Special Education, Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities, M.S. (certification)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Master of Science in Special Education in Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities concentration is designed for individuals seeking initial certification to teach students with disabilities, whether new to the profession or already having teaching experience. The concentration provides:

courses and internships for initial teacher certification in teaching students with mild to moderate disabilities,
coursework in various specialty areas such as teaching students with learning disabilities and students on the autism spectrum, and
preparation to collaborate effectively in school-wide, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), including Response to Intervention (RTI) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

Current general education teachers, specialty area professionals such as occupational therapists, education technicians (paraprofessionals), and people with a bachelor’s degree seeking initial certification and a new teaching career in special education are among those for whom the program is intended.

Program Requirements

Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities (certification)

Prerequisite:

Maine approved certification Exceptionality Course such as SED 235, SED 540, or course approved by the program faculty.

Program Requirements: 39 credits, plus prerequisite

Certification Requirements

Certification Requirements:

Upon satisfactory completion of the above courses the candidate is recommended for Maine 282 certification.

Field Experience

Each of the courses with a * includes required service learning or practicum hours in a school or community setting to give pre-interns hands-on experience with K-12 students and create connections between theory and practice. These formal placements are linked to each course and are arranged by the Field Experience Coordinator in the Office of Educator Preparation. Other education courses may require observation experiences in field settings that students arrange on their own. Students are required to be fingerprinted prior to starting a course that includes a field experience placement. For more information on the fingerprinting process see: https://usm.maine.edu/office-educator-preparation/chrc-approval-process/

Continuing coursework for Master’s degree:

Online Data Management System for Educator Preparation Programs and Pathways

All undergraduate and graduate students who matriculate into an Educator Preparation program at USM and are accepted as a candidate for their internship/student teaching year are required to subscribe to an online data management system. Students upload assignments and other artifacts to this system as evidence that they have mastered state and professional standards for their profession. There is a one-time subscription fee related to the administration and assessment of the program that must be paid by each student before their internship begins. For loan purposes, this system is eligible for consideration as part of educational costs. Subscription instructions (including the current fee) are posted on the Office of Educator Preparation page on MyUSM at https://mycampus.maine.edu/group/usm/office-of-educator-preparation.

Please note Professional Education Council Policy: In order for USM’s Educator Preparation Unit program completers to be recommended by the institution to the Maine Department of Education for certification or licensure, the candidate must provide evidence of meeting all certification requirements including proficiency on the standards relevant to their state-approved professional program. This evidence must be compiled and assessed within the context of the Unit’s data management system.

Transfer Credit Policies

Transferring courses into the degree: Non-matriculated students may take two graduate-level courses (six credit hours) that they pass with a grade of ‘B’ or better prior to applying. Students may enroll in up to two graduate-level courses for the semester in which they apply (six graduate credit hours). A possible total of twelve graduate-level credits may be completed before matriculating in the program. Only courses taken within five years of application will be considered. Transfer credits are evaluated during the admissions process, so syllabi and course descriptions of courses for transfer credit requests should accompany the application. If an applicant has questions on whether courses will transfer into a program or not, s/he should discuss the credit transfer with the Program Faculty.

Transferring to a different concentration after matriculation: A candidate must apply to the new concentration using a Re-Application form. The application and supporting materials are sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions. The application will be reviewed by faculty for approval.