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Associate Dean/Department Chair Nichole Wangsgard – ED 325 – (435) 865-8295	Faculty & Staff
Director of Special Education Jennifer McKenzie – ED 314 – (435) 865-8209	Website
Program Specialist Tamara Lovell – ED 316 – (435) 865-8759

Program Overview

The emphasis in Special Education has been designed to prepare quality, entry-level candidates for teaching students with mild to moderate disabilities in special education programs grades K-12. Students successfully completing the emphasis and M.Ed. requirements will receive a Master of Education and a Level I Utah professional teaching license in mild/moderate disabilities K-12.

Supplemental Admission Requirements

In addition to the minimum requirements, applicants to the program must also submit the following:

• Proof of current Utah level I teaching license or equivalent; and
• Two (2) recommendations from most recent principal and education supervisor (Team Leader, Mentor Teacher, etc.).

Capstone Project Continuance

All core and elective courses must be completed prior to the Capstone Project.

M.Ed. candidates who do not successfully complete the Capstone requirements (thesis) by the end of the semester in which they registered for their Capstone course must continuously enroll in EDUC 6931 - Capstone Master of Education Seminar  (1 Credit) until their Capstone Project has been accepted as complete by program faculty. Candidates should meet with their Thesis Committee Chair for advisement and request to enroll in EDUC 6933 - Capstone Practitioner Research Thesis  for the semester they will defend their thesis project.

Praxis State Licensure Requirement Exam

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) adopted a series of content tests for initial teacher licensure. Candidates seeking to license in Special Education are required to take the Special Education Knowledge-Based Core Principles test.

Program Information

• Graduate students must complete their program within six (6) years of matriculation.
• All required courses must be passed with a “B” (3.0) or better to be counted in the degree. If a student earns a “B-” (2.7) or below in a course, the course must be retaken. NO OTHER courses may be taken (even concurrently) until the grade has been raised to the minimum “B.” Failure to raise the grade in two (2) subsequent attempts will result in the student being dropped from the program. Students dropped from the program may apply for readmission after a period of five (5) years has passed.
• Graduate students must earn a 3.0 GPA each semester. If the overall GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on probation for one (1) semester. At the end of the probationary semester, if the GPA is not at or above 3.0, the student will be dropped from the program.

Program Requirements