Previously, coursework beyond degree lists had been required for secondary level special education teachers, in order to be classified as “highly qualified” in a content area. This has changed.
On July 11, 2016, the West Virginia Department of Education proposed and passed the elimination of the extra coursework. You no longer need to take those courses that were documented on WVDE Form 26 in Policy 5202 for Special Education – Multi Categorical.
The federal government with the “No Child Left Behind” Legislation required that states have a protocol for extra college coursework in all the content areas where teachers instruct students. The new education legislation, “Every Student Succeeds Act,” does not have this requirement. This is what prompted the West Virginia Department of Education Policy 5202 change, as “No Child Left Behind’ is no longer the driving educational policy.
If you have further questions, please contact Dr. Debra Lockwood, Program Director of the Special Education program, at 304-696-2340. If you have certification questions, please contact Mrs. Gabriella Dahalia, Assistant to the Dean at 304-746-1909.
Mrs. Gabriella Dahalia, M.A.
Assistant to the Dean/Certification Analyst
100 Angus E Peyton Drive
South Charleston, WV 25303
304-746-1909 gabi.dahalia@marhall.edu
Overview
The Special Education Master’s degree may be earned with a specialization in any of the Areas of Emphasis listed below. Students without a background in education must acquire certification in regular education prior to endorsement in Special Education, or they can enter the Non-Education Certification program, the Preschool Special Education Area of Emphasis is exempt from this requirement. The MA in Special Education, Preschool Special Education Area of Emphasis is a full certification program and students are not required to have an existing teaching certification to obtain certification in Preschool Special Education in WV. The program includes all coursework and student teaching requirements needed to obtain certification in preschool special education regardless of the student’s undergraduate degree (this includes other fields of discipline that are not education-related and RBA degrees). Students completing an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from Marshall University are not required to complete a student teaching field experience for the Preschool Special Education program as this requirement is previously met as part of the Early Childhood Education undergraduate degree. Additionally, students who wish to only complete the MA in Special Education with an emphasis on Preschool Special Education (without certification) have this option available to them.
The Non-Education Certification Program is designed to allow candidates from non-education backgrounds to obtain West Virginia teacher Licensure in Visual Impairments, Multi-categorical, and Autism at the 5-Adult level. The non-education program does not include a general education teaching endorsement.
Areas of Emphasis (click on the link to access the Program of Study):
All applicants (including those seeking admission as professional development, certification only, should follow the admissions process at the Graduate Admissions website. Applicants must have an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previously completed undergraduate university coursework and meet one of the following two requirements:
A total of 286 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or
A raw score of at least 30 or a scaled score of 378 on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
Students seeking to enter the Non-Education Certification Program must meet all Special Education Program admission requirements. In addition to the general Special Education admission requirements, applicants must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators in Reading, Mathematics, and Writing within their first twelve hours of coursework. The Praxis I requirement is waived for applicants with an enhanced ACT score of 26 or higher, a re-centered SAT score of 1125 or higher, or if the applicant holds a master’s degree.
All Special Education majors must pass the Praxis II Test in the area(s) in which they seek endorsement. The Special Education Content Specialization Test is taken at or near the end of the certification coursework in Special Education. Students should contact the Marshall Teacher Certification Office for additional information about these tests and other important licensure information.
*Hybrid is a combination of face-to-face and online activities. Virtual is all online, but there are some required web conferences that students must attend.
Interested in undergraduate programs? Contact Missy Reed at 304-696-2850.
I am getting endorsed in Multi-Categorical Special Education, but am interested in autism as well. Can I combine the two?
Once you have your initial license in Multi-Categorical Special Education, you can add the Autism Endorsement, and we encourage you to do so if it fits your long-term goals.
What is the difference between the M.A. and Licensure programs for Multi-Categorical Special Education?
The Master’s Program leads to a Master’s degree in special education while the licensure courses lead to certification to teach multi-categorical special education for Grade 5-Adult in the state of West Virginia.
I was an education major as an undergraduate and want to get a master’s in multi-categorical special education. Which program is right for me?
This program can be completed almost entirely online, with more courses being offered online each semester. As of Fall 2015, only three courses are not available online.
