Master of Education in Special Education
If you want to work with special education students, this program will help you earn the knowledge and skill to make a difference in the classroom. Our graduates now work in a variety of settings: self-contained classrooms, resource rooms, in consultation with others, in public or private schools, and in institutions including adolescent correctional facilities.
Why study Special Education at Washburn?
Our program is designed to get you into the classroom so you can build experience, grow your expertise and be prepared for licensure exams.
- By completing your provisional licensure requirements at the beginning of the program, you can get going and keep learning.
- A licensure-only option is available.
- If you earned your B.Ed. at Washburn, you can transition right into this program without the application process.
Tuition and fees
All courses in this program are offered at the Graduate Distance Education rate.Financial aid
Financial aid is available for graduate students.- Tuition and feesTuition and fees
- Financial aidFinancial aid
Online advantage
All courses in the Special Education program are offered online and can be taken at your own pace. Most students take 9 to 18 credits per year, finishing the 33 credit program in 2 to 3 years. Start dates are offered in the Spring, Summer and Fall of each year so you can get started right away!
Career placement options for licensed elementary and secondary education teachers include the self-contained classroom, the resource room, and the itinerant consultant teacher in the public school. Secondary special education teachers with a subject area specialization (e.g., history, mathematics, art, English, etc.) may also work in state or private institutions as well as in adolescent correctional facilities.
This 33-hour program and completion of the required Capstone Experience leads to a Master of Education (M.Ed.). A license in High Incidence Special Education requires successful completion of the State of Kansas content tests.
Prerequisites:
- For High Incidence License Elementary, the candidate must be licensed in Elementary Education (K-6)
- For High Incidence License Secondary, the candidate must be licensed in Secondary Education (6-12)
Core Course: The following 3 hours are required:
- ED 665 Introduction to Educational Research (3)
Area of Concentration: A minimum of 30 semester hours to include the following (electives or substitutions must be approved by the Graduate Program Advisor, the department’s Graduate Program Committee, and the Chair of the Education Department).
- *SE 610 (3) Learning and Behavior Problems (Spring only)
- *SE 620 (3) Educational Planning (elementary) OR SE 622 (3) (secondary) (Summer only)
- *SE 656 (3) Practicum I (elementary) OR SE 658 (3) (secondary)
- SE 630 (3) Methods and Materials (elementary) OR SE 632 (3) (secondary) (Fall only)
- SE 635 (3) Conferencing and Collaboration in Special Education (Spring only)
- SE 640 (3) Individual and Group Management (Fall only)
- SE 660 (3) Assessment (elementary, Spring only) OR SE 662 (3) (secondary, Spring only)
- SE 657 (3) Practicum II (elementary) OR SE 659 (3) (secondary)
- SE 680 (3) Resources for Families (Fall only)
- RD 622 (3) Literacy/ESOL Instructional Strategies
*Required Courses for provisional licensure.
Prerequisites: The candidate must have completed the B.Ed. in Elementary Education degree with emphasis in High Incidence Special Education from Washburn University.
Core Course: The following 3 hours are required:
- ED 665 Introduction to Educational Research (3)
Area of Concentration: A minimum of 30 semester hours to include the following (electives or substitutions must be approved by the Graduate Program Advisor, the department’s Graduate Program Committee, and the Chair of the Education Department).
- SE 610 (3) Learning and Behavior Problems (Spring only)
- SE 635 (3) Conferencing and Collaboration in Special Education (Spring only)
- SE 660 (3) Assessment (Spring only)
- SE 657 (3) Practicum II
- SE 680 (3) Resources for Families
- RD 622 (3) Literacy/ESOL Instructional Strategies
- ED 697 (3) Independent Study – to include a practicum
- ED 680 (3) Integrating Technology in the Curriculum (Fall only)
Any two or more of the following (for a total of 6+ credits) also are required. Consult your program advisor prior to enrollment.
- RD 616 (3) Teaching Writing
- RD 620 (3) Literacy and ESOL Assessment
- RD 626 (3) The Literacy/ESOL Specialist
- RD 684 (3) Reading in the Content Area
- EA 686 (3) School Law
- ED 660 (3) Advanced Educational Psychology (Spring only)
- ED 696 (1-3) Thesis
- SE 663 (3) Exceptionals in Early Childhood Education
This 33-hour program and completion of the required Capstone Experience leads to a Master of Education (M.Ed.). A license in High Incidence Special Education (K-6) requires successful completion of the State of Kansas content tests.
Provisional licensure requirements: In order to renew a provisional license, it will be necessary to complete at least one-half (18 hours +) of the 33-hour program. Once a candidate holds a provisional license, they cannot convert to teach on a waiver if requirements are not met for provisional renewal.
The Licensure Only Program in Special Education is available for teachers with an elementary or secondary teaching license who wish to pursue a teaching license in high incidence special education without earning a master’s degree. Candidates who already have a master’s degree - or those not interested in obtaining a master’s degree - will be required to submit:
- an application to the Department of Education
- a copy of their current teaching license
- two letters of reference, and
- complete a plan of study with their advisor.
Licensure-only candidates can earn a provisional license which will be good for two years and can reapply for a second provisional license with successful completion of coursework. Candidates completing all coursework can apply for full licensure in high incidence special education. Candidates who are pursuing licensure-only can opt to apply for the master program no later than the date at which they apply for the second provisional license.
If you are currently a paraprofessional in special education for at least one full academic year this limited program may be for you.
Learn more about the apprentice program (PDF)
Contact Dr. Gloria Dye, Washburn University Education Department Professor and Limited Apprentice Program Coordinator gloria.dye@washburn.edu for more information.
Pictured are 5 of the inaugural Limited Apprentice Program graduates. From left to right they are: Patrick Cook, Adam Groves, Erin Wallentine, Beth King; front: Titiana Ayala.
Program cost
Course in the Special Education program are offered at the Graduate Distance Education rate. Financial aid and scholarships are available to graduate students.
GET IN TOUCH WITH Department of Education
Department of Education
Education Building, Room 156
1731 SW Plass Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
Phone & Email
Phone: 785.670.1427
