Master of Arts in Special Education
Special education teachers are an exceptional group of educators - as advocates for social justice and the dignity of all people including those with disabilities. The Master of Arts in Special Education program provides candidates with advanced knowledge based on the Council for Exceptional Children’s Advanced Content Standards to address educational learning needs and improve teaching, assessment, and programmatic strategies to enhance student performance. It should be noted that candidates completing this program will not have met the requirements for the preliminary education specialist credential.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Leadership and Policy: advocate for policy and curriculum development by utilizing the breadth and depth of special education history, pedagogy, and latest research.
- Program Development & Organization: apply and expand content and professional knowledge to enhance instructional programs and curricula through evidence-based and innovative practices that reflect the needs of diverse populations.
- Research & Inquiry: evaluate current research studies and methodologies using evidence-based educational research to improve curricula, instruction, or interventions.
- Student and Program Evaluation: evaluate and analyze student achievement and program effectiveness utilizing nonbiased instruments and knowledge of research-based best practices.
- Professional and Ethical Practice: exemplify professional, legal, and ethical behavior by participating in scholarly activities that best support children with special needs, their families, schools, and the community.
- Collaboration: implement culturally responsive collaborative and consultation structures to enhance the opportunities for students with exceptional learning needs.
Program Learning Outcomes by Emphasis Area
- Autism emphasis: Implement evidence-based instructional and behavioral strategies to meet the varied needs of students across the autism spectrum.
- Applied Behavior Analysis emphasis: Design, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention based on a functional behavior assessment.
- Teaching and Learning: Apply pedagogical concepts in educational settings to meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities.
Admissions Requirements
- Satisfactorily fulfill graduate admission requirements for University of Massachusetts Global as stated in the catalog (see the Graduate Admissions section) including meeting the grade point average for a graduate program.
- For the Applied Behavior Analysis and Teaching and Learning emphasis areas, please see the specific emphasis area for admission requirements.
Transfer of Coursework
In the Master of Arts in Special Education, a total of six semester or nine quarter credits can be transferred into the program. These must be graduate-level courses and a grade of “B” or higher must have been earned in each course being transferred. Transferred courses can only be applied to the emphasis area; no transfer credit is permitted for the six core courses. Courses cannot be transferred into the Behavior Analysis emphasis area. Only one course transfer is allowed in the Autism emphasis area. The transfer of coursework limitation policy does not apply to courses taken through the UMass Global School of Extended Education; those Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis courses may be applied to the MASE program.
Authorizations within the Master of Arts in Special Education: Candidates who complete an emphasis area that leads to an authorization may be eligible to be recommended prior to the completion of their degree.
Second Emphasis
It is possible to complete the MASE degree with more than one emphasis. Candidates completing a second emphasis area within one master’s degree program may not use coursework from one emphasis area to fulfill the requirements of the second.
If the second area of emphasis is completed after the initial degree has been awarded, the student will not be issued an updated diploma, nor will the student be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony a second time. However, the second emphasis area will appear on the student’s official University of Massachusetts Global transcript.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite: | ||
| EDUU 511 | Collaboration For Inclusive Schooling (or current special education credential) | 3 |
| Core (18 credits) | ||
| EDUU 600 | Research and Evaluation Methods | 3 |
| EDUU 630 | Leadership and Policy in Special Education | 3 |
| EDUU 631 | Program Development and Organization in Special Education | 3 |
| EDUU 632 | Advanced Assessment and Program Evaluation in Special Education | 3 |
| EDUU 661 | Collaboration in Special Education | 3 |
| EDUU 633 | Special Education Capstone | 3 |
| Emphasis Area Elective Courses | 12-21 | |
| When applying, students must select one emphasis area from the options below. | ||
| Total Credits | 33-42 | |
Demonstration of Mastery
Candidates for the Master of Arts in Special Education degree must successfully complete a project in EDUU 633 Special Education Capstone with a grade of “B” or better.
Students are assigned a faculty mentor to guide them through their project based on the student’s emphasis area and personal interest.
Emphasis Area Elective Courses
Master of Arts in Special Education – Autism
Candidates who complete this emphasis area and have an appropriate credential may be eligible to be recommended for the authorization prior to the completion of their degree. It is highly recommended that candidates complete their Autism emphasis area courses prior to taking the core. See an advisor for more information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUU 575 | Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders: Etiologies and Characteristics | 3 |
| EDUU 675 | Assessing Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| EDUU 676 | Autism Spectrum Disorders: Programming and Strategies, I | 3 |
| EDUU 677 | Autism Spectrum Disorders: Programming and Strategies, II | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Master of Arts in Special Education – Applied Behavior Analysis
Students admitting into the Behavior Analysis emphasis area must be employed at least part-time in a field of employment which uses Applied Behavior Analysis. This employment must be documented on the candidate's application and via a resume. It is strongly recommended that candidates complete their Behavior Analysis emphasis area courses prior to taking the core courses. ABA courses are taken in sequential order at a maximum of one course per session. See an advisor for more information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUU 692 | The Science and Philosophical Underpinnings of Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDUU 693 | The Foundational Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDUU 694 | Using and Analyzing Measurement, Data and Experimental Design in Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDUU 695 | Assessment to Guide and Evaluate Intervention in Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDUU 696 | Selecting and Implementing Interventions for Behavior Change in Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDUU 697 | Program Oversight, Collaboration and Management in Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDUU 698 | Ethical Behavior and the Compliance Code for Applied Behavior Analysts | 3 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Master of Arts in Special Education - Teaching and Learning
For admission to the program students must have completed at least Year One of the Induction program. If the applicant has completed Year One, then a letter on District letterhead indicating the completion of Year One is required. The letter must be signed by the applicant’s Induction coordinator or Director of Human Resources department.
Emphasis Block Transfer University of Massachusetts Global awards an initial block of seven semester credits for successful completion of an Education Specialist Clear Induction Program. A candidate must also successfully complete EDUU 599 for five credits for a total of 12 credits. Please see an advisor for more details.