This program culminates in a Master’s degree and certification in Special Education and Elementary Education. The program provides students with a comprehensive repertoire of teaching strategies to prepare them to teach diverse learners. Emphasis is placed on developing students’ skills in differentiated instruction, curriculum modifications, positive behavior supports, collaboration, assistive technology, and literacy instruction.
The 39-credit master’s program consists of:
Typical Course Sequence (39 credits)
- SPED 501 Students with Disabilities in Our Schools
- EPSY 523 Advanced Child Growth and Adolescent Development
- SPED 691 Internship I: Seminar and Field Experience
- RDLG 579 Content Area Literacy
- SPED 612 Curriculum and Methods for Students w/Mild Disabilities
- ELEM 522 Methods for Teaching Science and Math in the Inclusive Classroom
- SPED 605 Language and Reading Strategies for Students with Disabilities
- SPED 626 Teaching Students with Severe Disabilities
- EDUC 513 Collaboration, Consultation, and Partnerships
- SPED 521 Assistive Technology
- EDUC 615 Capstone Experience: The Teaching Professional
- EDUC 614 Creating and Sustaining Classroom Communities
- SPED 695 Internship II
- SPED 700 Comprehensive Examination
Internship 1 (First Field Experience)
EDUC 694 is for full-time students and students currently not working in a school setting.
Students registered for EDUC 694 should expect to be in the field for several half days/week and then, towards the end of the semester, for five full days. A seminar also meets every week in conjunction with this course. Instructors for EDUC 694 will arrange for the field placement, so students registered for it are not required to submit a STEP application.
SPED 691 is for students who are currently working in a school setting.
This internship enables students working in an instructional setting to complete this internship “on the job.” To register for SPED 691, the placement has to meet certain criteria:
- The setting has to be a school, not a hospital or an outpatient program.
- The setting has to be an elementary school: K through 5
- The school should have students with disabilities as a part of the setting.
- The school should be willing to assign a mentor who can observe the graduate student and provide feedback on teaching.
- The school should provide opportunities for students to plan and execute small-group and large-group lessons.
All students applying for SPED 691 must complete the STEP application. It is offered in the Fall and Summer semesters ONLY.
Internship II (Student Teaching)
SPED 695 is for all students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching program.
This is a full-time, full-semester experience for which students design and execute lessons for various subject areas. It also requires that students eventually take over all of the instruction and planning for the class.
- Because this program culminates in elementary and special education certification, Internship II must be completed in an inclusive elementary setting.
- Students must complete all other coursework before enrolling in Internship II. In some cases, students might be allowed to take one additional course along with student teaching.
- If students are employed as aides in a special education class and wish to complete student teaching in the building in which they work, they need to first discuss their plans with the school district’s administration. The job responsibilities of a teaching assistant may conflict with the student teaching responsibilities. Students must discuss each situation with the district to ensure they permit students to complete student teaching. Some students have resolved this by taking a leave of absence from their jobs.
Applying for Student Teaching
To apply for student teaching, students must complete an application through the STEP office and provide supporting documents. Refer to the STEP application process for details.
Assignments to Be Completed During Student Teaching
The State of New Jersey has enacted new regulations that will impact a teacher candidate’s eligibility for New Jersey State certifications. All teacher candidates applying for initial certification after September 1, 2017, must take the EdTPA. This will apply to students enrolled in SPED 695 in fall 2017. The EdTPA is a new student-teacher performance assessment developed by the Stanford Center for Assessment Learning and Equity (SCALE). It has been piloted in 30 states. Passing scores on the EdTPA will be required by the State of New Jersey for a candidate to be deemed eligible for initial teaching certification (NJ has not yet announced the passing score it will use). Your seminar instructor and supervisors will provide more detailed information on the EdTPA.
Praxis Exam Information
All students enrolled in this program are required to take the Elementary Education Multiple Subjects Praxis Exam. It is recommended that the exam be taken in the middle or towards the end of the program, often the summer before student teaching. See important praxis updates.
Comprehensive Exams
The MAT program includes a comprehensive exam. The course prefix is SPED 700.
» Visit the Comprehensive Exams page
Applying for Graduation
You must apply for graduation and submit the Conferment of Degree form. There are three graduation times each school year: May, August and December. May applications are due in January, August applications are due in February and December applications are due in September. The graduation application fee is $75.00. Students who apply after the application deadline will be charged a $35.00 late fee.
Certification Requirements for Instructional Certificates
Visit Certification for details on certification requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
When I graduate, what will I be qualified to teach?
Special education P-5 and middle school, elementary education K-5, high school in-class support, and grades 6-12 after certification testing in a specific content area.
What is the job market like for special education teachers?
Highly qualified Teachers of Students with Disabilities are in high demand. The department boasts a 100% placement rate for those seeking employment in special education.
What is your average class size?
22 students.
Who should apply?
Students with a bachelor’s degree and an interest in teaching Special education P-5 and middle school, elementary education K-5, high school in-class support, and/or grades 6-12 after certification testing in a specific content area.
When will I have experience in the classroom?
Early in your program, you will enroll in Internship 1, a part-time field experience with seminars. In your last semester, you will complete SPED 695/Internship 2, a full-time, full-semester experience under the supervision of a cooperating teacher and a college supervisor.