Special Education

 

Special Education Office
304 Recitation Hall
West Chester, PA 19383
Call: 610-436-2579
FAX: 610-436-3102
smcknett@wcupa.edu


Graduate Programs

The Department of Special Education offers the following graduate program:

  • M.Ed. in Special Education

For further program information contact:

Graduate Program Coordinator
Dr. Vicki McGinley vmcginley@wcupa.edu

Master’s of Education in Special Education (Fall 2010 & after)

The Master's of Education in Special Education program leads to an M.Ed. in Special Education. It does not lead to Pennsylvania Department of Education teaching certification.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
  • Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Evidence of Instructional I Certificate – (2 copies)
    • Applicants to the M.Ed. in Special Education who show evidence of Pennsylvania State Teaching Licensure issued prior to 2013 or other state teaching licensure may be required to show evidence of 49.13 coursework and may be required to complete 49.13 coursework prior to admission to the M.Ed. in Special Education.
  • Two letters of recommendation**
  • Application including goal statements.
  • If GPA is below the required university GPA of 3.0, student must submit satisfactory GRE or MAT scores at the 50th percentile.
  • Admission interview (only if deemed necessary).
Course work

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COURSES – 6 Credits

Students, under advisement of the graduate coordinator, will select either

EDF 500, Methods and Materials of Research in Education or

EDF 501, Research Methods for Teachers

and take one other 3 credit course from the following:

EDF 510 - Educational Foundations

EDP 550 – Advanced Educational Psychology

EDT 500 –Orientation to Instructional Media

SPECIAL EDUCATION CORE – 15 Credits

EDA503 – Family Systems in Special Education

EDA506 – Legal Issues in Special Education

EDA 544 – Behavior Management

EDA 580 – Contemporary Issues and Trends

EDA 591 – Final Project (3 credits)

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION – 12 Credits

Students will select one area of concentration from the list below. Students will complete 4 courses (12 credits) in this area of concentration.

Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology* (online)

Autism*

Urban Education (offered in collaboration with Cheney University)

Leadership for Women*

Literacy

Math

Sciences

Special Education (High or Low Incidence)

TESL*

Education Technology (Online)*

*This Area of Concentration has an optional certificate program. Certificate programs may require special admission and additional coursework for certificate completion. Contact the host department for details.

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Master’s of Education in Special Education (prior Fall 2010)

The Master's of Education in Special Education program leads to an M.Ed. in Special Education. It does not lead to Pennsylvania Department of Education teaching certification.

Admission Requirements
  • Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
  • Evidence of Instructional I Certificate – (2 copies)
  • Two letters of recommendation*
  • Application including goal statements
  • If GPA is below the required university GPA of 2.8, student must submit satisfactory GRE or MAT scores at the 50th percentile.
  • Admission Interview (only if deemed necessary)

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Professional Education courses – 6 credits

Students will select with the advisor from the following courses:

EDF 510          Educational Foundations

EDP 550
Advanced Educational Psychology
EDT 500
Orientation to Instructional Media
EDF 500
Methods and Materials of Research in Education
Or

EDF 501
Methods and Materials of Research in Elementary
Special Education Core – 21 credits

EDA 541          Foundations of Special Education

EDA 503
Family Systems in Special Education
EDA 505
Advanced Methods of High Incidence Disabilities
EDA 506
Legal Issues in Special Education
EDA 507
Diversity Within the Context of Disability
EDA 580
Contemporary Issues and Trends
EDA 591
Final Project (3 credits)

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Area of Concentration/tracks – 6 credits

Students will select an area of concentration/track under advisement (2 courses in each track)

  • Behavior Management
  • Communication Disorders
  • Counselor Education
  • Educational Research
  • High Incidence Disability
  • Inclusion
  • Instructional Technology
  • Kinesiology
  • Literacy
  • Low Incidence Disability
  • Math
  • Music
  • Psychology
  • Secondary Education
  • Transition

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Degree Candidacy

The student must apply to candidacy after the completion of 12 semester hours of work at West Chester University, including EDF 510 and two courses from special education, one of which must be EDA 541. Grade point averages must be consistent with standards required in graduate studies at West Chester University (minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8). Admission to degree candidacy does not guarantee the automatic awarding of a degree upon completion.

For further program information contact

Graduate Program Coordinator
Dr. Vicki McGinley vmcginley@wcupa.edu

Click here to APPLY NOW!!

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**Letters of Recommendation

An applicant to a graduate program must ask two (2) recommenders to support the application with an electronic letter of recommendation. A link to the electronic recommendation form will be sent to each recommender after the applicant has entered the name and e-mail address of each recommender into the applicant’s on-line application form. If you have questions about this process, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies at GradStudies@wcupa.edu or at 610-436-2943.

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