Special Education - Master of Arts
Enrollment in graduate licensure program courses with field experiences in Special Education is limited to persons who have been accepted into the graduate program in Special Education. For other special education graduate courses, enrollment of students outside of the special education program is contingent upon meeting prerequisites and availability after enrollment of Special Education graduate students. To complete a course of study, each student must meet the program's academic and field-based competency criteria, including a grade of B or higher in each course in the program of study, satisfactory evaluation in field experiences for those seeking licensure, and a passing score on the MA Comprehensive Exam or Capstone. The Master of Arts in Special Education has pathways to meet the varied needs of students pursuing graduate education and can be completed in two years for full-time students.
Master of Arts in Special Education (Plus Licensure)
This route is 42 credits including student teaching and provides preparation for the New Mexico pre-K-12 Special Education license. Candidates must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program before completing practicum and student teaching experiences.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements | ||
| SPED 5105 | Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| SPED 5230 | Advanced Curriculum for Diverse Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| SPED 5210 | Introduction to Assessment of Diverse Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| SPED 5120 | High Incidence Disabilities in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| SPED 5110 | Low Incidence Disabilities in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| SPED 5130 | Reading for Elementary Exceptional Learners in a Diverse Society, K-6 | 3 |
| SPED 5860 | Current Issues in Special Education for Teaching in Culturally Responsive Society | 3 |
| SPED 5140 | Reading for Secondary Exceptional Learners in a Diverse Society, 7-12 | 3 |
| SPED 5160 | Technology and Exceptionality in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| or EDUC 5130 | Technology and Pedagogy | |
| SPED 5811 | Field Experience in Education, Equity & Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| SPED 5220 | Classroom Management for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| SPED 5810 | Student Teaching SPED | 6 |
| Special Education Student Teaching Seminar Courses (based on concentration) 3 | 3 | |
| Special Education/Elementary Student Teaching Seminar | 3 | |
| Special Education/Secondary Student Teaching Seminar | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
- 1
Admittance to TEP is required before registering for SPED 5811 Field Experience in Education, Equity & Cultural Diversity, which must be taken the semester before student teaching.
- 2
Admittance to STEP is required before registering for SPED 5810 Student Teaching SPED and SPED 5830/SPED 5840, which are the culminating courses.
- 3
A capstone project is completed during this course in lieu of a Master's exam to meet NM licensure requirements.
Master of Arts in Special Education (Scholarly Route)
This route requires 30 credits of special education coursework and is for students who are not seeking licensure or who already have a license and are seeking additional depth of knowledge. A Master's exam during the culminating semester is required for program completion.
There are two course prerequisites that may be required, SPED 5105 Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society and SPED 5230 Advanced Curriculum for Diverse Exceptional Learners. If these are required they must be taken in the first semester they are offered.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Course Required | ||
| SPED 5850 | Current Research in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 5860 | Current Issues in Special Education for Teaching in Culturally Responsive Society | 3 |
| SPED Elective Courses 1 | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Electives are selected in consultation with an advisor, who will make recommendations based on prior coursework and individual student interests.
Master of Arts in Special Education (emphasis in Visual Impairment)
This route requires 30-36 credit hours in visual impairment and special education coursework and prepares for licensure in teaching school-aged children/infants/toddlers and/or orientation and mobility. Students who meet qualifications and are interested in visual impairment may elect to pursue licensure only, rather than a master's degree, with 15-27 credits leading to a Blind and Visually Impaired Teaching License or National Certification in Orientation and Mobility. We provide two different areas of focus. One focus is for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments/Visual Impairment Focus (TSVIs/VI Focus) and the other focus is for Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMSs). A Master's exam during the culminating semester is required for program completion.
TSVI/VI Focus Coursework
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 5405 | Foundations of Visual Impairment | 3 |
| SPED 5410 | Functional Implications of Low Vision | 3 |
| SPED 5420 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual and Multiple Impairments | 3 |
| SPED 5450 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments | 3 |
| SPED 5460 | Introduction to Orientation and Mobility | 3 |
| SPED 5430 | Braille I: Literacy for Students with Visual Impairments | 3 |
| SPED 5440 | Braille II: Numeracy for Students with Visual Impairments | 3 |
| SPED 5105 | Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| SPED 5860 | Current Issues in Special Education for Teaching in Culturally Responsive Society | 3 |
| SPED 5996 | Topics in Special Education | 3 |
COMS Focus Coursework
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 5405 | Foundations of Visual Impairment | 3 |
| SPED 5410 | Functional Implications of Low Vision | 3 |
| SPED 5420 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual and Multiple Impairments | 3 |
| SPED 5460 | Introduction to Orientation and Mobility | 3 |
| SPED 5470 | Beginning Orientation and Mobility | 3 |
| SPED 5480 | Intermediate Orientation and Mobility | 3 |
| SPED 5490 | Advanced Orientation and Mobility | 3 |
| SPED 5105 | Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| SPED 5860 | Current Issues in Special Education for Teaching in Culturally Responsive Society | 3 |
| SPED 5996 | Topics in Special Education | 3 |
Master of Arts in Special Education (Scholarly Route)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
| SPED 5850 | Current Research in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 5860 | Current Issues in Special Education for Teaching in Culturally Responsive Society | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPED Electives 6 of 24 recommended 1 | 6 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| SPED Electives 6 of 24 recommended 1 | 6 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| SPED Electives 6 of 24 recommended 1 | 6 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPED Electives 6 of 24 recommended 1 | 6 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Electives are selected in consultation with an advisor, who will make recommendations based on prior coursework and individual student interests.
Master of Arts in Special Education (Visual Impairment Program - TSVI/VI Path)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| SPED 5410 | Functional Implications of Low Vision | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 5420 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual and Multiple Impairments | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| SPED 5405 | Foundations of Visual Impairment | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPED 5430 | Braille I: Literacy for Students with Visual Impairments | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 5440 | Braille II: Numeracy for Students with Visual Impairments | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| SPED 5450 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments | 3 |
| SPED 5460 | Introduction to Orientation and Mobility | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPED 5860 | Current Issues in Special Education for Teaching in Culturally Responsive Society | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 5996 | Topics in Special Education | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| SPED 5105 | Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Master of Arts in Special Education (Visual Impairment Program - COMS Path)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| SPED 5410 | Functional Implications of Low Vision | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 5420 | Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual and Multiple Impairments | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| SPED 5405 | Foundations of Visual Impairment | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPED 5480 | Intermediate Orientation and Mobility | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 5490 | Advanced Orientation and Mobility | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| SPED 5460 | Introduction to Orientation and Mobility | 3 |
| SPED 5470 | Beginning Orientation and Mobility | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPED 5860 | Current Issues in Special Education for Teaching in Culturally Responsive Society | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 5996 | Topics in Special Education | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| SPED 5105 | Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |