Advanced Special Education (MSEd) (Professional)
Department Chair:
The online, asynchronous Advanced Special Education Master of Science in Education program at Canisius leads to leads to professional certification in Students with Disabilities. This program is designed for candidates who have completed the requirements for Initial Students with Disabilities certification in grades 1-6; 7-12, or All Grades certification, and wish to continue at the graduate level to pursue professional certification in this area, expand their knowledge and expertise in teaching students with mild to severe disabilities and become highly skilled professionals and leaders in the area of special education.
Candidates interested in extending their certification to additional grade levels should consult their academic advisor.
Licensure Disclosure
Before enrolling in any academic degree or certificate program with the intent to seek a professional license or certification in your state, it is vital that you determine whether the academic program will support or fulfill requirements for that license or certification. We advise you to contact the relevant licensing board in states where programs may not automatically meet licensing criteria on their own to determine what other requirements may be needed for professional licensure or certification if you are or will be residing outside New York State. Consult our Professional Licensure Disclosure website for specific information about your intended program.
Grade Requirements
Graduate students seeking endorsement from Canisius University for certification must achieve a B- or above in all program coursework and a 3.0 or above overall GPA. Failure to meet this requirement will require repeating the course and/or completing additional coursework.
Curriculum
Required Courses for MSEd in Special Education (Advanced)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPE 639 | Therapeutic Approaches for Disruptive Behavior | 3 |
| SPE 644 | Collaborative Practices on a Transdisciplinary Team | 3 |
| SPE 556 | Assessment for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| SPE 649 | Transition for Adolescents with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPE 650 | Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Etiology & Educational Needs | 3 |
| SPE 653 | Behavior Management and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDU 615 | Research Methods | 3 |
| SPE 690 | Advanced Seminar in Special Education | 3 |
| Education Elective | 3 | |
| Education Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Early Childhood
If candidates already hold childhood certification (Gr. 1-6) they may desire to use their electives to extend their certification to include Birth to Grade 2 (Early Childhood Education) by taking two classes. Candidates should consult their academic adviser for options.
Middle Childhood
Candidates wishing to obtain an extension to teach grades 7-9 (thus enabling candidates to teach in their 18 credit subject area only) must add a middle childhood extension. Consult your advisor to determine if this is possible based on an undergraduate degree audit. The two courses required by Canisius to endorse candidates for this certification are available in consultations with faculty advisors.
Roadmap
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer |
| SPE 653 | SPE 649 | ELECTIVE |
| SPE 644 | SPE 639 | ELECTIVE |
| SPE 690 | SPE 650 | EDU 615 |
| SPE 556 (or Elective) | ||
Students may begin the program in any semester; however, courses are typically offered only once per year. Students who wish to complete the program in one calendar year may do so by following a Summer I, Fall, Spring and Summer II sequence. An alternate option would be to two courses during the fall and spring semesters and complete the program in approximately two years.
Graduate students should keep in mind that they must be enrolled in at least 4.5 credits per semester to be eligible for financial aid.
Elective courses may be selected from any of Canisius' graduate education programs, including Literacy, TESOL, Instructional Technology and Curriculum Design. Electives may also include early childhood courses, middle childhood courses, or approved transfer credits from another graduate program. Students should consult with their academic advisor to determine the best course of study based on professional goals and additional certification interests.
