Special Education Learning Behavioral Specialist - Initial Certification
Degree Purpose
The purpose of the Special Education Learning Behavioral Specialist – I Master’s Degree Program for Initial Certification, which is designed to enable our candidates to earn their M.S.E.D Degree in Special Education and the Illinois State Board of Education Teaching Certification in Special Education, is designed to:
Degree Requirements
The Special Education Learning Behavioral Specialist –I Master’s Degree Program for Initial Certification requires: 33--36 credit hours of coursework in general education; 29 – 31 hours of coursework plus student teaching experience in professional education; and 34 hours of coursework in special education.
Careers
The Special Education Master’s Degree Program for Initial Certification prepares special educators for service in a variety of state and local educational agencies, and other organizations that work with individuals with disabilities at the national level.
Admission and Application Procedure
To be considered for admission to the Special Education Master’s Degree Program for Initial Certification, a student must:
Applicants who completed their bachelor’s degree program five or more years ago and do not have the required 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hrs can qualify for a master’s plus certification program by taking 9 hrs of graduate-level program coursework (which must be completed within one year), and earning a grade of B or better in each of these courses. Grades of B or above in graduate coursework completed prior to application to a CSU certification program can be used towards eligibility. Special education program applicants who do not qualify after taking 9 hrs of coursework will be counseled by the Office of Teacher Certification to choose another teacher preparation program to pursue at the certification-only level.
To apply for admission to the program, students should: contact the Office of Teacher Certification for more details at 773-995-2519. Interested applicants can also download the graduate application form and/or apply on-line here. Two official transcripts from all institutions previously attended are required.
Program Requirements
In order to complete the Master’s in Special Education program, students must:
Portfolio Requirements
Program Completion requires performance portfolio that includes artifacts aligned with State Standards. Candidates are required to keep the projects completed in the courses listed below for their portfolio:
Note: *Indicates courses where key assessments are completed
Courses Required | |
General Education Requirements | 33-36 hours |
Composition | 3 hours |
Composition II (3) | |
Oral Communication | 3 hours |
Speech (3) | |
Mathematics | 3 hours |
College Level Mathematics (3) | |
Natural Science | 6 hours (at least one laboratory course) |
Biological Science (3) | |
Physical Science (3) | |
Humanities | 9 hours in at least two areas |
The Arts (3) | |
Literature (3) | |
Philosophy (3) | |
Foreign Language (3) | |
Social Sciences | 9 hours |
U.S. History or American National Government | |
Child Psychology | |
Social Science Elective (3 hrs) | |
History | |
Political Science | |
Geography | |
Economics | |
Anthropology | |
Psychology | |
Sociology | |
Social Science | |
Multicultural/Global perspectives | 3 hours |
Elective (if not satisfied in courses listed above) | |
Professional Education | (29-31 cr. hrs /55 -110 field hours) |
ELCF 1520/5650 (2f10/3) | Introduction to Teaching/Urban Education |
ED 5312/T&ED 5346 (3) | Education Computing/Presentations |
ELCF 2000/5000 (3f10/3) | History/Philosophy of Education |
Psych 2020/5830 (3f10/3f10) | Educational Psychology |
SED 5301 (3f15) | Characteristics of Exceptional Children |
ELED 3010/5520 (4/3) OR ELCF 5500* (2f25) | Fundamentals/Curriculum in Elementary Education Principles/Practices in Secondary Education |
Courses Below Require Admission to the College of Education | |
ELED 5140* (3f15) | Teaching Science in Elementary School |
ELED 5150* (3f15) | Teaching Social Studies in Elementary School |
ELED 5170* (3f10) | Teaching Math in Elementary School |
READ 5280* (4f10) | Teaching Read/LA in Elementary School |
Courses Below Require Completion of All the Master’s Coursework | |
SED 5475 (Variable 6 - 12 hrs) | Cross Categorical Student Teaching |
Program Coursework: Prerequisites | |
SED 5301/4301 Characteristics of Exceptional Children | (3 hrs/*15 hrs of field observation) |
Special Education Course Requirements (34 hrs/f100 hrs) | |
SED 5304/4304 | Speech Language and the Classroom Teacher (3 hrs) |
SED 5476/476 | Characteristics of Learners with Behavioral, Learning and Cognitive Disabilities (4hrs f/15) |
ED 5960 | Fundamentals of Educational Research (3 hrs) |
SED 5477/477 | Characteristics and Instructional Adaptations for Learners with Physical and Health Impairments (3 hrs f/15) |
*SED 5481/481 | Adaptive Skills for Learners with Special Needs (3 hrs) |
*SED 5482/482 | Curricular Adaptations for Learners with Special Needs(3 hrs) |
*SED 5484/484 | Classroom Management of Learners with Special Needs (3 hrs) |
*SED 5487/487 | Assessment, Measurement, & Evaluation of Learners with Special Needs (3hrs) |
*SED 5488/488 | Student Internship (3 hrs f/70 hrs internship experience) |
*SED 5494/5478 & 5489 | Special Education Law, Collaborative, and Professional Conduct (3 hrs) |
*SED 5492/492 | Master’s thesis/Project in Special Education (3 hrs) |
Note: *Courses require admission to the program and College of Education.
A minimum GPA of 3.0 must be maintained in special education with no grades below
a “C”.
Contact:Dr. Florah Luseno, Department Chairperson (773) 995-2086