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2025-2026 Graduate Catalog Special Education

533 DeGarmo Hall
Campus Box 5910

(309) 438-8980

Chairperson: Dr. Yojanna Cuenca-Carlino

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  4. Special Education

Programs Offered

M.S., General Special Education Sequence, and Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Sensory Disabilities Sequence, M.S.Ed., Low Vision and Blindness, Ed.D. in Special Education and Post-Master鈥檚 Graduate Certificate for Director of Special Education.

Course Finder

Certificates Offered

Behavior Intervention Specialist, Curriculum Adaptation Specialist, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Listening and Spoken Language Professional Graduate Specialization Certificate, Early Intervention Vision Specialist, Multiple Disability Specialist, Specialist in LBS 1 Endorsement (Fully online), Technology Specialist, Transition Specialist.

*Some certificates may be listed in the catalog, but not offered for admissions.

Programs >

  • Master of Science Degree Program
  • Master of Science in Education Degree Program
  • Low Vision and Blindness Program
  • Post-Master's Graduate Certificate for Director of Special Education
  • Doctoral Program
  • Graduate Certificates

Master of Science Degree Programs

Degree Offered: M.S.

Sequences >

  • Special Education
  • Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Sensory Disabilities

General Special Education Sequence

This 30-hour degree requires:

  • 21 hours: , , or , , or , , and . Students successfully completing the core are considered to have Advanced Graduate status.
  • 3 hours: An approved elective course to be determined with the graduate advisor.
  • 6 hours: A pre-approved capstone research or application project including and 3 additional hours from . Students must have attained Advanced Graduate status to begin the capstone experience.

Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Sensory Disabilities Sequence

This interdisciplinary sequence provides teachers of the visually impaired and teachers of the deaf with knowledge and skills to meet the unique needs of infants and toddlers who have sensory disabilities and their families. While the program will provide an overview of the impact of sensory loss on early development, an intense focus will also be provided on language, communication, and feeding issues common to this population. A variety of practicum and clinical experiences with children and families will allow students to apply knowledge and skills to professional practice.

This 32-hour sequence requires:

  • 24 total hours in major department
  • , , , , , , (6 hours); , or ;
  • The required courses must be completed with grades not lower than a 鈥淐鈥 while maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.00 for retention in the program.

Prerequisite: Students must have completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree or higher in Special Education with an emphasis in blind/partially sighted or deaf/hard of hearing.

Master of Science in Education Program

Degree Offered: M.S.Ed.

The Master of Science in Education degree is intended for teachers with prior general education licensure who are currently teaching with a special education caseload or are seeking special education endorsement.

This 39-hour degree requires:

  • 30 hours: or ; , , , , , , , and . Students successfully completing the core are considered to have Advanced Graduate status.
  • 6 hours:聽An area of concentration or approved elective courses to be determined with the graduate advisor.
  • 3 hours: A two-semester Clinical Capstone experience including (1 credit hour) and (2 credit hour). Students must have attained Advanced Graduate status to begin the capstone experience.

Low Vision and Blindness Program

Degree Offered: M.S.Ed.

This 32-hour degree requires:

  • 3.00 Cumulative GPA is required for retention in this program.
  • Required courses (26 hours): , , , , , , , ,
  • Required clinical experience (6 hours):

Prerequisite - Professional Educator License

Post-Master's Graduate Certificate for Director of Special Education

Requirements for endorsement as a Director of Special Education may be met through a postmaster鈥檚 degree program (Doctorate in Special Education) or through a non-degree program. Students seeking Director of Special Education endorsement must be admitted to the department as a post-master鈥檚 graduate certificate student or as a doctoral student. Coursework will enable students to meet ISBE standards leading to the Director of Special Education endorsement.

This 12-hour post-master鈥檚 graduate certificate requires:

  • 12 hours: *, , ,
  • Depending on coursework completed at the master鈥檚 level, the student may need to complete or an equivalent to meet Illinois State Board of Education professional license endorsement requirements.

*This course may be fulfilled by those who have a principal endorsement master鈥檚 degree. Substitute this with a foundational course.

Doctoral Program

Degree Offered: Ed.D.

All doctoral candidates must complete a minimum of 66 semester hours to include:

  • 23 hours of core course work: , or , ; , , , ,
  • 22 hours of specialized course work consisting of: , , , , , , ,
  • 6 hours of electives
  • 15 hours of dissertation work resulting in an approved dissertation
  • Other university requirements for doctoral degrees are listed elsewhere in this catalog.

Graduate Certificate Programs in Special Education

All graduate certificates: Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point and have a minimum grade of C in each required course. Performance-based portfolios are required.

Program completers in the Behavior Intervention, Curriculum Adaptation, Multiple Disabilities, Technology, or Transition graduate certificate programs who pass a state certification examination may also receive an advanced teaching endorsement from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Specialist in LBS 1 Endorsement (Online)

The LBS I Endorsement Certificate is intended for students who are general educators and are seeking special education endorsement through ISBE, or want to expand their ability to teach students with disabilities in their general education classrooms. This fully online endorsement program provides general educators with induction and mentoring support, a strong foundation of initial competencies in special education, and an introduction to advanced competencies in special education with an enhanced emphasis on instructional methods courses.

  • This 15-hour certificate requires: , , , , and
  • There will be one pre-requisite course for admission into the program. (Survey of Methods in Special Education) or equivalent.

Behavior Intervention Specialist

Certificate requirements include:

  • Prerequisites: , or equivalent survey course
  • 15 hours: , , , , and . , , , and require application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations
  • Students may be required to have concurrent enrollment in if not currently teaching in a setting that allows for application of these skills

Curriculum Adaptation Specialist

Certificate requirements include:

  • Prerequisites: , or equivalent survey course
  • 12 hours are required including , , , and . , , and require application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations
  • Students may be required to have concurrent enrollment in if not currently teaching in a setting that allows for application of these skills.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Listening and Spoken Language Professional Graduate Specialization Certificate*

(Currently not admitting new students)

Certificate requirements include:

  • Prerequisites: , or equivalent survey course
  • 12 hours are required including , , , and
  • Some courses require application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations; therefore, students will be required to enroll in 3-6 semester hours of unless this requirement is specifically waived by the department.

Early Intervention Vision Specialist*

(Currently not admitting new students)

This 15-hour certificate requires:

  • , , , ; and Professional Practice
  • 3.0 Cumulative graduate GPA

Multiple Disabilities Specialist*

(Currently not admitting new students)

Certificate requirements include:

  • Prerequisites: , or equivalent survey course
  • A minimum of one year or current experience teaching students with severe or multiple disabilities
  • 15 hours: , , , , and
  • Some courses require application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations. Students may be required to have concurrent enrollment in Professional Practice if not currently teaching in a setting that allows for application of these skills.

Technology Specialist*

(Currently not admitting new students)

Certificate requirements include:

  • Prerequisites: , or equivalent survey course
  • 9 hours: SED 377, SED 379, and SED 479
  • Students who have not completed Technology Passport requirements will also be required to complete or an equivalent course.
  • SED 479 requires application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations. Students may be required to have concurrent enrollment in Professional Practice if not currently teaching in a setting that allows for application of these skills.

Transition Specialist*

(Currently not admitting new students)

Certificate requirements include:

  • Prerequisite: , or equivalent survey course
  • 12 hours are required including , , , and
  • All courses require application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations. Students may be required to have concurrent enrollment in Professional Practice if not currently teaching in a setting that allows for application of these skills.

*Certificate programs with an asterisk are currently closed to new admissions.

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