Special Education (MED/MS)

Practicum must be done in a school setting. The TEA requirement is 160 hours with 1/3 of those being direct service hours. Practicum is typically completed in your last semester (fall or spring) and you take your TExES 153 during your practicum semester. Most students complete Practicum while working full-time.

Yes, SPED 572 is a prerequisite for SPED 573 and 574.

Once our department receives your complete file from the Graduate School, the faculty will review it and make a determination regarding whether to move forward to the interview process. If so, you will be contacted to schedule the interview.

If you hold a Master’s Degree and have completed two years of teaching, you may decide to go Educational Diagnostician-Certification Only. This plan is 6 classes plus a practicum (21 hours), and you do not take the Comprehensive Exam or complete a thesis. If this is what you choose, you will apply through the Center for Educator Certification and Academic Services.

As part of the application packet, you will need to include:

• Texas Teacher Certificate
• Teacher Service Record
• One (1) letter of recommendation

• Dated within two (2) years of application
• Written by individual who is knowledgeable about applicant’s functioning in school setting
• Focuses on candidate’s interest and projected success in educational diagnostician program
• Graduate transcript(s) verifying the conferring of a Master’s degree, including GPA
• GRE scores as available (not required)
• $50.00 non-refundable processing fee

For either degree-seeking applicants or those for certification only, we have rolling admissions, which means you can apply anytime. We typically hold interviews once a month via Zoom. If you don’t get scheduled for the month you apply, you will be interviewed the following month.

To apply to the program (degree-seeking; can apply without an existing mater’s or two years of teaching), you will need to apply formally through the Graduate School.

As part of the application packet, you will need to include:

• 3 letters of recommendation (current and preferably from professionals, not friends; signed and on letterhead)
• a writing sample giving your goals statement (why you are applying to our program and your future goals)
• all college transcripts
• GRE examination results (the printout provided by the testing company) ONLY if your undergraduate GPA is less than a 3.25
• a copy of your teaching certificate (educational diagnostician applicants only)
• any language equivalency test results
• Attend face to face interview, if invited

When our Department receives communication from the Graduate School that your complete application has been received, your file will be dispersed to the special education faculty. They will then independently review your file and submit a vote on whether to move to the interview process. If an interview is recommended, I will be in contact with you to set it up.

• Master of Special Education (36 hours)
• Master of Special Education (Educational Diagnostician) (39 hours for non-thesis/42 hours thesis;
  • Candidates that already hold a master’s can apply for Educational Diagnostician certification only—18 hours plus a practicum)
• Post-baccalaureate with initial certification (36 hours)
• A minor in Special Education (12 hours).

All degree plans have a thesis or non-thesis option (thesis does not apply to certification only).

Class offerings are primarily online. However, that the assessment courses (SPED 573 and 574) on the educational diagnostician track will remain face-to-face, but they will be offered in a block in the summer to accommodate teachers.

Find more information on available degree plans and required coursework on the catalog.