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Master of Education in Special Education
M.Ed. in Special Education is a versatile graduate degree offered in the Department of Educator and Leadership Preparation, College of Education and Human Development, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, a proud Hispanic- serving and military-serving institution! The goal of the program is for graduates to develop the skills to engage in serving and advocating for children with special needs and their families at school, district, local, and national levels.
Why Apply?
The special education professional will be afforded various opportunities to work with students, their families, other professionals, and the community to enable students with special needs become productive members of the society. Therefore, the M. Ed. Is Special Education program focuses on developing knowledge and skills of future both certified and non-certified professionals who work with a diverse exceptional student population. In addition, the program offers students an opportunity to pursue teacher certification along with a graduate degree.
- Provide students with a comprehensive education in relation of serving students with special needs from infancy to adulthood;
- Offers students a broad understanding within the theoretical and practical constructs which support practices for children and youth with special needs that are socially, culturally, and individually appropriate;
- Offers opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience with potential future employers as they complete internships, practical, student teaching, and a variety of field experiences;
- Emphasizes the practical application of knowledge gained while encouraging current research analysis.
How to Apply:
Complete the online application for admission for Texas A&M University-San Antonio through GradCAS.
Program Details
The Master of Education in Special Education requires a minimum of thirty hours of graduate coursework. The degree affords the student a choice of three specialization areas: " certificate only” plan is also available for professional educators who have a Master’s Degree in special education or a closely related field and wish to seek TEA certification as an Educational Diagnostician. The capstone experience for the Master of Education in Special Education is the completion of one of two options:
1. a Graduate Research Project in their EDSE 5301 Research in Spec Education course, OR
2. Thesis (which is an additional 6-hour requirement).
Additional coursework may be required depending on the option selected. All students, regardless of the capstone experience option chosen, will develop an e-portfolio that documents content proficiency. Candidates seeking certification as an Educational Diagnostician must request an application from the Educator Preparation Program during their first semester of graduate studies.
Prerequisites
Students who apply to the Masters of Education in Special Education program should have a broad base in one or more of the following areas:
1. Special Education
2. Education
3. Child Growth and Development
4. Curriculum and Instruction
Course Load
Normal course loads consist of 6-9 hours per semester with a minimum grade of “B” required for all courses. Only grades of “A” or “B” will be accepted toward this degree. Candidates for the Master of Education degree in Special Education must earn a minimum of 30 semester credit hours and maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Students must submit a comprehensive portfolio that follows the given template during the semester of the completion of coursework, as part of the requirements for graduation with the Master of Education degree in Special Education.
Career Outcomes
The demand for graduates in special education is high due to the increased population of diverse learners in the United States. Institutions employing graduates include PK-12 educational settings, non-profit and/ or educational agencies, and higher education institutions. The program is also committed to preparing teachers to work in a wide variety of special education, general education, and inclusive settings.
Graduate Advisor by Specialization/Track:
Assessment Focus
Dr. Mariya Davis
mdavis@tamusa.edu
210 784-2517
Dr. Eric Lopez
elopez@tamusa.edu
210-784-2539
Click here to review the Educational Diagnostician Program Handbook.
Click here to go to the Educator CAFE website.
Autism/Behavior Disorder
Dr. Sarah Flotte
skatz@tamusa.edu
210-784-2604
Dr. Gavin Watts
gwatts@tamusa.edu
210 784-2287
Instructional Specialist
Dr. Theresa Garfield
tdorel@tamusa.edu
210 784-2552
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What specialization areas are available for the M.Ed. in Special Education?
The Special Education program offers students a choice of three specialization areas:
- Assessment (Educational Diagnostician Certification)
- Autism/Emotional-Behavioral Disorders
- Instructional Specialist (Learning Disabilities Interventionist)
Q2: What is unique about your graduate program?
M. Ed. in Special Education is a versatile graduate degree that:provides students with a comprehensive education in relation to serving students with special needs from infancy to adulthood;offers students a broad understanding within the theoretical and practical constructs which support practices for children and youth with special needs that are socially, culturally, and individually appropriate;offers opportunities for action research in classroom settings; and emphasizes practical application of knowledge gained while encouraging current research analysis.
The special education professional will be afforded various opportunities to work with students, their families, other professionals, and the community to enable students with special needs become productive members of the society. Additionally, students within the graduate program take advantage of a wide range of research opportunities, allowing them to work closely with faculty on special education initiatives that directly impact the field. Therefore, the Special Education program focuses on developing knowledge and skills of future both certified and non-certified professionals who work with diverse exceptional student populations. In addition, the program offers students an opportunity to pursue teacher certification along with a graduate degree. The program continually produces some of the most qualified educators and leaders in our field.
Q3: Do you offer scholarships and/or assistantships for your graduate students?
Graduate scholarships are available through the College of Education and Human Development. Candidates are required to submit an application to be considered. A limited number of graduate assistantships are offered each year.
Q4: What resources are available for graduate students?
TAMUSA provides students with writing center support, individualized tutoring, test/exam reviews, among other resources. Additionally, courses are provided in mix of face-to-face (i.e., classroom), hybrid, and online learning environments, as well as opportunities to work hands-on with faculty members in research settings.
Q5: What is the TExES EC-12 Special Education certification exam pass rate by A&M San Antonio special education program graduates?
TAMUSAs Special Education department has produced graduates that have completed the TEA exam with a 100% pass-rate over the past 8 years.
Q6: Is there a final exam, thesis/dissertation, or final research project for the program?
Currently, graduating candidates are responsible for completing a comprehensive portfolio as part of their graduation requirement. This portfolio is comprised of learning projects/activities/reflections completed throughout their coursework. Additionally, there is a graduate research paper that is a culminating requirement for EDSE 5301.
Q7: What is the cost for the program?
The cost of attending and completing the Special Education M.Ed. program at TAMUSA is less than most other universities in Texas, providing students the greatest value in San Antonio and the greater Texas-area. While keeping the costs to students low, TAMUSA remains focused on developing the highest-quality special education leaders in the state.
Q8: What is the faculty’s selection criteria in making decisions about admitting students into the program?
During the interview, the following items are taken into consideration:
- Teaching/Service Record
- Skills/Experiences
- Ethics
- Communication skills
- Motivation/Vision