MEd in Special Education

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Applicants must submit transcripts from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and from all postbaccalaureate work. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

  • Baccalaureate Field No restrictions.
  • Grade Point Average At least 2.75/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study, and at least 3.00/4.00 for all postbaccalaureate course work.
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL iBT 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (Note: Total score is higher than the sum of the subscores), OR,
    • IELTS Academic 6.5, with 6.0 in each of the four subscores, OR,
    • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required; addressing the applicant’s academic qualifications, teaching experience, and potential for advanced-degree studies. Letters should be from current or former professors and/or supervisors.
  • Personal Statement Required; the statement must address the applicant’s professional goals and acknowledge the urban focus of UIC special education programs. See the  Department of Special Education website for additional information.
  • UIC Disposition Rating Chart Required for MEd plus LBS II option.a
  • Professional Resume Required for students applying for the MEd plus LBS II option; the resume must include all teaching experience and leadership.
  • Other Requirements All materials must be submitted by the stated application deadline. Applicants should give themselves enough time to gather all application materials (especially letters of recommendation) and submit them by the deadline.
  • Deadlines Application deadlines for this program are listed on the Graduate College website.
a

For information about the admissions requirements, please contact the Special Education office at (312) 996-5650. 

Degree Requirements

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 33-36 semester hours.

  • Coursework
Required Courses
Foundations (3 hours)
Select one of the following courses with consent of program advisor:
Political and Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Special Education
Theoretical Foundations and Issues of Bilingual Special Education
Advanced Procedures in Special Educator as Consultant
Development and Disability (3–6 hours)
Select one or two of the following courses with consent of program advisor:
Assessment of Monolingual and LEP Children with Disabilities
Understanding Students with High Incidence Disabilities
Understanding Students With Low Incidence Disabilities
Educational Implications of Learners with Low-Incidence and Multiple Disabilites
Curricular and Social Adaptations for Working with Learners with High Incidence Disabilities
Behavioral Interventions I: Comprehensive Programming Across the Lifespan
Transition Planning and Vocational Programming for Students with Disabilities, Part 1
Introduction to Assistive Technology: Principles and Practice
Special Education Research and Assessment in Practice (3 hours)
Select one of the following courses with consent of program advisor:
Understanding Research in Special Education
School and Community-Based Inquiry Internship
Electives (24 hours)
Students interested in an initial or advanced endorsement must take courses that count toward their specialty. Please consult an advisor for a list of approved courses.
Additional student teaching courses required for initial PEL with an LBSI endorsement
Field Internship for Student Teaching
Curriculum and Teaching for Students with Disabilities
Student Teaching in Special Education
  • Comprehensive Examination None.
  • Thesis, Project, or Coursework-Only Options Coursework only: No other options are available.

Interdepartmental Concentrations

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in select concentrations after consulting with their graduate advisor. Interdepartmental concentrations available for this degree include: