Pennsylvania Special Education Certification Option

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Dr. Suzanne Murray Galella, Program Coordinator

The Master of Science in Education with a Special Education Certification option provides students with an in-depth understanding of teaching students with exceptionalities across multiple settings and service models. The program requires students to complete field hours within school settings serving students with exceptionalities across all IDEA disability categories. Students have the choice of completing the full degree with certification or simply the certification program track. The Master of Science program with Special Education Certification is designed to prepare individuals for PA Certification in Special Education. To be eligible for admission into the program, applicants must possess a previously earned Pennsylvania instructional certificate in one of the areas below and present a copy of the certificate during the admissions process. An applicant who is certified in another state may contact the Pennsylvania department of education (PDE) at www.pde.psu.edu to apply for PA certification, prior to admission to Wilkes University.

Credits Required for Program Completion: PK-12 Special Education Certification Only: 30 Credits

All students will apply to the ‘degree seeking’ program, but will notify the program coordinator if ONLY seeking certification. Courses designated with * are the required courses for state certification

Master’s Degree with PK 12 Special Education Certification: 39 Credits

*If seeking the Master’s Degree with Certification EDAM 5066, ESL 504 , and ED 569 have to be taken through Wilkes and/or transferred into your program as approved graduate course(s) from another accredited college/university*

PREREQUISITE COURSES: 9 Credits: Prerequisite courses or their equivalents may be completed at the undergraduate(for those only seeking certification) or graduate level, online or face-to-face. Candidates may receive credit for the certification competencies completed through previous program coursework. Prerequisite courses can be completed at any time prior to applying to the state for special education certification.

Completion of this graduate program:

Offers graduates specialization to work with students in the field of Special Education
Distinguishes graduates from colleagues in the field of education
Adds a Special Education to a student’s existing PA State Certification

Program Learning Outcomes:

Students will develop the knowledge, skills, and scholarship relevant to highly qualified special education teachers.
Students will be able to identify fundamental characteristics of learners with cognitive, behavioral, emotional, social, physical, and health disabilities.
Students will be able to create and analyze learning expectations based on available data and multifaceted evaluations of student(s) with special needs
Students will be able to evaluate and apply research and evidence based instructional methods and strategies with students during field-based experiences.

Program Requirements

Courses designated with * are required for state certification

Prerequisite Courses: 9 Credits:

Prerequisite courses or their equivalents may be completed at the undergraduate (for those only seeking certification) or graduate level, online. Candidates may receive credit for the certification competencies completed through previous program coursework. Prerequisite courses can be completed at any time prior to applying to the state for special education certification.

Core Courses: 12 Credits

Special Education Courses: 15 Credits

(Act 34, 151, and 114 clearances are required for field experiences)

Special Ed Internship: 3 Credits

Must be taken as the final EDSP course or in conjunction with the final EDSP course. Advisor must give permission to register for the internship.

EDSP 506 - Internship in Special Education *

Additional Information:

There is no set order for how students have to take these courses, but it is important to note that EDSP 506 - Internship in Special Education cannot be scheduled until the student successfully completes EDSP 501 through EDSP 505 and contacts their advisor to be registered for this course.

NOTE:

Student enrollments will dictate whether courses are offered each semester. If the minimum enrollment is not met in a course, the course will be withdrawn from the schedule.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires candidates to pass tests specific to their intended certification area. Current students should consult their advisor for certification tests required.