Master of Arts in Special Education

MA in Special Education Graduate courses

The Master of Arts in Special Education builds on the foundation of the Preliminary Education Specialist credential. M.A. candidates develop advanced level knowledge, skills, and dispositions aligned with professional standards and directly apply research-based theory and "best practices" as they teach students with special needs in their own classrooms.

The Education Specialist Clear credential requirements are incorporated into this advanced degree and are strategically aligned and blended with BTSA induction requirements to equip special education teachers in BTSA Induction programs to address clear credential proficiency requirements as they complete their BTSA requirements.

The Master of Arts in Special Education is an evidence-based program. Candidates develop differentiated learning plans for their graduate level coursework, building on the evidence of prior knowledge, skills, and dispositions that they bring into the program. This customized instructional design is focused on significant transformation along the California Standards for the Teaching Profession's Learning to Teach Continuum and the Council for Exceptional Children's Professional Standards.

Course Requirements

COURSE # and Title	Units
GED 650 Universal Access: Equity for All Students OR GED 622 Advanced Assessment and Behavior Analysis	3
*GED 656 Shared Leadership, Legislation, and Due Process	2
*GED 658 Reflective Coaching/ Induction	2
*GED 658F Fieldwork for Reflective Coaching/Induction	1
Core Clear Credential coursework required	8
SPECIALIZATION: The Clear credential requires candidates to choose one of the following courses with an accompanyhing fieldwork
(select one course with fieldwork from below)
GED 652 Methods for Teaching Students with ASD	3
GED 652F Fieldwork for Methods for Teaching Students with ASD	1
GED 653 Methods for Teaching Students with TBI	3
GED 653F Fieldwork for Methods for Teaching Students with TBI	1
GED 654 Methods for Teaching Students with OHI	3
GED 654F Fieldwork for Methods for Teaching Students with OHI	1
TOTAL Specialization courses and fieldwork required for Clear Credential	4
TOTAL Required for Clear Credential (including at least one added authorization)	12
Advanced Courses Completion of the Master of Arts in Special Education Education
*GED 672 Philosophy of Education	3
*GED 689 Master’s Project	3
*GED 689P Action Research Project	1
*GED 659 Independent Studies in Special Education	2
Total Advanced Courses	9
Electives (select 12 units from below or from added authorization courses)
GED 675 Family Systems	3

GED 670 Educational Psychology	3
GED 641 School Communities in a Pluralistic Society	3
PLNU preliminary credential completers can use these 12 units as electives
EDU 602 Foundations of Special Education	3
EDU 650 Assess and Services for Students with Disabilities	3
EDU 651 Curricular and Instructional Adaptations for Students	3
EDU 652 Collaboration and Consultation/IEPs for Students	3
TOTAL REQUIRED FOR DEGREE	36

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Each one of the PLNU School of Education Regional Centers has a program coordinator who is available to answer questions about curriculum. In addition, a graduate enrollment counselor is available to answer questions about the admissions process, application deadlines and materials.