/ MASTER of EDUCATION (M.Ed.) in SPECIAL EDUCATION
(With Certification)*
Cross-Categorical High Incidence Emphasis

Name: SS/EMPLID: Date:

Total Hours ______(31-49 hour minimum) Advisor's Signature:

Department Chair’s Signature (Required if program changes are made):

This plan is appropriate for candidates who are not already certified in special education. A survey or introduction to special education (ESE 548 or an equivalent course) is a prerequisite for this program of study. Candidates in this program of studies are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, and professional knowledge to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements. Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the ESE 426,ESE 625, ESE 650 and ESE 655 classes.

For this M.Ed. Special Education with certification program of studies, students must complete 31–49 units in the following areas, which are divided into three blocks:

Block A - Education Coursework (12 – 18 units unless waived)
The courses in this block are required for those candidates entering the program without a degree or certification in elementary or secondary education. For candidates who have a degree in elementary educationand a Structured English Immersion (SEI) endorsement, these requirements are waived. For candidates who have certification in secondary education, the elementary curriculum and instruction (ECI) block is required, but the educational (EDF) foundations and educational psychology courses (EPS) can be waived.
**EDF 500 and EPS 605 are strongly recommended if you did not complete an undergraduate education degree or certification program. BME courses are required for the Structured English Immersion (SEI) endorsement. Candidates who have full SEI endorsement at admission must provide proof of the full endorsement. If proof of full SEI endorsement is presented at admission, the candidate is not required to take the BME courses as part of their program of study.
Educational Foundation
(3 units, select ONE)
3 EDF 500**Cultural Foundations of Education
3 EDF 670Philosophy of Education
3 EDF 671History of American Education
3 EDF 672Comparative Education
3 EDF 677Education Sociology / AND / Elementary Curriculum (6 units)
3 ECI 573Elementary School Mathematics
3 ECI 531 Foundations of Reading Instruction
Structured English Immersion
(6 units)
3 BME 500 Introduction to Structured English Immersion (or approved equivalent) and
3 BME 631 Structured English Immersion and Sheltered English Content Instruction (or approved equivalent) / AND / Educational Psychology
(3 units, select ONE)
3 EPS 605**Educational Psychology Applied to Learning
3 EPS 610Child Psychology
3 EPS 611Adolescent Psychology
Block B - Required Special Education Certification Courses (31 units):
3 ESE 649 Advanced Foundations-High Incidence Disabilities
3 ESE 625* Advanced Classroom Management Strategies –or –
3 ESE 655* Advanced Assessment of Exceptional Learners
3 ESE 426 Secondary Special Education
3 ESE 650* Methods for High Incidence Disabilities / 2 ESE 608 Fieldwork in Special Education: Cross-categorical (taken with
methods courses: ESE 426 and ESE 650)
3 ESE 698 Graduate Seminar in Special Education
8 ESE 591 (supervised student teaching)
3 electives: ESE 520, ESE 580. ESE 656, or ECI 541

Application to the Teacher Education Program is required. A program of study must accompany the application for admission to the program. All courses must be selected with the written approval of a special education faculty adviser. Deviations from these guidelines for individual candidates must be approved in writing by the adviser on this official form. In addition, you must be admitted to this degree program before finishing your first 12 hours of graduate work.

Please Note: Candidates taking block A must also pass the Arizona Education Proficiency Assessment (professional knowledge and special education focus area), and meet State requirements on Federal and State Constitutional knowledge for Arizona Teacher Certification.

Candidates who want further Special Education preparation may choose to complete additional concentrations or certificates by adding the courses identified below. This is optional, not required. Candidates seeking certificates must apply for the additional certificates. Concentrations do not require application.

High Incidence Cross-categorical Concentration- ESE 460, ESE 580, ESE 656, ESE 660, or ESE 670
Early Childhood Special Education Concentration- ESE 516, ESE 536, ESE 556, and ESE 608
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners Certificate- ESE 520, ESE 601, ESE 602, and ESE 603
Low Incidence Concentration – ESE 634; ESE 585 or DIS 519; ESE 664; ESE 657; DIS 505; and ESE 594