Mar 28, 2024  
2005-2006 School of Graduate and Professional Studies Catalog 
    
2005-2006 School of Graduate and Professional Studies Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Special Needs - Professional Licensure


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Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) & (5-12)

This program satisfies the requirements for the Appropriate Masters Degree in Moderate Disabilities and prepares special needs teachers who already possess an initial license in the field with a program of study that prepares them to be eligible for professional licensure in the state of Massachusetts at both the Prek-8 and 5-12 levels. The appropriate Master Degree focuses on:

  • The study of advanced level subject matter and teaching methods focused on the assessment and support of the students with moderate disabilities; and
  • An in-depth examination of research methods, policy analysis, leadership, the social history of American education, and the foundations of student aspirations. Preparing practicing teachers to build a deeper understanding of the field in which they teach, the appropriate Master also build a deeper understanding of the field in which they teach, the appropriate Master also provides educators with the opportunity to better understand the trends in twenty-first century American education that impact their students, schools, and lives as teachers.

The content covered in the following History (HST 531), Mathematics (MTH 579), and Science (SCN 571) have been designed to delineate PreK-8 and 5-12 grade levels.

Pre-requisite: Possession of an Initial Licensure in Moderate Disabilities for the appropriate grade level (Prek-8 or 5-12)

General Information Special Needs (Pre-K-8, 5-12)


The program in Special Needs prepares professionals to work with children with moderate disabilities at the Pre-K and 5-12 levels who participate in integrated or self contained classrooms. These Programs Lead to Initial and Professional Licensure in Moderate Disabilities (Pre-K-8, 5-12).  The programs meet the following common core objectives by:

  • Providing students with a view of cognitive development of children and adolescents, learning theory for all learners, the philosophical implications for the regular education integration model (REI), and the utilization of behavioral management principles.
  • Making students aware of educational terminology for students with mild to moderate disabilities and knowledge of services provided by other agencies.
  • Providing opportunities for identification and remediation of various mild to moderate disability conditions.
  • Providing experiences in the field to enhance observational skills and an awareness of curriculum adaptation.
  • Providing opportunities to develop assessment skills and in particular, reporting, informal information: sensory motor checklists, pre-school screening, receptive and expressive language development.
  • Providing opportunities to develop experience to adapt curriculum goals, create materials, select technologically appropriate tools and prepare, implement, and evaluate individual education programs (IEPs).
  • Providing opportunities to integrate and federal regulations pertaining to special education.
  • Providing experiences for students to view the role of families and the community-at-large in dealing with various mild to moderate disabilities conditions of all learners.

The distinction between the different grade level licensures (i.e., Pre-K-8 and 5-12) lies in:

  • The entrance requirements (e.g., prior course work and provisional licensure);
  • The number of clock hours and the grade level for the practicum experience; and
  • Assignments within courses that address the grade level at which the student is pursuing licensure.

Specific Admission Requirements


  • application form and fee;
  • statement of professional goals;
  • official transcripts of all academic work (at a minimum a Bachelor’s degree);
  • two letters of recommendation;
  • a copy of a Massachusetts Initial License in Moderate Disabilities for the appropriate grade level; and
  • official score on the Miller’s Analogy or the GRE

Comprehensive Examination


Total Degree Requirements - Credits: 36


Completion of the Program


To successfully exit from the appropriate Master Degree program, students must successfully complete all of the required curses and, where relevant, the required field work and the comprehensive examination.

Eligibility for Professional License


According to DOE regulations, a Professional License is granted to individuals who posses an initial license, have completed an appropriate Master degree in an education school, have completed a one-year induction program with a mentor, and have completed at least three years of employment in the role of license. Students completing the master’s degree who have not met the other requirements for the Professional license, Including a one year induction program with a mentor, and at least three years of employment in the role of license, i.e., moderate disabilities for PreK-8 or 5-12, will be advised to apply for the Professional License when they have met these requirements. Students who have me the induction and employment requirements will be advised to apply for their professional license with the Department of Education after completion of the program.

Other Options for Obtaining Professional Licensure in Moderate Disibilities


Please also refer to the program of study for Master of Education in Initial Licensure in Reading & Literacy as another option for obtaining professional licensure in Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8, 5-12).

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