Special Education, Autism Spectrum Disorders Track (Online) MA
Administrative Unit
This degree is administered by the Office of Graduate Studies through the faculty of Special Education, Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education.
Objectives
The Master of Arts in Special Education prepares skilled professionals for careers as special educators in the school setting and other related disability fields. This program does not lead to certification in the state of Texas. Students seeking initial certification in special education will be required to enroll in the fast track program, complete clinical teaching, and may be required to take additional courses, as required by the state of Texas.
Admission Requirements
Regular Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Upper-division GPA of at least 3.0
- Essay that answers the following prompt:
- Describe the professional/teaching experiences and educational background that influenced your decision to pursue a master’s degree in special education. Explain how these factors have prepared you to academically engage in pursuing a master’s degree and a future role in the field. Your response should reflect your area of focus.
- Official transcripts
Conditional Admission Requirements
If you do not meet the GPA requirements for this program, you may qualify for conditional admission with the following requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Upper-division GPA between 2.5 and 3.0
- Essay that answers the following prompt:
- Describe the professional/teaching experiences and educational background that influenced your decision to pursue a master’s degree in special education. Explain how these factors have prepared you to academically engage in pursuing a master’s degree and a future role in the field. Your response should reflect your area of focus.
- Two of the following:
- GRE score of 282 (verbal and quantitative combined)
- Statement related to the circumstances surrounding your lower GPA and why you believe you are ready for this graduate program.
- Two professional letters of recommendation from school administrators who supervised your work in the classroom.
- If you can only secure one from such a person, the second must be a professional letter from someone who can speak to your capacity to become a special education teacher.
- Official transcripts
Autism and Developmental Disabilities (Online)
The Master of Arts in Special Education option in Autism and Developmental Disabilities prepares skilled professionals for careers which focus on autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities. Students seeking initial certification in special education will be required to enroll in the fast track program, complete clinical teaching (100 hours), and may be required to take additional courses, as required by the state of Texas.
Program Requirements
Core Requirements
| EDSP 6353 | Literacy and Language Arts for Diverse Learners | 3 |
Special Education Core Requirements
| EDSP 6339 | Foundations of Special Education | 3 |
| EDSP 6346 | Foundation and Legal Aspects of Special Education | 3 |
| EDSP 6353 | Literacy and Language Arts for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| EDSP 6354 | Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| EDSP 6355 | Consultation and Collaboration | 3 |
Autism Specification
| EDSP 6315 | Parent Involvement in Young Children with ASD | 3 |
| EDSP 6348 | Curriculum and Instruction for Autism Spectrum Disorder | 3 |
| EDSP 6349 | Autism Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| EDSP 6393 | Practicum: Autism/Developmental Disabilities | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 30