Master of Education in Special Education

The Master of Education in Special Education degree is a 30-hour course sequence that prepares the master's level student with, knowledge, understanding, and abilities in the field of special education, EC-12, with the option to focus on professional and resource areas such as Curriculum and Instruction, Leadership, Higher Education, or Special Needs Ministry. The MED in Special Education program provides the framework for effective communication and partnership, personnel management, administrative oversight, assessment, instruction, and compliance with federal and state regulations.

The 30-hour, non-thesis general Special Education program consists of 15 hours of special education academic specialization, 9 hours in the professional area, and 6 hours in the resource area. The 30-hour Master’s in Special Education provides students a unique opportunity to design and align their course of study within their unique career path. 

The 30-hour Master's in Special Education degree does not award the Texas EC-12 Teaching Certificate.

ADMISSION

There are no additional requirements other than those required for admission to the graduate program at DBU.

ADMISSION TO THE GRADUATE EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM FOR THOSE STUDENTS SEEKING TEXAS EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN CERTIFICATION

The College of Education graduate program directors provide guidance and support in areas such as advising, registration, monitoring your program, and offering support in your spiritual, academic, and professional walk.

Once admitted to the University, students seeking Texas certification need to complete the criteria to become officially accepted and admitted to the Dorothy M. Bush College of Education Educator Preparation Program (EPP). Prior to applying to the Educator Preparation Program, a degree plan must be selected by the candidate and a College of Education program director/advisor. The College of Education faculty and staff are dedicated to helping you achieve academic success and assisting you in achieving your educational goals.

Graduate candidates wishing to officially enter the Educator Preparation Program should review and comply with the requirements by the end of their first semester.

The GRE or MAT may be waived if a candidate maintains an A- or better during the first 12 hours of the program. If you have already taken the GRE or MAT, please submit the official scores to the graduate office at graduate@dbu.edu.

• Grade Point Average of 3.0 and a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average at the time of application to the program

• Teacher Service Record submitted if applicable (Blackboard submission)

• Completion of the admission interview with the Graduate EPP Committee.

• DBU admission letter signed and submitted

• Signed and submitted both FERPA forms. (Blackboard submission)

• Signed and submitted the Educator Code of Ethics. (Blackboard submission)

• Signed and submitted Notice of Requirements (Blackboard submission)

• Acknowledgment of Graduate Handbook (blackboard submission)

• Required Texas Education Agency Training

• Upon receipt of a letter of admission to the Educator Preparation Program, candidate must provide a written response acknowledging the acceptance of admittance to the program.

Other Requirements

• The 3.0 GPA criteria must be maintained to remain in the program.

• Candidates admitted to the Graduate Educator Preparation Program are required to upload the documents listed above

REQUISITES 

Entrance requirements for graduate programs in the College of Education must be met, including having at least two years of credible teaching experience, three years for the Educational Diagnostician Certificate, in an EC-12 public or private school by the time the candidate has completed the necessary coursework and is ready to take the appropriate certification examinations. A copy of the teacher candidate’s service record will be required to substantiate the teaching experience requirement prior to recommending the teacher candidate to register for the state certification examinations.

PROGRAM CONTINUANCE

Continuance in the program past the first 12 hours is pending submission of a satisfactory score on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE®).

A waiver of the GRE or MAT requirement may be considered if the student meets one of the following conditions:

• earns an “A-“ or higher in each of the first four courses (12 hours) of graduate coursework in the DBU College of Education, or

• holds a Bachelor’s degree from the DBU College of Education earned within the past five years with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, or

• holds a Master’s degree from DBU.

(S-L)=Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.

Refer to individual course descriptions for course requisites.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Find course descriptions by category under the Graduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.