Special Education, Early Childhood Concentration, M.Ed.

Robyn Ridgley, Program Director
(615) 898-5526
robyn.ridgley@mtsu.edu

The Department of Elementary and Special Education offers the Master of Education degree with a major in Special Education and concentrations in Early Childhood, Mildly/Moderately Disabled Students, and Severely/Profoundly Disabled Students.

Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must have an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher (on a 4.00 scale) to be considered for unconditional admission. Applicants who attended graduate school at another institution must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on all graduate work and a minimum of 2.75 on all undergraduate work to be considered for unconditional admission. International students on an F1 visa must meet requirements for unconditional admission.

Applicants must take the GRE or MAT and receive a satisfactory score. If seeking the add-on early childhood special education (preK-3) teaching license, applicants must have an initial teaching license in special education, early childhood education, or elementary education. If not seeking an add-on or other teaching license, applicants may have undergraduate degrees in child development and family studies, family relations, communication disorders, or speech/language pathology.

Application Procedures

All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.

Applicant must submit

an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php);
official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT);
official transcripts of all previous college work;
a written summary of goals and purpose for enrolling in the program;
a copy of current teaching license if seeking add-on endorsement.

Degree Requirements

The major in Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood requires completion of a minimum of 33 semester hours.

Curriculum: Early Childhood

The following illustrates the minimum coursework requirements.

Required Courses (30 hours)

ECE 6320 - Advanced Strategies for Assessment and Data Analysis with Young Children 3 credit hours
ECE 6350 - Supporting Families of Young Children 3 credit hours
FOED 6610 - Analysis and Application of Educational Research 3 credit hours
READ 6760 - Early Literacy 3 credit hours
SPED 5240 - Methods and Techniques of Behavior Management 3 credit hours OR
SPED 5300 - Advanced Applied Behavioral Interventions and Supports 3 credit hours
SPED 6720 - Promoting Family-Professional Partnerships in Special Education 3 credit hours
SPED 6900 - Characteristics of Young Children with Disabilities 3 credit hours
SPED 6920 - Field Work in Early Childhood Special Education (School Settings) 3 credit hours
SPED 6930 - Instructional Strategies for Supporting Young Children with Disabilities 3 credit hours
SPED 6950 - Field Work in Home and Community-Based Settings 3 credit hours

Restricted Elective (3 hours)

Choose one course from the following:

SPED 5280 - Assistive Technology in Special Education 3 credit hours
SPED 6020 - Overview of Special Education 3 credit hours
SPED 6100 - Differentiation and Literacy: Teaching Corrective Reading and Writing 3 credit hours
SPED 6600 - Advanced Math Strategies for High Incidence Disabilities 3 credit hours
SPED 6700 - Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders 3 credit hours
SPED 6780 - School Law and Policy: Special Education Issues 3 credit hours

Program Notes

Candidate must

file a degree plan in the College of Graduate Studies prior to completion of 21 semester hours credit;
file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the term in which the student intends to graduate.