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Master of Education

Special Education K-12

The Master of Education in Special Education is designed to provide post baccalaureate preparation for public school teachers who wish to broaden their knowledge of teaching children with exceptional learning needs.

This program may be completed online.

Unconditional Admission

Students are eligible to apply for unconditional admission to the Master of Education degree program in Special Education if they have an Arkansas Teaching License and meet the admission requirements for the Graduate College.

Conditional Admission

Applicants who fail to meet the minimum requirements for admission have the opportunity for conditional admission if the applicant has an Arkansas Teaching License and meets the minimum graduate admission standards and upon a successful appeal to the program director. Students admitted under a conditional status must earn a cumulative 3.0 GPA on the first twelve (12) graduate hours in the program.

Program Requirements

Degree Requirements

  1. Candidates for the Master of Education Degree with a major in Special Education must complete the 36 semester hour degree program.

    Special Education Degree Core Requirements (15 hours)

    EDFD 6003 Educational Research
    EDFD 6313 Principles of Curriculum Development
    EDFD 6503 Classroom Behavioral Management
    EDFD 6993 Project in Educational Research
    ELED 6343 Literacy Assessment and Intervention

    Special Education K-12 Licensure Option (21 hours)

    DYS 5003   Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities
    SPED 5003 Characteristics Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
    SPED 5013 Assessment of Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
    SPED 5023 Planning Instruction for Children with Exceptional Learning Needs, Grades K-6
    SPED 5033 Working with Families of Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
    SPED 5053 Planning Instruction for Children with Exceptional Learning Needs, Grades 7-12
    SPED 5063 Supervised Practicum, Grades K-12

    Special Education B-K Licensure Option (15 hours)

    SPED 5003 Characteristics Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
    SPED 5013 Assessment of Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
    SPED 5033 Working with Families of Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
    SPED 5073 Planning Instruction in an Early Childhood Setting
    SPED 5083 Supervised Practicum, B-K

    Special Education Resource, K-6, 7-12 Endorsement Courses (12 hours)

    SPED 5003 Characteristics Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
    SPED 5023 Planning Instruction for Children with Exceptional Learning Needs, Grades K-6
    SPED 5053 Planning Instruction for Children with Exceptional Learning Needs, Grades 7-12
    SPED 5063 Supervised Practicum, Grades K-12

    Dyslexia Therapist, K-12 Licensure Endorsement Courses* (15 hours)

    DYS 5003 Dyslexia and Other Learning Disorders
    DYS 5013 Foundation of Language and Literacy Development
    DYS 5023 Interpreting and Administration of Assessment for Planning Instructions
    DYS 5033 Professional Learning and Leadership
    DYS 5043 Structured Language Teaching
    *These courses are required to meet the Dyslexia Therapist, Grades K-12 Licensure Endorsement in Arkansas.

  2. A cumulative grade point average of a 3.00 or better must be achieved in all graduate work attempted at Arkansas Tech University, with a maximum of six (6) hours of "C" grades. A student receiving more than six (6) hours of "C" or grades lower than "C" should refer to the section of the catalog on Academic Probation and Dismissal.
  3. A minimum of 27 semester hours of graduate course work completed at Arkansas Tech University.
  4. Completion of all degree requirements within six (6) years from the time of unconditional or conditional admission into the program.

Degree Works

Degree Works is a software tool utilized by Arkansas Tech University designed to detail academic progression. It allows both students and advisors to monitor course progress towards degree completion and clearly indicates which course requirements have been met as well as how courses transfer into a program. Transfer courses must be approved through the use of a substitution/waiver form available via the Registrar for progress to display correctly within Degree Works. 

Degree Works will display course progression based on the current program of study, but a "what-if" scenario can be generated for any program to see how progression looks with the courses currently completed and in progress. Note that if you have applied to and been admitted to a graduate program while still finishing your undergraduate program, Degree Works will show your new program of study in the graduate program and you would have to generate a "what-if" query to see your undergraduate degree progress.

Application for Graduation

In addition to satisfying all degree requirements, a candidate for a degree must file an Application for Graduation online or at the Graduate College.  Students must apply for graduation upon completion of fifteen (15) graduate credit hours.

Special Conditions of Graduate Credit

Graduate Credit Taken Prior to Admission to Arkansas Tech University

A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit with a grade point average of "B" or better may be transferred from an accredited graduate school if deemed appropriate to the graduate program by the head of the student's major department and the Graduate College Dean. Students must send a written request to the head of their major department to petition an acceptance of the transfer credit prior to requesting admission to candidacy to the graduate program. Graduate credit earned six (6) years prior to the completion date of all degree requirements may not be applied toward the degree without the approval of the appropriate program director and the Graduate College Dean. Credits earned by correspondence courses or for remedial purposes will not apply toward the graduate degree. No undergraduate course may be repeated for graduate credit.

Graduate Credit Taken After Admission to Arkansas Tech University

If after admission to graduate study, a student wishes to take a course at another institution to count toward degree requirements at Arkansas Tech University, the student must (in advance of enrollment) obtain written approval from the program director and the Graduate College Dean.