The program incorporates newest instructional technologies, experiential learning and exposure to information related to classroom management, individual education planning and instructional delivery for students with disabilities in K-12 school population.

Students will participate in practicum experiences in schools throughout the program. This includes a semester of student teaching or two semesters of supervised teaching if you are already in a classroom.

Students will create a variety of projects, unit/lesson plans, write IEPs and behavior assessments and plans, as well as develop a project that develops better home-school connections.

 

Shenandoah University’s Division of Education & Human Development prepares practitioner-leaders by offering programs of study that conform to the following principles: practicing in a spirit of collaboration; thoughtful examination of the foundations, current contexts and future possibilities of the fields of study; encouraging proactive, problem-centered philosophies of educational and professional practice; producing graduates who will be knowledge-driven, competent decision-makers whose thinking is informed by reflective practice; and preparing caring, capable and reflective teachers, administrators, human services and public sectors practitioners.

Our master’s and doctoral programs are unique in their emphasis on the application of theory to real-world problems and lived experiences. Administration and Supervision Licensure and Teacher Education Licensure programs have each earned accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

 

The program works in partnership with local public and private schools that offer special education programs so you complete real-world field experience practicums and student teaching internships within accredited schools. We give individualized attention to provisionally licensed special education teachers who are admitted to the MSE program so they can complete their coursework within the timeframe of their licensure requirements.

You will have many opportunities to participate in professional conferences and organizations such as the Council for Exceptional Children and the SVEA, which is the student branch of the Virginia Education Association.

Shenandoah’s Computer-Based Writing Project is supported by the Claude Moore Foundation, and serves local students in grades 4-8 who struggle with writing. During the summer program, students enrolled in SED 533: Language Acquisition and Reading Methods either help struggling writers learn keyboarding and writing process skills in the Bowman computer lab in downtown Winchester through the computer-based writing program, or they individually tutor students to develop and improve literacy skills.

You will learn to work in public and private schools with K-12 students who receive special education services, but who also access the general curriculum.

Our program provides all classes online in the evenings to meet the needs of those employed during the day. All our faculty members have doctorates and classes are taught by those endorsed in special education. All special education adjunct faculty members are in teaching or administrative leadership positions in Virginia K-12 school systems so their knowledge of the field of special education is current and practical.

Classes are one day per week for 2.5 hours each and offered as online synchronous sessions with the possibility of some asynchronous weeks. Synchronous classes are interactive and engaging and include group and individual work. The formats include lectures, interactive discussions, videos, and problem-solving activities. Some classes include practicum hours that students may apply in their current teaching positions. Students not currently teaching will work with their faculty advisor to be placed for practicum hours.

Learn how to:

• assess academic, socio-emotional and functional skills of K-12 students
• plan for instruction and develop Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
• carry out instruction as specified on students’ IEPs
• monitor student progress toward meeting IEP goals and objectives, and local and state curriculum standards
• learn collaborative and consultative strategies to employ when working with related-service providers such as speech and language clinicians, occupational and physical therapists, and school psychologists; school officials; students and parents/family members
• work within a response-to-intervention model to monitor at-risk students
• plan for co-teaching experiences in general education classrooms when working with a content teaching partner such as a math, science, English, or social studies teacher
• effectively use educational and assistive technology in assessing, planning and delivering instruction

Course Requirements

Education foundation courses required for initial licensure:
EDU510/EDUC510	Foundations of Education	3
RDG523/EDU523	Foundations of Reading	3
PSYP510	Human Growth & Learning	3
Masters Degree Requirements
SED/SEDC565	Foundations Legal and Medical Aspects of Special Education	3
SED/SEDC571	Characteristics Student Disabilities	3
SED 533	Language Acquisition/Reading Methods	3
SED 569	Collaborative/Consultative Strategies	3
SED 575	Transitions for Students w/Disabilities	3
SED 567	Special Education Instruction, Behavior Management & Assessment	3
SED 573	Curriculum, Instruction, Service Delivery	3
EDU 647	Projects in Curriculum & Instruction	3
EDU 661	Internship in Student Teaching K-12	6
or Seminar course designed for provisionally licensed teachers:
EDU 613	Management & Mentorship I	3
EDU 614	Management & Mentorship II	3
Passing score on VCLA & VRA or Praxis® Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205)

Upon completion of course and internship requirements, candidates must obtain passing scores on VCLA & the Praxis® Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) to qualify for an initial teaching license in Special Education-General Curriculum, K-12.

Virginia requires students in a licensure program to complete student teaching when completing licensure requirements. Provisionally licensed teachers in our MSE program who are employed as full-time provisionally licensed special education teachers and cannot complete student teaching are mentored for a full year by university supervisors who were K-12 school principals with experience in special education and other content endorsement areas.

Provisionally licensed teachers enroll in seminar courses EDU 613: Management and Mentorship I and EDU 614: Management and Mentorship II. These courses replace traditional student teaching. When completing these seminar courses, our students are supported in their own classrooms by field supervisors, and this allows students in our MSE program to complete all program requirements in terms of coursework and supervised teaching experiences.

Shenandoah University’s Division Of Education & Leadership provides inquiry-driven, problem-oriented examinations of public education and organizations.

View application deadlines and submit your Shenandoah Application. 

Education Application Information

 

State Reciprocity – SARA

Shenandoah University is a member of NC-SARA, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. View the licensure requirements for out-of-state students enrolling in Shenandoah programs leading to licensure. Click on the tab at the bottom of the screen to locate your program. Note that these requirements are subject to change.  Please contact your program with questions.

Students preparing to be teachers are expected to meet the requirements for teacher licensure currently in effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Most states grant teaching licensure on a reciprocal basis when the educating institution is approved by its own state department of education or when graduates of an institution are eligible for teaching licensure in the state in which they were educated. Teacher education programs at Shenandoah University are approved programs of the Virginia State Board of Education, and nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP); thus, graduates will have met all educational requirements for Virginia licensure.

State Reciprocity – SARA

Shenandoah University is a member of NC-SARA, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. View the licensure requirements for out-of-state students enrolling in Shenandoah programs leading to licensure. Click on the tab at the bottom of the screen to locate your program. Note that these requirements are subject to change.  Please contact your program with questions.