award bachelors and masters degrees. UT Martin’s
education curriculum is approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education and accredited by the National Council for
Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Admission Requirements
Applicants may be admitted as degree seeking or non-degree seeking (if they want only the special education courses without the
degree). Degree seeking candidates must meet all University requirements as listed in the university catalogue under “Types of
Admission.” Applicants for the Advanced Special Education concentration must meet the additional requirements of having an
apprentice or professional teaching license in special education.
Unconditional Admission
o Minimum GRE General scores – Verbal 450, Quantitative 530, and Writing 3.5
o Hold a current teaching license
o A minimum of three successful years teaching experience and
o Minimum 2.7 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Conditional Admission – good for six credit hours
o Minimum GRE General scores – Verbal 360, Quantitative 410, and Writing 3.5
o Hold a current teaching license
o A minimum of three successful years teaching experience and
o Minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
How to Apply
Program applicants must submit an application for admission and a copy of their teaching license to the Graduate Studies Office,
303 Administration Bldg., UT Martin, Martin, TN, 38238.
Application to the Graduate School includes the following:
1. Apply for admission by one of the following means:
|
2. Request the Registrars of all colleges and universities attended to send one official transcript to the Graduate Studies Office.
**Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission can be found in the university catalog under the Graduate
Admissions section.
Graduate Application: Print | Apply Online
SPED Add-on Checklist- Need to be added to subject area/subject area needs to be changed to Interdisciplinary in the fall
Special Education Class Sequence
Within the Advanced Special Education concentration, the candidate will choose 1 of 4 emphasis areas: Learning
Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, or Cross-categorical Disabilities.
Typical Special Education Course Requirements *
| SPED 640 | Advanced Methods Mild Disabilities (Fall/Spring) | 3 credits |
| SPED 615 | Characteristics Mild Disabilities (Spring) | 3 credits |
| SPED 660 | Behavior Intervention (Fall) | |
| SPED 632 | Educational Procedures Special Education (Spring) | 4 credits |
| SPED 637 | Assessment in Special Education (Spring) | 3 credits |
| SPED 710 | Advanced Practicum in Special Education (Fall) | 6 credits |
*These courses have a prerequisite of SPED 300/500 Exceptional or equivalent. This is typically required in a general
education teacher program. This class is offered every fall/spring.
**Unless otherwise noted, texts for these classes are available on campus at the UT Martin Bookstore or online
through MBS Direct at: http://direct.mbsbooks.com/utm.htm