Project Description:
The project provides Master's students with specialized expertise in meeting education, social and behavioral support, and transition needs of students with DD and other disabilities. This project will be accomplished in collaboration with special education faculty at Texas A&M University. Each year, the project will admit 45 practicing education or human service professionals for advanced master's training. The project provides coursework and advising support services. The project staff and faculty assess student knowledge gains, satisfaction with the program, and post-program impact using TAMU & NIRS evaluation instruments.
Mission: The Master's of Education program in Special Education at Texas A&M University prepares the highest quality professionals to meet the many educational and behavioral needs of students with disabilities. We prepare leaders, expert-level practitioners, and advocates in educational fields. Our greater goal is to improve the quality of education and treatment services for children and youth with disabilities including their families.
Purpose of the Special Education Master's Program: The purpose of this program is to prepare expert-leaders who are well-equipped to implement high- quality academic and behavioral interventions and programming for students with disabilities in the state, nation, and world.
Special Education Master's Program Philosophy:
Our training encompasses the knowledge and skills for effectively meeting the needs of students classified as having disabilities as well as those identified as "low-performing" and "at-risk". Our faculty supports the premises of FAPE (free appropriate public education) and LRE (least restrictive environment) across a continuum of placements including the involvement of individuals with disabilities with their typically developing peers in a variety of settings (e.g., schools, community, and employment settings) with well-trained professionals. We share a commitment to teaching empirically-supported best practice interventions and methods in the identification, assessment, instructional programming, and progress evaluation of students with disabilities. Further, we strive to contribute to Texas A&M's Vision, whereby we support transformational education, discovery and innovation, and impact on our state, nation and world. We further embrace the cohort as part of the university community.
We believe that graduates from our Master's in Special Education Program will encounter increasing changes and challenges in the field of special education. As a result, we teach problem-solving, critical thinking, data analysis, collaboration, and communication skills as part of the leadership and professional development of our Master's students. Graduates from our online Master's program often gain admission to prestigious doctoral programs; acquire director, supervisory or other leadership positions in school districts, advocacy organizations, and state government; and advise or create non-profit organizations serving individuals with disabilities. While in the program, students can expect to interact with national scholars and learn the most current technological, methodological, legal, and topical issues related to the education of individuals with disabilities. Students may also have the opportunity to engage in scholarly activities as desired and available. Coursework includes two courses on reading and literacy, two for behavior management and analysis, Leadership in ABA, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Transition, Single Case Research, , Ethics and Professional Conduct, Consultation in SPED, and Assessment.
