Special Education (M.S.Ed.)
This program prepares teachers and agency personnel to design and implement curricula for children, adolescents, and adults who require special educational services. Graduates serve as key members of child study teams and are prepared to address educational, emotional, and physical disabilities. In this program, a student can choose an endorsement in special education: general curriculum K-12 (mild/moderate disabilities); early childhood special education (birth–5); and/or special education: adapted curriculum K-12 (severe/multiple disabilities).
Special Education (M.S.Ed.)
Description
What is Special Education at ODU like?
This program prepares teachers and agency personnel to design and implement curricula for children, adolescents, and adults who require special educational services. Graduates serve as key members of child study teams and are prepared to address educational, emotional, and physical disabilities. In this program, a student can choose an endorsement in special education: general curriculum K-12 (mild/moderate disabilities); early childhood special education (birth–5); and/or special education: adapted curriculum K-12 (severe/multiple disabilities).
Program Highlights
What makes Special Education at ODU unique?
-
The Special Education with Endorsement (Education, M.S.Ed.) program can be completed in approximately two years.
-
Coursework is supplemented by field experiences in a variety of settings.
-
Courses are offered in on campus, online (asynchronous), and web conferencing (synchronous) modalities.
-
Students learn evidence-based practices for teaching individuals with disabilities.
Careers
What are some careers in this field?
- Special Education Teachers: Mild to Moderate Disabilities
Special education teachers work with K-12 students with mild to moderate disabilities (i.e. learning disabilities, speech-language delays, mild intellectual development, emotional behavioral disorders, etc.) who are participating in grade-level general academic curriculum. Most special education teachers work in public schools as a classroom teacher, member of co-teaching teams or as student case-managers. Special Education teachers serve as critical members of individualized educational plan teams for students receiving special education services. - Special Education Teachers: Severe Disabilities
Special education teachers work with K-12 students with mild to moderate disabilities (i.e. severe intellectual development, deaf-blindness, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, etc.) who are participating in grade-appropriate, applied or adapted academic curriculum. Most special education teachers work as a classroom teacher, member of co-teaching teams or as student case-managers and work in public, private, hospital and/or residential school settings. Special Education teachers serve as critical members of individualized educational plan teams for students receiving special education services. - Early Childhood Special Educators
Special education teachers work with infants, toddlers and young children, ages birth to five-years, who have a wide range of learning, cognitive, emotional, and physical disabilities. Special Education teachers provide instruction to the child and family members to increase cognitive, communicative, motor and adapted behavior skills. Most special education teachers work as a classroom teacher or member of co-teaching team in public, private, hospital, residential school and/or home settings. Special Education teachers serve as critical members of individualized family support plan or individuals educational plan teams for children receiving early intervention or early childhood special education services.
Courses
What are some courses offered in Special Education at ODU?
SPED 500:
Foundations of Special Education: Legal Aspects and Characteristics
The course provides an introduction and overview of the field of special education from the perspective that it is a subsection of general education and that the field is in transition by virtue of philosophical, legislative and programmatic changes. Legal aspects, regulatory requirements, and critical analyses of research are addressed. This course includes a broad overview of the expectations associated with the identification, characteristics, and education of students with disabilities. Prerequisite: junior standing.
SPED 502:
Instructional Design I: Learner Characteristics and Assessment
The intent of this course is to provide pre-service teachers with: (a) knowledge of the characteristics of students with mild disabilities who are accessing the general curriculum, K-12, including, but not limited to learning disabilities, emotional disabilities and intellectual disabilities and (b) the ability to develop knowledge and skill in the selection, administration, scoring and interpretation of standardized/norm-referenced assessments of exceptional learners. Administering formal and informal assessment tools and the development of an IEP are emphasized. The use of assessment data to improve instruction and student performance is discussed. Prerequisites: a grade of C- or higher in SPED 400 or a grade of B- or higher in SPED 500.
SPED 511:
Classroom and Behavioral Management Techniques for Students with Diverse Needs
This course will address classroom management techniques and individual interventions based upon behavioral, cognitive, affective, social, and ecological theory and practice. The course will focus on the field of applied behavior analysis, including best practices in the areas of data collection, program selection, program implementation, and data analysis. Positive behavior management and supports and functional behavioral assessment will be emphasized. Pre- or corequisite: a grade of C- of higher in SPED 400 or a grade of B- or higher in SPED 500.
Requirements
What are the requirements to apply for Special Education at ODU?
Students entering the Master of Science in Education program in Special Education should meet the minimum university admission requirements (Graduate Admission)
A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university.
Cumulative GPA of 2.80 for all college credit courses taken in the baccalaureate degree program
A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of at least 291 (Verbal and Quantitative sections with a minimum Verbal score of 150 or better) and a 4.5 on the Analytical Writing section OR a Miller Analogies Test (MAT) minimum score of 403
A 400-500 word goal statement indicating why the student wishes to enroll in the special education program.
Cost
Tuition and Fees
Estimated rates for the 2022-23 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.
Virginia Resident
Per Credit:
$ 571
Non-Resident
Per Credit:
$ 1,394
Technology Delivered Courses Outside Virginia and/or the United States
Per Credit:
$ 595
Ways to Save
Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending ODU. For more information visit University Student Financial aid
Paraprofessional Preparation for Extraordinary Teaching (PPET) Program
The Darden College of Education & Professional Studies of Old Dominion University is seeking applicants for endorsement in special education: general curriculum. The PPET program is one of the Commonwealth Special Education Endorsement Programs.
Commonwealth Special Education Endorsement Program (CSEEP)
The Commonwealth Special Education Endorsement (CSEEP) Program is a technology-rich, award-winning approach to teacher preparation in special education.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program
Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.
Next Steps
I like this program. What are the next steps?
-
Visit Campus Tour your future campus -
University Life Experience our community -
College Website See what we have to offer -
Department Website Explore our academics
Contact
Need help applying?
Meet Your Enrollment Team
Our enrollment coordinators are ready to help you through the admissions process.
Graduate Program Director
Name:
Jonna Bobzien PhD
Location:
241 LIONS CHILD STUDY CTR, NORFOLK, VA, 23529
Email:
Office:
757-683-3307
Graduate Admissions
Location:
1000 Rollins Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529
Phone Office:
757-683-3685
Fax:
757-683-6512
Email:
gradadmit@odu.edu
International Admissions
Location:
2101 Dragas Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529
Phone Office:
757-683-3701
Fax:
757-683-3651
Email:
intladm@odu.edu
Related Programs
What other options does ODU have?
How would you like to complete your program?
Enhance your college career by gaining relevant experience with the skills and knowledge needed for your future career. Discover our experiential learning opportunities.
Get an inside look into your major of interest when you speak to professors and current students at our monthly First Friday events.
Explore our beautiful campus and its community! Join us for our Spring Open House events in February and March.