SPED Master's Degree:Exit Requirements
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Written comprehensive examinations (see below) are required of graduate students, are composed of questions drawn from all courses taken in graduate studies course work, and must be completed successfully prior to graduation. Comprehensive exams are given in October, March and June. Only one re-examination is allowed. In order to take the written comprehensive examination, send in an application at least eight (8) weeks prior to the date of the exam.
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In order to exit the program, students must: (a) have a grade point average of 3.00 and a grade of B- or better in all course work; (b) have a minimum of 30 graduate hours at the 500 level and above; (c) provide passing scores on the written comprehensive examination (with no more than one successful re-examination); (d) successfully complete the teacher candidate internship/student teaching experience (if applicable); (e) complete the University Graduate Student Assessment; and (f) complete the Post-Task Rating Form.
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In accordance with National Council for Accreditation in Teacher Education (NCATE) guidelines and the competencies established by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) we must gather performance data. The special education exit exam has been developed to measure the performance of licensure program completers. The exam draws material from the core coursework for licensure. The information collected through this exam will be used for program assessment and improvement to serve future students. The results of this exam will be reported in the aggregate (i.e., summary of all responses) so that individual responses will remain confidential. The exam will take no longer than two hours.
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Candidates seeking initial special education licensure will be required to successfully complete the Reading for Virginia Educators assessment (RVE) [exception: endorsement in early childhood special education and/or special education: adapted curriculum does not require the RVE]; the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA); the Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training; and the Emergency First Aid, CPR & AED Certification or Training, Dyslexia Awareness Training, and Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools in Virginia training.
Application for graduation must be filed by these dates:
- December graduation: June 30
- May graduation: November 30
- August graduation: February 28
(Dates subject to change. Contact the Registrar's Office for further information.)
Note: You must be registered at ODU the semester of graduation. If you are not taking a course, you will need to register, and pay for CDSE 999 - 1 cr
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The Old Dominion University MS degree in Special Education is a state approved endorsement program. You must complete all requirements of the program including student teaching for licensure recommendation from ODU. If you are currently teaching in the special education area for which you wish endorsement, then it becomes your (the student's) responsibility to seek the alternative route to licensure through your school division. Final steps to licensure are the VDOE College Verification Form (DA-035) & transcript request.
*Please be aware that if you do not complete an approved endorsement program, you will be subject to a transcript review by the Virginia Department of Education upon your request for licensure.
The Special Education Department provides this information for the convenience of the student. It is not a substitute for the University Catalog and the student is still held responsible for all information contained in the catalog.
Written Comprehensive Examinations/Applications
Written comprehensive examinations are required of graduate students, are composed of questions drawn from all courses taken in graduate study, and must be successfully completed prior to graduation. Comprehensive exams are given in October, March and June. Only one re-examination is allowed. In order to make application for the comprehensive exam, send in an application (download from the links that follow) at least eight (8) weeks prior to the date of the exam. The following applications are in .pdf format. Acrobat Reader is required and may be downloaded free.
Six weeks before the date of your comprehensive exam, a packet of information and comprehensive questions will be mailed to your home. Below are links to some of the information that will be included in that packet (Comprehensive questions are specific to concentration area and cannot be circulated on this web site.):
