JMU - Special Education

In addition to the College of Graduate and Professional Programs qualifications for admissions, potential candidates must meet the following requirements.

Admission criteria and the application process vary with the type of program or an individual�s status. Requirements may include:

�� GRE scores at the 25th percentile or higher for both verbal and quantitative sections

�� Undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 or higher

�� Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university

�� Professional r�sum�

�� A two- to three-page written statement (double spaced) describing the applicant�s professional background, the educational issues that the applicant would like to address in the master�s program and the applicant�s long-term professional goals.

�� Acceptable Praxis scores

�� Completion of the teacher education application packet

Contact the James Madison University Education Support Center (http://coe.jmu.edu/esc/index.shtml) for specific requirements.

The special education program offers Master of Arts (M.A.T.) and Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree programs leading to professional licensure and area endorsement in Virginia. The licensure programs are designed to prepare resilient teachers who are advocates for children and youth with disabilities, are qualified for the complexity of their professional roles, and are reflective problem-solvers. The program also offers a non-teaching Master of Education degree.

Program Mission and Outcomes

The Special Education Program at James Madison University is committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service that will influence policy and practice related to the education of individuals with disabilities. Our mission is to prepare exemplary professionals to generate, use, and disseminate knowledge about teaching, learning, and human development to solve critical educational and human service problems in a diverse global community. To that end, graduates of the program will be able to:

�� Demonstrate knowledge of characteristics and issues surrounding those areas of disability identified for services through federal and state legislative mandates.

�� Demonstrate knowledge of historical, current, and emerging perspectives on theory and practice.

�� Demonstrate understanding of social, cultural, and linguistic influences on children, youth, and adults with special needs.

�� Demonstrate an understanding of principles of learning and theoretical approaches for cognitive, physical, and behavioral intervention.

�� Demonstrate a level of skill competence sufficient to assure positive growth and development in those individuals served.

�� Serve as reflective, resilient teachers or professional service providers who are advocates for individuals with disabilities.

Program Descriptions

M.A.T. in Special Education

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree program is designed to lead to initial licensure in special education with specific areas of concentration in teaching school-age (K-12) students with emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, and mental retardation, or, early childhood special education (ECSE) � children birth through age five. Candidates completing the program are prepared to serve as teachers of individuals with disabilities in a variety of educational placements.

Candidates admitted to the program will have earned a bachelor�s degree from an approved college or university. Candidates are required to provide transcript evidence that they have completed liberal studies and specified subject matter courses deemed necessary for pursuing licensure in special education. Those candidates not having such course work will be required to complete undergraduate-level general education and/or subject matter content courses under the terms of provisional admission to graduate study as a degree- seeking candidate. Candidates applying to the program subsequent to the completion of another approved licensure program at JMU (e.g., early childhood education) need not submit Graduate Record Examination scores. They may support their application with documentation verifying a successful track record in teacher education at JMU; this is to include successful Praxis I and II scores. All other applicants must fully meet admission criteria for the special education M.A.T. program including satisfactory Graduate Record Examination scores. Teacher candidates must also apply for, and be admitted to, teacher education at JMU.

The M.A.T. program includes 37 credit hours of professional education course work on the graduate level for the K-12 concentration (18 additional credit hours of prerequisite supporting courses if needed) and 31 credit hours of professional education course work on the graduate level for the ECSE concentration (15 additional credit hours of prerequisite supporting courses if needed). At least half of a candidate�s program of study must be taken at the 600 level. Depending on a candidate�s prior academic preparation, other prerequisite course work may be needed for unconditional admission to this graduate program and to meet teacher licensure requirements. A comprehensive examination, written and/or oral, will be completed during the candidate�s final semester.

K-12 M.A.T. Program

Minimum Requirements1	Credit Hours
SPED 503. Application of Ed Tech for Students with Disabilities	1
SPED 512. Behavior Management in the Classroom	3
SPED 520. Differentiation of Instruction and Collaboration in Special Education	3
SPED 607. Curriculum and Methods in Special Education	3
SPED 611. Nature and Issues of Learning Disabilities	2
SPED 612 Psychoeducational Assessment of Learning and Behavior Problems	3
SPED 613. Teaching Individuals with Learning and Behavior Problems	3
SPED 615. Transition Services for Students with Mild Disabilities	3
SPED 630. Nature and Issues of Mental Retardation	2
SPED 640. Nature and Issues of Emotional/Behavioral Disorders	2
SPED 650. Student Teaching in Special Education	6
SPED 650. Student Teaching in Special Education2	6
Electives (by advisement only)
CSD 540. Language Disorders	�
PSYC 614. Advanced Developmental Psychology	�
EDUC 620. Changing Contexts of American School
MIED 530. Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary and Middle Grades
An approved reading course

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1 Other courses as determined by the individual needs of the candidate and upon approval of the adviser. 2 K-12 program requires 2 student teaching experiences at upper and lower grade levels across multiple areas of disability � for candidates who have completed other JMU licensure programs, one student teaching may be sufficient.

ECSE M.A.T. Program

Minimum Requirements1	Credit Hours
SPED 503. Application of Ed Tech for Students with Disabilities	1
SPED 505. Service Delivery in Early Childhood Special Education	3
SPED 512. Behavior Management in the Classroom	3
SPED 621. Nature and Issues of Early Childhood Special Education	3
SPED 622. Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education	3
SPED 623. Programming in Early Childhood Special Education	3
SPED 625. Medical & Technological Aspects of ECSE	3
SPED 626. Practicum: Infants & Toddlers with Disabilities	3
SPED 627. Practicum: Early Childhood Special Education	3
SPED 650. Student Teaching in Special Education	6
Electives (by advisement only)
CSD 540. Language Disorders	�
PSYC 614. Advanced Developmental Psychology	�
EDUC 620. Changing Contexts of American School
An approved reading course

1 Other courses as determined by the individual needs of the candidate and upon approval of the adviser.

M.Ed. in Special Education

For candidates completing the JMU undergraduate, pre-professional special education program, a 5th year Master of Education degree in special education is offered with endorsement tracks in either K-12 or early childhood special education. The pre-professional program complements this professionally oriented master�s degree program by providing the requisite course offerings and experiences that form the foundation for admission to the 5th year Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree program.

Individuals who already hold a professional teaching license in special education or those wishing to work with individuals with disabilities in areas other than teaching may wish to complete the non-teaching sequence. Candidates who pursue the non-teaching M.Ed. program typically do so to advance their knowledge of particular disabilities and further develop specific areas of interest. Graduates of this program, who are not interested in becoming a teacher, often find employment in vocational programs, residential programs or other alternative service settings.

Candidates working toward the completion of the M.Ed. degree in special education must obtain at least a letter grade of �B� in all graduate level special education required or elective courses. Candidates who receive a letter grade lower than �B� must repeat the course. Should a candidate receive a letter grade of �B� or �C� in a required or elective course external to the special education program, that �C� may be offset by a letter grade of �A� as stipulated in the College of Graduate and Professional Programs grading policy; however, the three �C� dismissal policy still applies.

Exceptions to all program requirements must be approved in writing by the program coordinator and by the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs. When exceptions relate to licensure, the approval of the dean of the College of Education is also required.

5th Year K-12 Program

Completion of the K-12 concentration is required for K-12 licensure in special education with endorsements in emotional disturbance, learning disabilities and mental retardation. Completion of the early childhood special education 5th year concentration is required for the birth through age five endorsement.

This concentration is offered in conjunction with an undergraduate pre-professional program in special education. Candidates completing the professional licensure program must meet a set of content and endorsement-specific criteria that have been established by the Commonwealth of Virginia. In order to meet these requirements, candidates at the undergraduate level will have completed the Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies (IDLS) major or an approved alternative major (e.g., psychology, English, math) concurrently with the pre-professional program.

It is important for candidates to understand that they must meet the requirements for a baccalaureate degree and successfully complete all undergraduate pre-professional courses and experiences prior to being fully admitted to this M.Ed. program. Additionally, candidates must submit satisfactory scores on PRAXIS I and demonstrate satisfactory performance at each program evaluation point.

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Minimum Requirements1	Credit Hours
MSSE 630. Inquiry in Education	3
SPED 500. Individualized Education Programs and	3
Curriculum-Based Assessment
SPED 510. Systematic Behavioral Interventions	3
SPED 520. Differentiation of Instruction & Collaboration in Special Education	3
SPED 600. Instructional Methods in Special Education	3
SPED 610. Practicum in Special Education Instructional Methods	2
SPED 615. Transition Services for Students with Disabilities	3
SPED 650. Student Teaching in Special Education	4
SPED 650. Student Teaching in Special Education	4
SPED 670. Professional Practice Seminar	2
SPED 675. Applied Research in Special Education	3
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1 Completion of an additional student teaching (SPED 650) is required for endorsements in emotional disturbance, learning disabilities and mental retardation; a total of 40 credit hours.

5th Year ECSE Program

Completion of the early childhood special education concentration is required for licensure and endorsement in early childhood special education. This concentration is also offered in conjunction with an undergraduate pre-professional program in special education. As with the K-12 concentration, candidates completing this program must meet a set of content and endorsement-specific criteria that have been established by the Commonwealth of Virginia. In order to meet these requirements, candidates at the undergraduate level will have completed the IDLS major or an approved alternative major (e.g., psychology, English, math) concurrently with the pre-professional program.

It is important that candidates understand that they must meet the requirements for a baccalaureate degree and successfully complete all undergraduate pre-professional courses and experiences prior to being fully admitted to the M.Ed. program. Additionally, candidates must submit satisfactory scores on PRAXIS I and the GRE.

Minimum Requirements	Credit Hours
MSSE 630. Inquiry in Education	3
SPED 505. Service Delivery in Early Childhood Special Education	3
SPED 510. Systematic Behavioral Interventions	3
SPED 621. Nature and Issues of Early Childhood Special Education	3
SPED 622. Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education	3
SPED 623. Programming in Early Childhood Special Education	3
SPED 625. Medical and Technological Aspects of Early Childhood	3
Special Education
SPED 626. Practicum: Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities	3
SPED 627. Practicum: Early Childhood Special Education	3
SPED 650. Student Teaching in Special Education	6
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Non-Teaching Program

The graduate special education non-teaching program is a 30-hour program with a minimum of 18 hours in special education and related graduate courses. The remaining 12 hours include courses that meet specific individual needs and career objectives. The program is not designed to meet Virginia requirements for teacher licensure or endorsement. This program is primarily for those individuals currently working in an area that requires knowledge and some related skills for working with individuals with disabilities, but not necessarily in a pedagogical role, or those individuals who already hold special education licensure. Included in the 18-hour concentration is an internship that may occur as a formal placement by the university or as a result of supervised employment.

Candidates may select course work from existing special education courses (relating to emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, mental retardation and/or early childhood special education) and from various interdepartmental graduate courses. Each candidate will be required, using the direct guidance of his or her adviser, to design a program of study that will meet individual needs and career objectives.

Minimum Requirements1	Credit Hours
Choose from the following:	18
SPED 512. Behavior Management in the Classroom
SPED 611. Nature and Issues of Learning Disabilities
SPED 630. Nature and Issues of Mental Retardation
SPED 640. Nature and Issues of Emotional Disturbance
SPED 653. Internship in Special Education: Non-teaching
Electives (by advisement only)1	12
PSYC 515. Basic Counseling Skills
SPED 501. Workshop in Special Education
SPED 615. Transition Services for Students With Disabilities
SPED 621. Nature and Issues of Early Childhood Special Education
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1 Electives may also be chosen from the areas of communication sciences and disorders, human resource development, psychology, secondary education, speech pathology, early childhood and middle education. Acceptable courses are determined by the individual needs of the candidate and upon approval of the adviser.

Graduation

All requirements for the degree must be completed by the date the degree is conferred to receive a diploma dated the day of graduation. Applications for graduation should be completed early in the term in which the candidate plans to graduate. Candidates who will satisfy all degree requirements in the summer may participate in the Spring commencement ceremony if they have completed an Application for Graduation form signed by their adviser and program coordinator, and they must be pre-registered for summer classes prior to the May commencement ceremony. Candidates must be enrolled during the semester in which the degree is to be conferred. It should be noted that applicants actually graduate and receive their degrees only when all requirements are satisfied. Candidates who do not satisfy all requirements for graduation will be notified of deficiencies and may reactivate their applications for a later graduation date.