Purpose of the MSE Program:
The main purpose of the MSE program in Special Education is to prepare collaborative special education teachers skilled in providing quality instruction to students representing a broad scope of abilities. Candidates will gain expertise in special education including foundations, development and characteristics of learners, individual learning differences, instructional strategies and planning, learning environments, guidance and behavior management, communication, working with families, assessment, and professional and ethical practice. The program recognizes the changing and complex role of the special educator and as such prepares the graduate candidates to:
- provide support and instruction to students with cognitive, physical, behavior, multiple, and/or health disabilities from kindergarten through 12th grade,
- work in different educational settings such as self-contained, resource, and regular classrooms,
- access the general education curriculum demonstrating a strong knowledge and skill set in academic content areas, and
- effectively collaborate and work closely with general education teachers, related service personnel, administrators, and families to ensure all students are given every opportunity to reach their full potential.
The graduate program is designed to provide candidates with current information and experiences to enable them to implement evidenced–based practices, ensure that they have the knowledge and skills to provide data-driven instruction, conduct action research to stay current in their personal practices with students, and be well versed in cross-disciplinary best practices that keep candidates at the top of their field.
The MSE is a 30-graduate credit hour fully online program designed to meet the performance standards of the Arkansas Competencies for Special Education K–12 Teachers, the Arkansas Teaching Standards, the Arkansas Science of Reading Competencies, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)Standards, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)standards, and the standards for Teacher Excellence and Support Systems (TESS).
The program meets these standards while providing advanced studies in the discipline of special education. Included in the program is a 21-hour core of courses, which are required for K-12 Special Education licensure in Arkansas. Candidates holding an Arkansas teaching license in a general education area (elementary, middle-level, or secondary content), successfully completing the 21-hour core endorsement program of study and both Praxis II exams will result in the candidate being eligible for an Arkansas Special Education K–12 license.
Program delivery is through distance education with courses offered in both synchronous and asynchronous online formats and include online videos, training events, tutorials, and the use of the Blackboard online classroom. For some instruction and assignments, students may be required to meet online.
CONTACT UCA ONLINE
ucaonline@uca.edu
(501) 852-UCAO (8226)