Exceptional Student Education, M.A.
The M.A. in Exceptional Student Education is a comprehensive program. There is a critical shortage of certified teachers, administrators, related professionals, and specialists in many areas of exceptional student education, and teacher education students may be eligible for the Critical Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness Program and/or the Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program.
The comprehensive master’s degree program in Exceptional Student Education is an NCATE accredited program but is not an approved initial certification program. While students may use the course work completed to apply for initial teacher certification, students who are seeking certification are responsible for referring to the appropriate school district or state Department of Education to determine specific requirements for teacher certification. This program is designed to develop master teachers who will be prepared for instructional and leadership roles in special education.
Students will be assigned a faculty mentor who will provide career advice and advisement concerning professional issues. Students in this master’s degree program must complete a 21-semester-hour core, which includes a twelve-semester-hour School of Education core and a nine-semester-hour Educational Investigative Sequence as shown below.
School of Education Core (12 sh) |
EDF 6691 |
Issues in Teacher Education: A Bio-Psycho-Social Understanding |
3 |
EEX 6051 |
Exceptionalities |
3 |
EEX 6225 |
Assessment of Exceptional Children |
3 |
EEX 6222 |
Practical Applications and Issues in Classroom Management |
3 |
Educational Investigative Strategies Sequence (9 sh) |
EDG 5366 |
Investigative Strategies & Empirical Foundations in Learning & Development |
3 |
EEX 6945 |
Research Practicum |
3 |
EEX 6340 |
Action Research |
3 |
Students must also complete a cognate program of study of at least 15 semester hours. The pre-approved cognate area options are the following:
Special Education Cognate
15 Semester Hours |
EEX 6035 |
Foundations of Exceptional Student Education |
3 |
EEX 5085 |
Integrating Curriculum & Instruction |
3 |
EEX 6612 |
Behavior Management |
3 |
EEX 5283 |
Employment, Social, and Personal Skill Building for Exceptional Students |
3 |
Advisor-approved Elective |
3 |
Applied Behavior Analysis* Cognate
15 Semester Hours |
EDF 6225 |
Foundations of Applied Behavior Analysis in Education |
3 |
EDF 6226 |
Behavioral Assessments, Interventions, and Outcomes in Education |
3 |
EDF 6223 |
Positive Behavioral Change and System Support in Educational Settings |
3 |
EDF 7437 |
Measurement and Single Case Design |
3 |
EDF 7944 |
Advanced Single Case Design in Applied Settings |
3 |
EDF 6943 |
Supervised Experience in Single Case Design (optional) |
3 |
For more information about the Applied Behavior Analysis Cognate
PreK Disabilities
15 semester hours |
EEX 6205 |
Typical and Atypical Development (Birth-5) |
3 |
EEX 6707 |
Assessment for Early Intervention for PreK Disabilities |
3 |
EEX 6455 |
Program Development for PreK Disabilities |
3 |
EEX 6732 |
Parent-Teacher Team and Agencies for PreK Disabilities |
3 |
EEC 6263 |
Integrated Curriculum and Instruction/Early Childhood Development |
3 |
Exceptional and Alternative Educational Studies Cognate
15 Semester Hours |
EEX 6035 |
Foundations of Exceptional Student Education |
3 |
EEX 5085 |
Integrating Curriculum & Instruction |
3 |
EEX 6612 |
Behavior Management |
3 |
EEX 5283 |
Employment, Social, and Personal Skill Building for Exceptional Students |
3 |
Advisor-approved Elective |
3 |
For more information about the Exceptional and Alternative Educational Studies Cognate
For more specific requirements, visit the Online UWF Catalog.
Academic Learning Plan |
