About the Program
The Early and Elementary Education with Special Education graduate program is designed to prepare students for dual teacher certification in Early and Elementary Education and Special Education, grades pre-Kindergarten to 4.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 5 years
Campus Location: Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Evening classes on Main campus start at 5:30 p.m. Students also complete fieldwork in a classroom about one day a week throughout each academic term.
Accreditation: The program is approved as a teacher certification preparation program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Job Prospects: Graduates typically pursue early childhood and special education teaching positions in school settings in grades pre-Kindergarten to 4.
Licensure/Certification: Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and passing all required licensure examinations, candidates may apply for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Teaching Certificate.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Students may take up to, but not more than, 9 credits of graduate study in the program before being admitted to the program. The credits transfer into the program, if the student is admitted. Students completing non-matriculated courses before being admitted to the program are NOT guaranteed admission.
Financing Opportunities: Financial support opportunities may include scholarships, tuition remission, and other financial aid such as grants, loans and federal work study.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: March 1
Spring: November 1
Applicants should submit all required admissions documents by the application deadline to receive priority consideration for admission and financial support.
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained to provide insight regarding the applicant's academic competence. References from college/university faculty are recommended.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A bachelor's degree is required. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is expected.
Transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited institutions attended and/or from which credit was earned must be submitted.
International applicants must also submit an official document, including a course-by-course evaluation conducted by a NACES-accredited organization, that validates completion and conferral of a degree, diploma and/or certificate. While not required, international applicants are encouraged to submit transcript(s) to World Education Services (WES) for evaluation.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Prerequisites for admission to the Early and Elementary Education with Special Education MEd program include at least one course (3 credits) taken at the undergraduate or graduate level with a grade of "C" or better earned in the following areas:
- Math (cannot be basic or remedial courses below the 1000 level)
- Science
A prerequisite evaluation is conducted upon receipt of the application and all official transcripts. All required prerequisites must be fulfilled before an applicant is eligible for admission.
Statement of Goals: In 500 to 1,000 words, outline your interest in seeking a master’s degree with a specific focus on the career to which you aspire, your interests, and your academic and job-related experiences that are relevant to the program.
Standardized Test Scores:
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
- TOEFL iBT: 79
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- PTE Academic: 53
Resume: Current resume required.
Transfer Credit: Courses may be transferred from an accredited institution provided they were completed less than five years ago and are relevant to the program. The academic advisor makes the decision about the relevancy of the courses that the student desires to transfer. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.
Clearances: All admitted students must submit copies of the required Pennsylvania criminal background check, FBI criminal history, Child Abuse check, and TB test to the College of Education and Human Development's Office of Field Placement prior to enrolling in their first term. These clearances are required by law prior to entering pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms to complete field experience requirements, starting with the first term and continuing throughout the program.
Pennsylvania clearances are not required for application completion. All new students who possess required Pennsylvania clearances more than one year old must submit updated clearances to the Office of Field Placement. Please note that obtaining these clearances may take up to six weeks. For instructions, please visit the Office of Field Placement's website at https://education.temple.edu/ofp/clearances.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 49
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Course | ||
| EDUC 5402 | Child and Adol Develop | 3 |
| Early Childhood Education Courses | ||
| ECED 5107 | Mathematics Education for the Early Years: PreK-4 | 3 |
| ECED 5108 | Social Studies Education for the Early Years: PreK-4 | 3 |
| ECED 5109 | Science Education for the Early Years: PreK to 4 | 3 |
| ECED 5206 | Literacy Foundations for the Primary Grades: First through Fourth | 3 |
| ECED 5502 | Cognitive Development | 3 |
| Special Education Courses | ||
| SPED 5105 | Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 5106 | Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 5109 | Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| SPED 5201 | Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities: Effective Teaching Strategies | 3 |
| SPED 5211 | Effective Instruction for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 5402 | Effective Transition Practices for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 5666 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| TESOL Course | ||
| TESL 5631 | Foundations of Language Teaching: Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners | 3 |
| Culminating Courses | ||
| EDUC 5409 | Research Methods and Induction Capstone | 3 |
| EDUC 5888 | Supervised Teaching | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 49 | |
Contacts
Department Information:
Dept. of Teaching and Learning
College of Education and Human Development
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091
215-204-0999