Updated 2024-2025 Graduate Catalog | 20255

Special Education, M.SPED msped

The Master of Special Education provides advanced training and licensure in Specific Learning Disabilities, Emotional or Behavioral Disorders, or Autism Spectrum Disorders. This degree program prepares teachers to apply evidence-based practices in classroom settings; develop, adapt, and modify curriculum; and utilize relevant literature and research to improve outcomes for students with special needs. The Master of Special Education degree is based on the Council for Exceptional Children’s (CEC) Initial Level Special Educator Preparation Standards and the Minnesota Special Education Licensure Standards. Note: Some students may require additional courses and credit hours depending on their current degree and Minnesota teacher licensure status.

Required Credits: 32
Required GPA: 3.00

Special Education Core Courses

Students will develop a 32 credit plan of study with their advisor that includes courses from the special education core, at least one disability category, practicum/student teaching, and the Master's sequence which includes the comprehensive examination.

Complete the following courses:

• SPED 5600 Study of the Learner with Special Needs (3 credits)
• SPED 5650 Collaborative Techniques for Special Educators (3 credits)
• SPED 5655 Due Process in Special Education I: Individual Education Plan (3 credits)
• SPED 5715 Curriculum Techniques with Special Populations (3 credits)
• SPED 6603 Math Difficulties: Diagnosis and Intervention (3 credits)
• SPED 6605 Due Process in Special Education II: Assessment and Reporting (3 credits)
• SPED 6608 Reading Difficulties: Diagnosis and Intervention (3 credits)

Choose at least one of the following areas of study.

SLD Licensure Courses
Complete the following courses:

• SPED 5620 Teaching the Learner with Specific Learning Disabilities I (3 credits)
• SPED 6620 Teaching the Learner with Specific Learning Disabilities II (3 credits)

EBD Licensure Courses
Complete the following courses:

• SPED 5630 Teaching the Learner with Emotional Behavioral Disorders I (3 credits)
• SPED 6630 Teaching the Learner with Emotional Behavioral Disorders II (3 credits)

ASD Licensure Courses
Complete the following courses:

• SPED 5660 Teaching the Learner with Autism Spectrum Disorder I: Mild to Moderate (3 credits)
• SPED 6660 Teaching the Learner with Autism Spectrum Disorder II: Moderate to Severe (3 credits)

Practicum Courses/Student Teaching

Complete one of the following courses:
Note: SPED 6180 is only for students seeking initial licensure in special education, e.g. FastTrack.
Note: SPED 6650 is for students who hold a current teacher license (Minnesota tier 3 or 4) and are adding an
          additional license.

• SPED 6180 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar (2 credits)
• SPED 6650 Practicum Strategies with Special Populations (2 credits)

Master's Sequence

Complete the following:

Note: At the end of their program, all Master's
students must take the following course and
comprehensive examination.

• SPED 6610 Introduction to Educational Research I (3 credits)
• SPED 6800 Special Education Comprehensive Examination (0 credit)