COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Learn more about the Master of Education in Special Education.
About the Program
The Special Education (SPED) program in the College of Education and Human Development equips teachers with deep understanding of the sociocultural context of education; high-impact instructional practices; and empirically supported, preventative approaches to provide equitable education to children with disabilities. The program features uphold and further both the College’s and the University's mission in the following ways:
- Promoting evidence-based practice and effective implementation in the classroom;
- Recognizing and ameliorating the impact of sociocultural factors on the education of children with disabilities;
- Advocating inclusive practices both within schools and within society as a whole; and
- Emphasizing preventative approaches to support improved teaching and learning.
The Special Education MEd program allows Temple Teacher Residency (TTR) students the ability to complete student teaching across two semesters in a year-long residency. Non-TTR students may complete student teaching in one semester.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 5 years
Campus Location: Main and Online
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Students complete the degree program through classes offered after 5:30 p.m. The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.
Accreditation: The program is approved as a teacher certification preparation program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Areas of Specialization: The scope of the Special Education certificate is grades PreK-8.
Job Prospects: The market for highly qualified special education teachers remains unabated. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an increased need for special education teachers. The shortage of special education teachers has been identified regionally (i.e., Pennsylvania and New Jersey) and is particularly prevalent in urban centers in the immediate environs of Temple University.
Licensure/Certification: Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and passing all required licensure examinations, candidates may apply for Pennsylvania Special Education PreK-12 certification.
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
Summer II: March 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.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Significant coursework (i.e., the equivalent of a minor or better) and/or professional experience related to the intended certification area are preferred.
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.
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.
Other Requirements: Upon admission to the Special Education MEd program, students must submit proof from an accredited body of Instructional I Certification, if already earned.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 37
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| EDUC 5402 | Child and Adol Develop 1 | 3 |
| SPED 5105 | Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 5106 | Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 5107 | Understanding and Using Special Education Research | 3 |
| SPED 5109 | Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support 1 | 3 |
| SPED 5201 | Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities: Effective Teaching Strategies | 3 |
| SPED 5211 | Effective Instruction for Students with Disabilities 1 | 3 |
| SPED 5402 | Effective Transition Practices for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 5666 | Introduction to Special Education 1 | 3 |
| TESL 5631 | Foundations of Language Teaching: Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners 1 | 3 |
| Culminating Courses | ||
| Select either Residency or Non-Residency Student Teaching and Seminar: | 7 | |
| Residency Student Teaching and Seminar | ||
| Residency Practicum Capstone | ||
| Residency Student Teaching Capstone | ||
| Supervised Teaching 2 | ||
| Non-Residency Student Teaching Seminar | ||
| Research Methods and Induction Capstone | ||
| Supervised Teaching 2 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 37 | |
- 1
Students who already hold a PA Instructional I Certification – or who have completed the requirements for a PA instructional certification at Temple or another PDE teacher preparation provider – have satisfied the competencies of one or more courses required for the Special Education MEd. With documented approval from their advisor, these students may select up to 15 credits of coursework from the list of approved courses below.
- 2
PDE permits a meaningful and modified student teaching experience for students who previously completed a full, PDE approved, student teaching experience. Only students with documented completion and advisor approval may reduce their credit hours for EDUC 5888 from 4 to 1 credit and maintain Supervised Teaching. Students who opt for this must select an additional 3-credit elective, with documented approval from their advisor, to ensure completion of a total of 37 credits required for the Special Education MEd.
Approved Courses for Students Who Have Satisfied Competencies for Instructional I Certification1
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ABA 5302 | Effective Teaching Strategies and Academic Interventions | 3 |
| ABA 5303 | Ethical and Legal Issues | 3 |
| ABA 5304 | Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| ABA 5305 | Single Subject Research Design | 3 |
| ABA 5306 | Organizational Behavior Management - OBM | 3 |
| ABA 5676 | Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| ABA 8787 | Seminar on Verbal Behavior | 3 |
| EDUC 5212 | Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology in Education | 3 |
| EDUC 5255 | Tech in Classrooms: TPCK | 3 |
| ILT 5287 | ILT: Practicum in Instructional Technology | 3 |
| ILT 5499 | ILT: Instructional Technology and Learning | 3 |
| ILT 5639 | Instructional Design and Development | 3 |
| SPED 5302 | Effective Teaching Strategies and Academic Interventions | 3 |
| SPED 9287 | Practicum in Special Education | 3 |
| TESL 5613 | Multilingual Students' Literacy Development | 3 |
| TESL 5616 | Designing Assessment and Curriculum for Multilingual Students | 3 |
| TESL 5621 | Contexts for Teaching and Learning Language | 3 |
- 1
With documented approval from the student's advisor, other courses may be selected.
Culminating Events: Student teaching and satisfactory completion of all coursework is required to earn the Special Education MEd.
Accelerated Programs
Undergraduate students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.
The accelerated pathway for the Special Education MEd is available to students pursuing the Early and Elementary Education BSEd.
Cohort Code: XMEDSPED
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.00
Graduate Courses Approved to Count for Both Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| TESL 5631 | Foundations of Language Teaching: Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners 1 | 3 |
| SPED 5211 | Effective Instruction for Students with Disabilities 2 | 3 |
| SPED 5106 | Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities 3 | 3 |
| SPED 5109 | Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support 3 | 3 |
- 1
TESL 5631 will substitute for TESL 3631 in the Early and Elementary Education BSEd.
- 2
SPED 5211 will substitute for SPED 3211 in the Early and Elementary Education BSEd.
- 3
This course will fulfill a free elective required in the Early and Elementary Education BSEd.
Suggested Academic Plan
| Year 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| TESL 5631 | Foundations of Language Teaching: Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 5211 | Effective Instruction for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPED 5106 | Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 5109 | Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Application: https://education.temple.edu/academics/accelerated-dual-degree-program-application
Contact Information
Jason Travers, Program Coordinator for Special Education MEd
jason.travers@temple.edu
CEHD +1 Programs
plus1@temple.edu
Contacts
Program Web Address:
https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/special-education-med-ed-sped-med
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