Special Education, MS
for the degree of Master of Science in Special Education
The Department of Special Education offers several master's program areas of emphasis and licensure: Infancy and Early Childhood Special Education, Learning and Behavior Specialist I (LBS-I), and Learning and Behavior Specialist II (LBS-II). LBS-I is the master's program that prepares teachers for their initial teaching licensure. The other master's programs are available for practicing teachers and other professionals interested in graduate studies. Several of these programs can be completed on a full or part-time basis. In most cases, full-time students take two years to complete their program of studies.
The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program is for the student who has research interests in education. The student often enters this program with the intent of eventually pursuing a doctoral program, leading to the Ed.D. or Ph.D. degree. The major difference between this degree and the Ed.M. is the requirement that a master's thesis be completed and defended as part of the M.S. degree.
Admission
Applicants must submit a complete application for admission, including transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work; a goal statement indicating interests, experiences, and goals for pursuing graduate study in special education; and a writing sample. The applicant also must arrange to have three letters of reference submitted. A 3.0 grade point average (A = 4.0) for the last two years of the undergraduate program and for any previous graduate work is a minimum requirement for admission. In addition to the above items, international students must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score (taken within two years of the start of the semester for which the student is requesting admission). International students must have a total iBT score greater than 102 (72nd-79th percentile).
Off-Campus Program
The Department of Special Education offers master’s degree programs off-campus in coordination with Federal Personnel Preparation Grant awards. The focus of the off-campus program changes depending on the type of grant award. For example, past emphases have been on behavior intervention and multiple disabilities. For information on currently available off-campus programs, please visit the Department's website.
Licensure
The Council on Teacher Education functions as the all-University governance system for licensure. Graduate students who wish to qualify for the Council's recommendation for a teaching or administrative license must complete the appropriate graduate program. The Department of Special Education offers graduate-level licensure programs in Learning and Behavior Specialist I (LBS-I) and Learning and Behavior Specialist II (LBS-II). Early Childhood Special Education master’s degree students who already hold a Professional Educator License who went through an Early Childhood approved program qualify for the Illinois ECSE approval.
Faculty Research Interests
The Department of Special Education faculty have a variety of research interests. There are multiple opportunities for graduate students to engage in research activities with faculty. For information about specific faculty research interests, current grants, and publications, please visit the Faculty Finder.
Facilities and Resources
The College of Education also has many resources to assist graduate students through their academic career. The Bureau of Educational Research works with students to secure research funding. The Council on Teacher Education provides entitlement of educator candidates to those seeking a Professional Educator License and provides accreditation of professional education programs. Each student completing a degree program is assigned a graduate advisor, who is available to assist the student with planning the program of study and determining degree requirements, courses, and timelines for degree completion.
Information on University resources can be found at the GradMAP pages website.
Financial Aid
Students engaged in graduate study and research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign find an environment where collaboration among faculty members and students is nurtured and rewarded and where the students' contributions are recognized and valued. In many cases, this recognition comes in the form of financial awards that enable students to devote concentrated attention to their studies. Traineeships are grant funded and are available for full-time students. Other financial aid opportunities (e.g., fellowships and assistantships) are available on a competitive basis. Students who are awarded traineeships, assistantships, or fellowships are exempt from payment of tuition and some fees.
Financial aid in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and tuition waivers can be found throughout the college and campus. Campus opportunities can be found at the Graduate College and the Office of Student Financial Aid. Please note: Graduate students employed as Staff by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are not eligible for a College of Education Award or Scholarship.
for the degree of Master of Science in Special Education
The Department of Special Education offers many programs leading to the degree of Master of Science (M.S.). A list of programs and additional requirements can be found on the program's website, the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook, and the Graduate College Handbook.
Students may select a concentration in Bilingual-Bicultural Education or Digital Learning.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Foundations Courses in Educational Psychology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Psychology of Learning in Education | ||
| Child Language and Education | ||
| Sociocultural Influence on Learning | ||
EPSY 404 | ||
| Personality and Soc Dev | ||
EPSY 406 | ||
| Adult Learning and Development | ||
| Learning and Human Development with Educational Technology | ||
| Early Adolescent Development | ||
| Assessing Student Performance | ||
| Developments in Educational Psychology | ||
| Global Issues in Learning | ||
| Philosophical and Social Foundations Courses in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| History of American Education | ||
| Asian American Education | ||
| Historical and Social Barriers | ||
| School and Society | ||
| Professional Ethics in Education | ||
| Critical Thinking in Education | ||
| Aesthetic Education | ||
| Sociology of Education | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Families | ||
| Politics of Education | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| Technology and Educational Reform | ||
| Foundation of Higher Education | ||
| Select a minimum of 18 hours from the following: | 18 | |
| Disability Issues in Special Education | ||
| Supervised Practice in Special Education | ||
| Collaborative Leaders in Special Education | ||
| Leadership in Early Childhood Special Education | ||
| Field Study and Thesis Seminar | ||
| Elective Hours: | 4 | |
400/500-Level Hours Required: 4 hours (Independent Study included) | ||
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 | |
| SPED 599 | Thesis Research (min/max applied toward degree) | 2-8 |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Human Subjects Approval | |
| Program/Licensure Requirements | 10-61 hours depending on emphasis, http://education.illinois.edu/sped/programs |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 |
for the degree of Master of Science in Special Education
All students who complete a master’s degree in the Department of Special Education will:
- Students who complete a master’s degree resulting in teacher certification (e.g., LBS I or LBS II) or endorsement/credential (ECSE/EI) will demonstrate the acquisition of the knowledge and skills required to be competent novice special education teachers by meeting the indicators addressed in several sets of standards. These indicators are embedded in coursework, field-based activities, and other related professional experiences.
- Graduate students who complete the LBS II Multiple Disabilities or ECSE course sequence will demonstrate expertise and leadership in their respective areas of specialization by engaging in: a) collaborative leadership activities, b) mentoring other educators, c) practicing effective communication skills, d) acting as change agents, and e) advocating for learners with disabilities.
- Graduate students will expand and deepen their attitudes, knowledge and skills about evidence-based practices that result in improved learning and successful outcomes for students with disabilities.
- Graduate students will acquire the knowledge and skills to understand multiple research methodologies and how research is used to inform instructional practices with persons with disabilities by engaging in a capstone research project.
- Graduate students will become reflective practitioners who problem solve and change their practice to improve services provided to individuals with disabilities and their families.
for the degree of Master of Science in Special Education
Special Education Department
Interim Department Head: Michelle Perry
Director of Graduate Studies: Kary Zarate
Graduate admissions information: Linda Stimson
Special Education Department website
Special Education faculty
142 Education Building, 1310 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-3542
Graduate Student Services Office email
College of Education
College of Education website
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Graduate College Admissions & Requirements
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