Dr. Tamara Smith-Moyler
Graduate Program Coordinator
(757) 823-8841
tdsmith-moyler@nsu.edu
The graduate program in Special Education leading to the Master of Arts Degree provides highly specialized academic and professional training for persons working in special education and related areas. Enrollees in these programs gain specific knowledge and techniques related to the education and welfare of a segment of the population that experiences disabilities due to clinical/medical conditions. This program requires a minimum of thirty-nine (39) credit hours for completion. Its design is to enhance knowledge, skills and performance in accordance with current “best practices” in the treatment of the total individual with disabilities.
The Special Education program offers two teacher licensure sequences:
- General Curriculum K-12. This program is offered as an accelerated online program. For more information see the website.
- Adapted Curriculum K-12. This program is the Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Special Education Adapted Curriculum that support students with severe disabilities and autism. It is designed for individuals with a general curriculum K-12 special education degree or teaching license seeking a severe disability endorsement.
Completion of the teacher licensure results in credentialing to teach individuals with mild to severe disabilities in grades K-12. The program equips individuals with skills necessary for identification, assessment, curriculum development/modifications, instructional strategies, case management, and policy making on local, state and national levels for disabled persons. After completing this program, graduates will assume specific positions such as instructional leaders, programmers, data collectors/evaluators, hospital teachers, special /collaborative classroom teachers, and case managers/service coordinators.
ADMISSIONS
Admission criteria to the Master of Arts in Special Education are in accordance with the Graduate Council of Norfolk State University and the Admissions Committee of the School of Education. The criteria for admission are as follows:
Regular Status
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. A foreign student should possess equivalent credentials as documented on an evaluated transcript.
- A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher on a four (4) point scale.
A complete application file will include the following:
- Application to Norfolk State University
- Non-refundable application fee.
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended. (Unofficial transcripts may be submitted for application review. Official transcripts are required if admitted prior to enrollment).
- A personal statement regarding professional goals.
- Three (3) recent letters of recommendation (e.g. supervisor, former professor, and advisor) dated within the last year.
- Bachelor’s degree from a nationally accredited institution of higher learning. Students with a non-Liberal Arts or Teaching degree may be required to take additional coursework.
FOR THE SEVERE DISABILITIES ADAPTED CURRICULUM K-12 LICENSURE ONLY:
Pre-requisite required courses include SPE 512 Foundations of Special Education: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Educating Exceptional Learners and EDU 605 Human Growth and Development. Courses or equivalent may be taken at the undergraduate level or taken concurrently upon admission. If taken concurrently, these courses do not count towards degree requirements.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
All application materials should be received by May 1 for priority consideration in the fall, and by November 1 for priority consideration in the spring. Applications received after these dates may be considered for admission or deferred to the next term.
Non-Degree Status
A person with a baccalaureate degree, seeking to take particular courses but not working toward a graduate degree may be granted such permission. These courses may be taken for credit or on a non-credit basis.
A person seeking admission to the degree program but who does not meet all requirements for regular admission may be admitted in a non-degree status. Non-degree students may be allowed to take up to nine (9) credit hours of course work and must earn a grade point average of 3.0 or better after which the student may apply for admission into the degree program.
General Curriculum K-12 (licensure)
Prepares candidates for licensure to provide educational services to individuals with special needs who are served in general education environments from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Summary of Graduation Requirements
| Subject Area | Credits |
|---|---|
| Major Requirements | 27 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Other Requirements | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 39 |
Sample Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Mini-Term | ||
| EDU 605 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| SPE 512 | Foundations of Special Education: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Educating Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| Second Mini-Term | ||
| EDU 501 | Foundations of Education (Second Mini-Term) | 3 |
| UED 692 | Research Methods | 3 |
| Third Mini-Term | ||
| SPE 516 | Managing Human Behaviors (Third Mini-Term) ** | 3 |
| SPE 613 | Assessment and Evaluation in Ecc ** | 3 |
| Fourth Mini-Term | ||
| SPE 523 | Attirubutes and Medical Conditions Assoicated With Disabilities | 3 |
| EED 500G | Language and Developmental Reading in (Third Mini-Term) ** | 3 |
| Fifth Mini-Term | ||
| SPE 542 | Reading and Literacy Instruction for Exceptional Learners ** | 3 |
| SPE 545 | Collaboration, Inclusion, Transition and Other Curriculum Adjustments ** | 3 |
| Sixth Mini-Term | ||
| SPE 534 | Nat/Strtgs Tching Lrnrs-ED | 3 |
| SPE 532 | Curriculum & Instructional Procedures for Teaching Students With Mild Disabilities ** | 3 |
| Seventh and Eight Mini-Terms | ||
| SPE 699 | Internship in Teaching Students With Mild Disabilities | 3 |
| Total Credits | 39 | |
- **
Course consists of a 20-hour observation participation field experience in a school.
Students must pass the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) Assessment and VCLA to apply for student teaching.
Severe Disabilities Adapted Curriculum K-12 (Licensure)
Prepares candidates for licensure to provide educational services to individuals with severe disabilities and autism from kindergarten through 12th grade. Courses in this concentration are offered through distance learning by the Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Severe Disabilities and Autism which may provide tuition assistance to qualified applicants.
Summary of Graduation Requirements
| Subject Area | Credits |
|---|---|
| Major Requirements | 33 |
| Other Requirements | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 39 |
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NSU Courses | ||
| UED 637 | Curriculum Development and Technology | 3 |
| UED 691 | Research/Writing | 3 |
| Consortium Courses | ||
| SPE 516A | Managing Human Behavior-Adapted (Adapted) | 3 |
| SPE 542A | Reading and Literacy Instruction for Exceptional Learners (Adapted) | 3 |
| SPE 523A | Attirubutes and Medical Conditions Assoicated With Disabilities-Adapted (Adapted) | 3 |
| SPE 613A | Assessment and Evaluation-Adapted (Adapted) | 3 |
| SPE 641A | Physical and Occupational Therapy Procedures-Adapted (Adapted) | 3 |
| SPE 538A | Nature of and Strategies for Teaching Individuals With Severe Disabilities (Adapted) | 3 |
| SPE 540A | Collaboration Procedures-Adapted (Adapted) | 3 |
| SPE 545A | Transition Procedures-Adapted (Adapted) | 3 |
| SPE 643A | Communication Development for Individuals With Severe Disabilites (Adapted) | 3 |
| Internship | ||
| SPE 699A | Internship: Special Education (Adapted) | 6 |
| Total Credits | 39 | |