Special Education (M.Ed.)

Program Overview

The Master of Education 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 Utah professional teaching license in mild/moderate disabilities, grades K-12.

Note: In order to earn the Utah professional teaching license in mild/moderate disabilities, students must already have a current elementary or secondary Utah teaching license OR be enrolled in the APPEL-SPED program through USBE.

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 (5354).

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.