Nov 21, 2024  
2013-2014 Graduate Catalog 
    
2013-2014 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Master of Education - Special Education


Plan Description


The M.Ed. program is designed to meet the needs of persons who hold a baccalaureate degree and wish to earn a master’s degree in special education or early childhood education special education, with or without licensure. Students are expected to develop a plan of study that is most relevant to their educational purposes. Students seeking a license to teach should be aware that certification or endorsement requirements might limit their choices. A number of specific focus areas are available and can lead to the following Nevada Department of Education endorsements: Autism, Early Childhood Special Education, Learning Disabilities, Generalist-Mild Disabilities, Gifted and Talented, Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, Applied Behavioral Analysis (BCBA), or other professional areas The Master of Education – Special Education program requires 36 credits of graduate-level coursework. Additional credits may be required for endorsement or licensure purposes.

 

Learning Outcomes: Autism Spectrum Disorders

www.unlv.edu/degree/med-special-ed-emphasis-autism-spectrum-disorders

Learning Outcomes: Early Childhood Education

www.unlv.edu/degree/med-special-ed-early-childhood-education

Learning Outcomes: Generalist (K-12)

www.unlv.edu/degree/med-special-ed-emphasis-generalist-k-12

Learning Outcomes: Gifted Education

www.unlv.edu/degree/med-special-ed-emphasis-gifted-ed

Learning Outcomes: Intellectual Disabilities

www.unlv.edu/degree/med-special-ed-emphasis-intellectual-disabilities

Learning Outcomes: Teaching English as a Second Language

www.unlv.edu/degree/med-special-education-teaching-english-second-language

Plan Admission Requirements


In addition to meeting the admission requirements of the Graduate College, as outlined in the front of this catalog, applicants must also meet the requirements established by the Department of Educational and Clinical Studies. They are:

  1. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 for all undergraduate work or a 3.00 grade point average for the last two years of undergraduate work. Admission to a master’s degree program in special education requires that students with a GPA of less than 2.75 be admitted to the graduate program with provisional status; and
  2. A letter of application/intent.

Applications are processed when all credentials required by both the Graduate College and the Department of Educational and Clinical Studies have been received by the Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator evaluates the applicant’s credentials and recommends either 1) admission to full, contingency, or provisional graduate standing (depending on the strength of the applicant’s academic credentials); or 2) denial. Those who wish to begin studies but who miss the application deadline may enroll as a non-degree graduate student. However, since there is no guarantee that courses taken as a non-degree student will count toward a degree, and since a maximum of 15 hours taken prior to admission to the program may be used to meet degree requirements, candidates are urged to seek advisement prior to registering for any course(s).

Applicants should log back into their online applications to monitor the status of the application. Official decision letters will be posted in the online application once a decision has been made. Hard-copy letters are not issued. The online decision letter will include the name of the student’s advisor. Students are responsible for contacting their advisors.

All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Subplan 1 Requirements: Applied Behavioral Analysis Track


Total Credits Required: 36

Course Requirements

Required Courses – Credits: 6

EPY 702 - Research Methods 

ESP 722 - Multicultural Perspectives in Special Education 

Special Education Courses – Credits: 15

Complete 15 credits of advisor-approved course work.

ESP 712 - Applied Behavior Analysis 

ESP 733 - Management and Modification of Students with Special Needs 

ESP 735 - Advanced Behavior Management 

ESP 736 – Single Subject Design

ESP 739 - Advanced Educational Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders 

Elective Courses – Credits: 15

Complele 15 credits of advisor-approved course work.

Degree Requirements 

See Plan Degree Requirements below.

Graduation Requirements 

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Subplan 8 Requirements: Learning Disabilities Track


Total Credits Required: 36

Course Requirements

Required Courses – Credits: 6

EPY 702 - Research Methods 

ESP 722 - Multicultural Perspectives in Special Education 

Special Education Courses – Credits: 30

Complete 30 credits from the following list of courses, or other advisor-approved courses. Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are required for Nevada state licensure.

EPY 708 - Human Learning and Development 

ESP 701 - Introduction to Special Education and Legal Issues 

ESP 707 - Theories of Learning Disabilities 

ESP 708 - Advanced Education Strategies for Students with Disabilities 

ESP 709 - Diagnostic and Prescriptive Assessment for Diverse Learners 

ESP 717 C - Seminar in Advanced Curriculum Development 

ESP 719A - Advanced Oral and Written Language Instruction for Students with Disabilities 

ESP 724 - Math Methods in Special Education 

ESP 727 - Technology in Special Education 

ESP 730 - Parent Involvement in Special and General Education 

ESP 733 - Management and Modification of Students with Special Needs 

ESP 734 - Vocational and Career Education for Persons with Disabilities in Transition 

ESP 755 A - Medically Related Aspects of Disabilities 

Licensure Fieldwork Courses – Credits: 8 (Optional)

Students requiring Nevada state licensure must complete 8 credits of fieldwork from one of the following courses:

ESP 720 - Field Experience in Special Education 

ESP 737C - Learning Disabilities 

Degree Requirements 

See Plan Degree Requirements below.

Graduation Requirements 

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Subplan 9 Requirements: Other Professional Areas Track


Total Credits Required: 36

Course Requirements

Required Courses – Credits: 6

EPY 702 - Research Methods 

ESP 722 - Multicultural Perspectives in Special Education 

Special Education Courses – Credits: 15

Complete 15 credits of advisor-approved course work.

Elective Courses – Credits: 15

Complete 15 credits of advisor-approved course work.

Degree Requirements 

See Plan Degree Requirements below.

Graduation Requirements 

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Plan Degree Requirements


  1. Previous course work included in submitted graduate plans of study must have a grade of B or better. Only two subsequent grades of less than B- (one with an ESP or ECE prefix and one with any other prefix) will be permitted in a submitted plan of study. Under no circumstances will a Grade Point Average (GPA) of less than 3.00 be allowed on a finished plan of study. Failure to meet these standards will result in suspension from the degree program.
  2. For Nevada state licensure, students must complete a total of 8 credits of fieldwork; any additional credits will not count towards the degree program.
  3. In order to be endorsed in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) the following four courses must be completed in addition to the courses required as part of the degree program:

TESL 651 – Theories of second language acquisition
TESL 652 – TESL Methods and Materials
TESL 653 – TESL curriculum
TESL 654 – TESL Assessment Procedures

  1. Students must successfully complete and pass a comprehensive examination.
    1. The comprehensive examination is taken during the student’s last semester of coursework or in the semester immediately following completion of coursework listed on the student’s Program of Studies. If students opt to take the comprehensive exam the semester after completion of the coursework listed on their Program of Studies, they must enroll in ESP 766 or another graduate course. Per Graduate College Guidelines, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 hours of coursework the semester they graduate.
    2. Students must apply to take comprehensive examinations. Specific application deadlines are available in the Department of Educational and Clinical Studies.
    3. If a student does not pass their comprehensive examination on the first attempt, they must wait 30 days after written notification from the department to reschedule the exam. This will be done in consultation with the student’s advisor.
    4. A student may retake their comprehensive examination once.
  2. Master’s degrees must be completed within a six-year period and continuous enrollment must be maintained throughout the six years, unless a formal request for a leave of absence is approved by the department and Graduate College.

Plan Graduation Requirements


The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements for the program.