M.Ed. Concentration Special Education

College of Education - Department of Education

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a concentration in Special Education prepares teachers to obtain an Initial License as a Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities at Grade PreK-8 or Grades 5-12.

Program Requirements

The Program requires successful completion of twelve (12) courses, in addition to a practicum for those seeking an Initial License as a Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities. A professional portfolio must be completed and presented prior to the required oral comprehensive examination as part of the degree program. The oral comprehensive exam is taken during the student’s final semester of study in the degree program (including practicum) or the semester immediately following the final semester in which all coursework has been completed.

Pre-Concentration Requirement:

• LTRC 907 Literacy Instruction

Education Core Courses (3):

• EDUC 991 Philosophy of Education and Teaching Practice
• EDUC 998 Language Developments and Communication
• EDUC 999 Research and Evaluation (recommended after completion of three Content/Concentration courses)

Concentration Courses (8):

• INST 968 Introduction to Assistive Technology
• LTRC 930 Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners
• SPED 937 Connecting Mathematical Concepts and Teaching
• SPED 942 Development Patterns of Students with Moderate Disabilities
• SPED 956 Curriculum Development and Modification
• SPED 960 Assessment Procedures
• SPED 964 Collaborative Educational Planning
• SPED 973 Behavior and Classroom Management

Practicum (for those seeking Licensure only)

Candidates seeking an Initial license as a Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities at the Grades PreK-8 level must complete a 300-hour practicum. Seventy-five (75) hours of the practicum must be completed in an inclusive, general education setting in grades PreK-8. The remaining 225 hours may be completed in inclusive, general education settings or in separate or substantially separate settings for students with moderate disabilities in grades PreK-8. Upon approval of their practicum application, candidates enroll in:

• SPED 944A Practicum in Moderate Disabilities: Grades PreK-8
• SPED 944B Practicum in Moderate Disabilities: Grades PreK-8

Candidates seeking an Initial license as Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities at the Grades 5-12 level must complete a 300-hour practicum. One hundred-fifty (150) hours of the practicum must be completed in an inclusive, general education setting in grades 5-12. The remaining 150 hours may be completed in inclusive, general education settings or in separate or substantially separate settings for students with moderate disabilities in grades 5-12. Upon approval of their practicum application, candidates enroll in:

• SPED 945A Practicum in Moderate Disabilities: Grades 5-12
• SPED 945B Practicum in Moderate Disabilities: Grades 5-12

Note: The practicum is not required of Candidates who are not seeking licensure.

The practicum is completed with the degree program for candidates seeking their first Initial License. For candidates who hold an Initial or Professional License in another area, the practicum may be completed after the degree in limited situations with the approval of the Program Coordinator.

Guidelines for Practicum in Special Needs

Candidates are expected to secure their own placement site which must be approved by the University. The placement site(s) must meet the practicum criteria for the licensure level the student is seeking. Candidates who need assistance securing a placement site should consult with their program advisor and the program coordinator. Candidates must submit a practicum application at least three (3) months before the semester during which they want to take the practicum.

For a Fall practicum, apply no later than June 1^st.

For a Spring practicum, apply no later than October 15^th.

For a Summer practicum, apply no later than March 1^st.

When the practicum application is approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and the program coordinator, the candidate may register for the appropriate practicum course.

Candidates who are employed in a regular education setting as a general education teacher or as a paraprofessional, even if that setting includes Candidates who receive special education services, are not considered to be in the role of the special education teacher; therefore that position may not be used for the practicum experience.

Candidates may complete some practicum hours in approved public or private day or residential schools for students with moderate disabilities. These settings may not be used for required hours in inclusive, general education classrooms.

Note: Candidates must have completed all concentration courses prior to the practicum semester or be enrolled in the final concentration course concurrently with the practicum course. Candidates may not take more than one course in addition to the practicum during the practicum semester.

Evidence of passing scores on all required MTEL tests must be on file before beginning the practicum. Candidates who have not passed all required MTEL tests prior to the first day of the semester in which they have registered to take the practicum will have to withdraw from the practicum course.

Sheltered English Instruction Endorsement

Candidates seeking the Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 or 5-12) License are required to obtain the Sheltered English Instruction (SEI) endorsement in one of the following ways:

• Complete the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) approved SEI course offered at Framingham State University: 
  • TESL 910 Sheltered English Immersion

• Complete the DESE approved SEI course through your school district (available to district employees).
• Complete the DESE approved SEI course through another licensure program (e.g. candidates who are adding the Moderate Disabilities license completed an approved SEI course as an undergraduate.
• Pass the SEI MTEL test (Available beginning Spring 2016).
• Hold an ESL License (PreK-6 or 5-12).
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in ESL.
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, as determined by the DESE (e.g. Applied Linguistics).

Admission Requirements

1. The applicant must have completed the online graduate admission application
2. The applicant must have submitted the $50.00 application fee
3. The applicant must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
4. The applicant must possess a Massachusetts teaching license  at the Initial level or higher or submit evidence of passing scores in the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) (see information about this below).
5. The applicant must have a minimum undergraduate minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
6. Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation from professors, supervisors, and/or colleagues, submitted with the Framingham State University letter of recommendation form and sent directly to the University by the recommender.
7. Applicants must submit a typed, 300-word personal statement discussing their motivation for seeking a master’s degree in view of prior formal education, current job responsibilities and career plans.
8. Applicants may also be asked to submit additional materials or they may be invited for a personal interview as part of the admission requirements.

Information about the Massachusetts Test for Educator License (MTEL):

For PreK-8 License:

• Communication Literacy Skills Test
• General Curriculum Test (both subsets) or General Curriculum: Multi-Subject and one test in Mathematics (Elementary, Middle School, or High School)

For the Grades 5-12 License:

• Communication and Literacy Skills Test (both subsets)
• General Curriculum Test (both subsets) or One of the following subject matter tests at the 5-8 or 8-12 level (unless otherwise specified): English, History, Mathematics, Middle School Humanities (5-8), Middle School Mathematics/Science (5-8), Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, General Science (5-8), Physics, or Political Science/Political Philosophy.

Applicants who do not hold an initial license and who are undecided about what level of license they wish to pursue or whether or not they will seek licensure should submit the MTEL tests for the PreK-8 licensure level.

^{Effective as of the 2023-2024 Graduate Catalog}