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
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The Special Education with Endorsement (Education, M.S.Ed.) program can be completed in approximately two years.
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Coursework is supplemented by field experiences in a variety of settings.
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Courses are offered in on campus, online (asynchronous), and web conferencing (synchronous) modalities.
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Students learn evidence-based practices for teaching individuals with disabilities.
Careers
Check out these ideas from ODU's Center for Career & Leadership Development and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.
Requirements
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A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university.
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Cumulative GPA of 2.80 for all college credit courses taken in the baccalaureate degree program
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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
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A 400-500 word goal statement indicating why the student wishes to enroll in the special education program.
Featured Courses
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. The course includes a broad overview of the characteristics, identification, instructional needs, and accommodation necessary for creating appropriate educational and vocational environments for students with disabilities. Prerequisites: junior standing.
The intent of this course is to provide pre-service and in-service teachers with: (a) knowledge of the characteristics of K-12 students with learning differences who are accessing either the general curriculum or the adapted curriculum, and (b) the ability to develop knowledge and skill in the selection, administration, scoring and interpretation of standardized/norm-referenced and criterion-referenced assessments for exceptional learners. Administering formal and informal assessment tools for the development of an IEP are emphasized. The use of assessment data to improve evidence-based 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.
This course addresses classroom management techniques and individual interventions based upon behavioral, cognitive, affective, social, and ecological theory and practice. The course focuses 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, supports, and functional behavioral assessment for students with diverse learning needs 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.
Cost of Attendance
We believe in providing students with transparent and accessible information about the cost of attendance.
Review the estimated tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year (subject to change). Other fees are assessed for special services and certain academic programs. Non-resident rates are charged for anyone who is not a current Virginia resident, including international students.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
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.
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