Education, Special Education - Learning Disabilities, M.A.

Teachers who are passionate about Special Education often seek more specialized training to help their diverse students with special needs. For teachers, the Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Learning Disabilities or Emotional/Behavioral Disorders is designed to enhance a specific area of special education. The program includes preparation in a selected area of special education through courses dealing with the nature of a specific disability and the related practica. Teachers who are pursuing this degree learn even more specialized intervention techniques and strategies to deal appropriately with children with special needs. The final practicum allows students to apply their skills and knowledge in a real-world setting.

This concentration is for teachers who have already met South Carolina Department of Education requirements for certification in elementary education. Secondary teachers may also complete this program by completing a course in teaching mathematics at the elementary level.

To complete this program, students must show evidence of a passing score on the appropriate Praxis II exam.

Courses in this program are offered in a combination of in-person, online asynchronous, or hybrid/blended formats.

Special Education - Learning Disabilities (33 credits)

Master of Arts programs are designed primarily for certified teachers. Individuals seeking initial teacher certification will be required to complete undergraduate courses which will not apply toward the master’s degree.

Admission Criteria

Students seeking admission to a Master of Arts program must have:

earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution in the United States or a teacher education program recognized by the South Carolina Board of Education with a GPA of no less than 2.75 (3.0 preferred)
satisfactorily completed an accredited program of initial teacher certification

and, must submit:

a graduate admissions application, accompanied by a one-time, non-refundable application fee
a copy of their current teaching certificate
two professional recommendations
official transcripts from each higher education institution previously attended

Recent Furman graduates pursuing initial teacher certification, who have satisfactorily completed all senior block courses (including the practicum experience) and are eligible to enroll in EDEP 670-Teaching Internship, may gain provisional graduate admission for study in the summer term, prior to the completion of the teaching internship which leads to initial certification. Once initial certification is granted, students will be allowed to continue to be enrolled in graduate-level courses.

International Degree Candidates Initial Admission

Graduate Studies in Education is not available to international applicants/students because we cannot guarantee full-time enrollment or face-to-face courses in those programs.

Program Continuation

Admitted graduate degree candidates must meet with an advisor in Graduate Studies to plan a preliminary program and will be assigned a faculty contact person. Continuation in a program leading to the award of the Master of Arts requires successful completion of 9 graduate credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater.

Students earning a grade of C+, C, or C- in one of the first three courses in a program prior to Admission to Candidacy or a student with a cumulative GPA less than 3.00 must meet with the program coordinator and the Associate Director of Graduate Studies.

After Admission to degree candidacy, all students in a program must:

maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater and meet final grade requirements
demonstrate satisfactory content knowledge, pedagogical skills, and dispositions related to national standards established by the Specialty Professional Association (SPA) and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
resolve any event or concern where an instructor, program coordinator, and/or the Office of Graduate Studies has reason to believe a degree candidate has acted in violation of department mission

Program Completion/Degree Audit

The Office of Graduate Studies will audit the student’s record to ensure that required courses have been completed and that the candidate has maintained a 3.00 GPA for the sequence of courses.

Program Completion/Graduation

The Office of Graduate Studies will confirm all degree requirements have been successfully completed by each candidate. Candidates for graduation must also show a passing score on appropriate Praxis content exam.

Quick Step Guide to the Master of Arts

Preliminary Conference with Graduate Studies
Application/fee/transcript/recommendations/teaching certificate
Acceptance
Complete EDFD 879: Master’s Seminar in Education
Passing score on appropriate Praxis II exam (if applicable)
Graduation

Requirements

Two core courses (6 credits)

Five courses in the area of concentration (18 credits)

EDEX 621 Education of Students with Exceptionalities
EDEX 622 Nature of Learning Disabilities *
EDEX 741 Methods & Assessments for Teaching Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs
EDEX 745 Social and Behavioral Interventions
EDEX 962 Practicum in Teaching Students With Learning Disabilities
*Students successfully completing EDU-222 Nature of Learning Disabilities as undergraduates may be exempted from EDEX-622 Nature of Learning Disabilities.

One literacy course (3 credits)

The course must be approved by the advisor and complement the student’s prior courses in reading.

One elective course (3 credits)

EDOL 640 Principles and Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners

and, a capstone experience (3 credits)

EDFD 879 Masters Seminar in Education *
*Must be the final course completed in the degree program.

Teacher Residency Program (9 credits)

The add-on certification master’s with this concentration is limited to the students completing the bachelor’s degree at Furman enrolled in the five-year extended program. Recent Furman graduates pursuing initial teacher certification, who have satisfactorily completed all senior block courses (including the practicum experience) and are eligible to enroll in EDEP 670-Teaching Internship, may gain provisional graduate admission for study in the summer term, prior to the completion of the teaching internship which leads to initial certification. Once initial certification is granted, students will be allowed to continue to be enrolled in graduate-level courses.