Graduate Programs
Special Education Master's Program (M.Ed.)
The Master of Education in Special Education is an applied professional program designed to meet urgent
needs of the educational community. Housed in the College of Education,
the program prepares special education professionals in one of two
tracks: Special Education Certification or Special Education Teacher
as Leader with focus areas in inclusion, technology or transition
to adulthood.
The degree program is for professionally certified teachers seeking
an advanced degree and the professional skills to meet the educational
needs of students with disabilities.
The Special Education Certification Track provides the skill development
and knowledge base established by the Council for Exceptional
Children's Standards for Beginning Special Educators and
will meet the requirements for the Maryland State Department of
Education's Special Education Generic Certification at either
infant/primary (birth-grade 3), elementary/middle (grades 1-8),
or secondary/adult (grades 6-12+) levels. The program emphasizes
the following themes: collaboration and consultation, translation
of effective instruction, assessment, management research into practice, and cross categorical rather than disability specific approaches.
The Special Education Teacher as Leader Track is based on standards
which combine the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
and Maryland State Department of Education goals for advanced professional
teacher education. The program satisfies 12 of the 18 units for
the Maryland Administrator I Certificate. The Teacher as Leader
Track will include the following themes: administration and supervision,
curriculum development, research and legal issues. In addition,
students will select an area of focus for further study in inclusion,
technology, or transition to adulthood.
The Inclusion Focus prepares special education leaders with skills
for positions involving staff development in instructional and management strategies, supervision and administration of inclusive
programs and curriculum design. The Technology Focus prepares special
education leaders with skills in computer technology and utilization,
alternative communication, assistive technology and Web-based
instruction. The Transition to Adulthood Focus prepares secondary
special education leaders with skills in career development, student-centered planning and interagency collaboration for youth
with disabilities. Students have the option of electing either a
thesis or graduate project.
A majority of the graduate students in the Special Education program
are full-time working professionals taking classes in the afternoon
or evenings. Professionals seeking to advance or change careers
comprise a substantial portion of the student population in the
Special Education program including those who intend to become special
education teachers, leaders and specialists in inclusion, technology
or transition to adulthood.
College of Graduate
Studies and Research
7800 York Road, Suite 216
Phone: 410-704-2501
Fax: 410-704-4675
E-mail: grads@towson.edu
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