Special Education, EdM
for the degree of Master of Education 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 prepares teachers for their initial teaching licensure.
- LBS-II is available for practicing teachers and other professionals interested in graduate studies to develop more specialized expertise and receive an endorsement as a “multiple disabilities specialist.”
- ECSE is available for practicing teachers and other professionals interested in graduate studies to develop more specialized expertise. There is also a program option that allows students to receive licensure in early childhood education and a letter of approval in ECSE.
- 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.
Admission
Applicants must submit a complete application for admission, including transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work and an academic statement of purpose. 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 that shows they meet minimum English proficiency requirements set by the Graduate College, available here.
Off-Campus Program
The Department of Special Education offers master’s degree programs off-campus in coordination with federal personnel preparation grant awards. 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 license must complete the appropriate graduate program. The Department of Special Education offers graduate-level licensure/endorsement programs in Learning and Behavior Specialist I (LBS-I) and Learning and Behavior Specialist II (LBS-II). Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) 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. Additionally, there is a program option that allows ECSE master’s students to receive licensure in early childhood education and a letter of approval in ECSE.
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 has many resources to assist graduate students through their academic career. 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 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 in the semester in which funding is awarded.
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.
for the degree of Master of Education in Special Education
The Department of Special Education offers many programs leading to the degree of Master of Education (Ed.M.). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Coursework | 18 | |
| Disability Issues in Special Education | ||
| Supervised Practice in Special Education | ||
| Collaborative Leaders in Special Education | ||
or SPED 566 | Leadership in Early Childhood Special Education | |
| Field Study and Thesis Seminar | ||
| Foundations Hours | 8 | |
Choose at least two foundation courses from the Course List tab. At least one of these two courses must be a course from outside the degree-granting department. | ||
| Elective Hours | 6 | |
400/500-Level Hours Required: (Independent Study included) | ||
| Total Hours | 32 | |
Other Requirements:
| Program/Licensure Requirements | 10-61 hours depending on emphasis |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 |
for the degree of Master of Education in Special Education
Foundations Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culture in the Classroom | ||
| Curriculum Development for the 21st Century | ||
| History of American Education | ||
| Asian American Education | ||
| Historical and Social Barriers | ||
| School and Society | ||
| Professional Ethics in Education | ||
| Critical Thinking in Education | ||
| Sociology of Education | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Families | ||
| Politics of Education | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| Technology and Educational Reform | ||
| Educational Politics and Policies | ||
| Foundation of Higher Education | ||
Any 400 level EPSY course | ||
| Global Issues in Learning | ||
| Equity Issues in Special Education | ||
| Disability Issues in Special Education | ||
for the degree of Master of Education 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 Education in Special Education
Special Education Department
Department Head: Matthew Lambert
Director of Graduate Studies: Kary Zarate
Graduate admissions information: Mitzi Koeberlein
Special Education faculty
142 Education Building, 1310 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-3542
gradservices@education.illinois.edu
College of Education
Admissions
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements
College of Education Admissions Requirements