Special Education, Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (Prek-2), (Initial Licensure), M.Ed

The Teacher for Students with Severe Disabilities (Prek-2) (Initial Licensure) M.Ed. Program qualifies candidates for Department of Elementary and Secondary Education licensure with a focus on early literacy and early childhood education for students with severe disabilities. The program is designed for candidates who want to support the literacy and academic challenges of young students with severe disabilities as well as their challenges with activities of daily living, communication, socialization with age-appropriate peers, and participation in inclusive settings. Pedagogy for early childhood students with severe intellectual disabilities, autism, behavioral challenges, and multiple disabilities is emphasized.

Admission requirements

The Early Admission Program is for seniors at Bridgewater State University majoring in Elementary Education, Special Education Concentration, BSE, who wish to take one graduate course in Special Education for undergraduate credit, and thereby accelerate the completion of their MEd in Special Education, Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) (Initial Licensure) for Elementary and Early Childhood Teachers. Students can complete a BSE and MEd in Special Education within five years if they choose to be a full-time student. The application fee for students seeking early admissions to the relevant graduate program will be waived.

If accepted, students will be granted special status to enroll in one graduate course in Special Education for undergraduate credit. The graduate course that will be taken for undergraduate credit is SPED 524 - Curriculum Development for Learners with Severe Disabilities I (3 credits). Tuition for this course will be at the undergraduate course rate.

• Resume
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8*
• A qualifying score on the Communication and Literacy Skills (both Reading and Writing subtests) Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL)
• Three letters of recommendation, academic or professional
• Personal statement

Program of Study

In consultation with an advisor, appropriate course work and activities must include the following:

• Candidates must complete SPED 510 - Teaching Exceptional Children in Schools  or an equivalent introductory class in special education
• Candidates must complete SPED 509 - Teaching Reading to Learners with Disabilities   (or equivalent) prior to enrollment in SPED 524 - Curriculum Development for Learners with Severe Disabilities I
• Candidates must submit evidence that they have passed the General Curriculum MTELs® prior to taking SPED 525 - Curriculum Development for Learners with Severe Disabilities II

Required courses (12 credits)

License requirements (21-24 credits)

Exit requirement

Sucessful completion of a comprehensive examination is required. Please see the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog for additional information.

Total minimum credits: 33*

* On a case-by-case basis, an individual course may be waived to bring the minimum number of credits to 30. For students in the Early Admission Program at BSU, one graduate course (3 credits) in Special Education taken as an undergraduate and completed with a minimum grade of “B” may be applied to fulfill MEd program requirements.