Special Education (M.Ed.) (Career Alternatives in Special Education)
M.Ed. Special Education (Career Alternatives)
Program Overview
The CASE program, through a cohort model, places participants into existing Texas State classes for a total of 48 to 51 semester hours (16 or 17 courses) of general and special education courses, depending on previous course work. These courses can typically be completed in a year and a half of full-time attendance at Texas State. Courses consist of curriculum and instruction courses, reading courses and eight special education courses.
After successful completion of these courses, you may bypass student teaching, enroll in a two-semester internship, and be hired in a Central Texas school district on a full-time teacher’s salary. Texas State faculty will continue to provide supervision for one year, and a mentor teacher will be assigned to facilitate your first teaching year.
Upon successful completion of the internship, and after passing the state certification tests, you will obtain an all-level Texas teaching certificate in special education. At the conclusion of the program, you will be eligible to graduate with your master’s degree in education, with a Special Education Major.
Course Work
The CASE Program consists of 42–48 semester hours of general and special education courses. Students take 24 semester hours of course work in the special education major, 12 hours of coursework in curriculum and instruction, and 12 hours (across 2 semesters) in a paid teaching internship or 6 hours (during 1 semester) in unpaid student teaching.
Major courses in special education include evidence-based practices to support the emotional, behavioral, social, and academic needs of students with a variety of disabilities. The remaining 12 hours of required coursework are taken with in the curriculum and instruction department and include course work on teaching students classified as English Language Learners, teaching math/science to elementary students, and teaching students in secondary schools.
Master's Degree + Initial Teacher Certification (CASE) Program
| Degree | Concentration | Certification Program | Hours | Thesis Option | Minor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Degree M.Ed. | Concentration Career Alternatives in Special Education | Certification Program EC-12 Special Education | Hours 36 | Thesis Option Non-Thesis | Minor Cognate–Special Education |
Degree M.Ed. | Concentration Career Alternatives in Special Education | Certification Program EC-6 Core Subjects | Hours 36 | Thesis Option Non-Thesis | Minor Cognate–Specia Education |
Degree M.Ed. | Concentration Career Alternatives in Special Education | Certification Program English as a Second Language | Hours 36 | Thesis Option Non-Thesis | Minor Cognate–Special Education |
Degree M.Ed. | Concentration Career Alternatives in Special Education | Certification Program Science of Teaching Reading | Hours 36 | Thesis Option Non-Thesis | Minor Cognate–Special Education |
Program Details
Special education is individualized education designed to address the unique needs of students with disabilities and help them achieve their maximum potential. Graduates of our CASE Program will be prepared to teach students with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, emotional and behavioral disorders, and other low-incidence disabilities. Special education provides support for children’s success in school and later in life.
Program Mission
The mission of the special education program is to prepare educators and specialists who apply current, evidence-based practices in special education for the purpose of preparing individuals with disabilities to live independent, responsible and personally satisfying lives in a diverse, global society. Graduates engage in practitioner inquiry and research, serve as leaders in special education policy and classroom practice, and apply their knowledge and skills to positively influence the inclusion of, and support for, persons who require the best professional practices of special education.
Career Options
Graduates of our special education program pursue careers as teachers, behavior specialists and learning interventionists. The program provides a verified course sequence required to be certified as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Graduates work in public and charter school programs, clinic settings and alternative education settings, including residential programs. Many graduates choose to pursue doctoral studies and have been successful in receiving prestigious doctoral scholarships.
Program Faculty
Our full-time faculty members have established outstanding research programs in treatment of challenging behavior and learning difficulties in children and young adults with autism, emotional/behavioral disorders and learning disabilities. Research is conducted in schools and the Clinic for Autism, Research, Evaluation and Support (CARES). Special education faculty provide technical assistance and policy consultation for state and national government and advocacy agencies. Faculty members' research and policy commentaries have been published in top-tier journals, and faculty are frequently invited speakers at national and international professional meetings.
Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Tracy Raulston
tjr27@txstate.edu
512.971.9183
Education Building (ED), Room 3007
Advisor Support
Dr. Alyson Collins
alysonacollins@txstate.edu
512.245.8389
Education Building (ED), Room 3013
Apply Now Already know that Texas State is right for you?
Application Deadlines
| Deadlines | U.S. Citizen | International |
|---|---|---|
Deadlines Fall - Priority | U.S. Citizen February 1 | International February 1 |
Deadlines Fall - Standard | U.S. Citizen June 15 (*Flexible) | International June 1 |
Deadlines Spring | U.S. Citizen October 15 (*Flexible) | International October 1 |
Deadlines Summer I | U.S. Citizen April 15 (*Flexible) | International March 15 |
Deadlines Summer II | U.S. Citizen June 1 (*Flexible) | International No Admission |
*This program’s deadline is flexible for those not requiring an F/J visa. A flexible deadline means applications received after the standard deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantees for admission consideration.
Funding Information
Applications must be complete by the priority deadline to be considered for certain types of funding.
Learn more about the Partnering Assessment and Intervention Responsiveness in Interdisciplinary Teams (PAIR-IT) advanced degree training program, which offers fully-funded tuition, additional support (e.g., textbooks, laptop), conference travel opportunities, school-based practica and internships, faculty mentoring, and interdisciplinary experiences.
Decision Timeline
This program reviews applications on a rolling basis.
Admission Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.
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Application
- completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $55 nonrefundable master's application fee
OR - $90 nonrefundable master's application fee for applications with international credentials
There are additional fees associated with certification programs to be paid after admission. Review important information about the additional fees to be paid.
- $55 nonrefundable master's application fee
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Transcripts & GPA
- baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
- a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
- a 2.75 overall GPA or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
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Test Scores
GRE
- GRE not required
Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
Applicants are required to submit TOEFL scores that meet the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
- official TOEFL iBT scores with minimum individual scores of
- 22 listening
- 22 reading
- 24 speaking
- 21 writing
*Exceptions are made for students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution of higher education in India. These students must meet the following requirements:
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
- minimum individual module scores of 6.0
- official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
- official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
- Review important information about official test scores.
- This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
Review important information about official test scores.
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Documents
- copies of certifications or licensures (if applicable)
- resume/CV (include licenses or certificates and all previous teaching or other education-related experiences)
- statement of purpose addressing the following questions. Answers should be clear and concise.
- Why did you choose Texas State University’s graduate program in Special Education?
- To which concentration (Career Alternatives in Special Education) are you applying, and why have you selected that area of study?
- What types of interactions have you had professionally and/or personally with people with learning, behavioral, developmental and/or intellectual disability?
- What are your career goals post-graduation and what do you hope to achieve professionally in the next 5 years?
- What attributes do you possess that will empower you to excel academically, if accepted into this program?
- What are your experiences in collaborative professional and/or academic settings, and how those experiences have prepared you for the demands of the program?
- two letters of recommendation from persons who can speak to your potential for success in graduate school(one of whom is/was a supervisor). Items to address can include:
- your relationship to the applicant
- your knowledge of the applicant’s work performance
- your assessment of the applicant’s potential to meet the academic and professional demands of a rigorous graduate program
- your assessment of the applicant’s ability to manage the social and professional demands of graduate school (e.g., getting along with peers and professors, participating in class discussions and activities, attending class, meeting deadlines, responding to feedback)
Review important information about documents.