School of Education
M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teaching Students with Disabilities is designed to develop professional educators committed to careers that involve children, youth, and adults with disabilities. Graduates are prepared to work as special education teachers or education consultants.
Students gain in-depth knowledge of teaching students with disabilities and best practices in special education, develop expertise in autism/severe disabilities or K-12 education and benefit from faculty support, individualized mentoring and professional guidance.
Program Director: Laura T. Eisenman
Master’s Program Tracks
Traditional Master’s Program
The traditional degree Master’s Program (MP) track is appropriate for teachers with a U.S. teaching certification in either general or special education who wish to develop advanced knowledge and skills. The traditional degree MP track also may be suitable for individuals who are not teachers but have other experience in the disabilities and wish to pursue an advanced degree only. For previously certified teachers, the traditional degree track also may be a path to a second certification in special education. Because this program requires access to a classroom to complete assignments, this program is not intended for international students. This program does not offer assistantship funding. Please see more information about tuition and cost of attendance.
Some classes are offered in person on the Newark campus with a virtual option for distant learners. Other courses are available online (synchronous or asynchronous). Students need to be already affiliated with an area school
Within the MP track, concentrations include:
- K-12 Special Education
- Autism/Severe Disabilities
All applicants must complete the steps of the UD online graduate application process. Please see below for specifics about the application requirements for the M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities program. Admission decisions are made by the program’s full-time faculty. Students will be admitted to the program based upon enrollment availability and evidence that they meet or exceed the following minimum recommended entrance requirements. Applications are evaluated on a combination of academic achievement, recommendations, and professional objectives as evidenced by the following factors. Those who meet stated minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.
-
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- An undergraduate cumulative grade index of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or demonstrate mastery of general knowledge, including the ability to read, write, and compute, by achieving a score deemed by the state of Delaware to be college ready on a test of general knowledge normed to the college-bound population.
- A graduate cumulative grade index of at least 3.5 if graduate courses were taken.
Please do not send any transcripts to the School of Education.
- GRE scores are not required.
- TOEFL or IELTS for applicants whose primary language is not English. The minimum acceptable score for the Internet-based TOEFL is 100. The minimum acceptable score for the IELTS is 7.0.
- Three letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors.
- A resume detailing your academic, professional, and/or volunteer experience.
- Responses to the following two graduate application essays.
Essay 1
If the applicant plans to pursue initial teacher certification through the MPCP track or additional teaching certification through the traditional track in addition to the degree, this must be stated.
Essay 2
In this writing sample, the applicant should address one of the following questions in a brief essay of 500 words or less:
- Select an important problem facing individuals with disabilities or the schools, teachers, or other people who work with them and propose a solution to this problem; or,
- Describe an experience in your own life that influenced your decision to work with individuals with disabilities
Application deadlines
| Track | Deadline | Admission |
| Traditional M.Ed. (MP track) | April 1 | subsequent Fall semester |
| Traditional M.Ed. (MP track) | December 15 | subsequent Spring semester |
| Alternate Route MPCP (certification track) | April 1 | subsequent Summer semester. However, in the “term details” section, MPCP applicants should select the Fall term. |
Master’s Plus Certification Program
The alternate route Master’s Plus Certification Program (MPCP) track is appropriate for individuals who seek to acquire advanced knowledge and skills while also obtaining their first teaching certificate. This option requires local/regional residence and employment. The MPCP track is not suitable for international students. Some classes are offered in person on the Newark campus with a virtual option for distant learners. Other courses are available online (synchronous or asynchronous).
Within the MPCP track, concentrations include:
- Elementary (K-6) Special Education
- Secondary (7-12) Special Education
- Autism/Severe Disabilities
All applicants must complete the steps of the UD online graduate application process. Please see below for specifics about the application requirements for the M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities program. Admission decisions are made by the program’s full-time faculty. Students will be admitted to the program based upon enrollment availability and evidence that they meet or exceed the following minimum recommended entrance requirements. Applications are evaluated on a combination of academic achievement, recommendations, and professional objectives as evidenced by the following factors. Those who meet stated minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.
-
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- An undergraduate cumulative grade index of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or demonstrate mastery of general knowledge, including the ability to read, write, and compute, by achieving a score deemed by the state of Delaware to be college ready on a test of general knowledge normed to the college-bound population.
- A graduate cumulative grade index of at least 3.5 if graduate courses were taken.
Please do not send any transcripts to the School of Education.
- GRE scores are not required.
- TOEFL or IELTS for applicants whose primary language is not English. The minimum acceptable score for the Internet-based TOEFL is 100. The minimum acceptable score for the IELTS is 7.0.
- Three letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors.
- A resume detailing your academic, professional, and/or volunteer experience.
- Responses to the following two graduate application essays.
Essay 1
If the applicant plans to pursue initial teacher certification through the MPCP track or additional teaching certification through the traditional track in addition to the degree, this must be stated.
Essay 2
In this writing sample, the applicant should address one of the following questions in a brief essay of 500 words or less:
- Select an important problem facing individuals with disabilities or the schools, teachers, or other people who work with them and propose a solution to this problem; or,
- Describe an experience in your own life that influenced your decision to work with individuals with disabilities
Application deadlines
| Track | Deadline | Admission |
| Traditional M.Ed. (MP track) | April 1 | subsequent Fall semester |
| Traditional M.Ed. (MP track) | December 15 | subsequent Spring semester |
| Alternate Route MPCP (certification track) | April 1 | subsequent Summer semester. However, in the “term details” section, MPCP applicants should select the Fall term. |
For information about graduate tuition, visit CEHD’s graduate tuition page. Delaware teachers and residents are eligible for the Delaware Educator Scholarship.
4+1 for UD undergraduates
The K-12 concentration in the 4+1 track of the M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities program is open to current UD undergraduate Secondary Education majors and Elementary and Middle School Teacher Education majors in multilingual learner education, middle school English, middle school math, middle school science, and middle school social studies concentrations. The Autism/Severe Disabilities concentration in the 4+1 track of the M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities program is for current UD Early Childhood Education majors and Elementary and Middle School Teacher Education majors in the special education concentration.
This five-year program combines undergraduate and graduate coursework. Students will earn a bachelor’s degree in their major at the end of four years and an M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities in one additional year. Students who complete the M.Ed. requirements during the +1 year are eligible for additional teacher certification in their chosen concentration.
There are two 4+1 concentrations for students in the areas of:
- K-12 Special Education
- Autism/Severe Disabilities
The K-12 concentration in the 4+1 track of the M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities program is open to current UD undergraduate Secondary Education majors and Elementary and Middle School Teacher Education majors in multilingual learner education, middle school English, middle school math, middle school science, and middle school social studies concentrations. The Autism/Severe Disabilities concentration in the 4+1 track of the M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities program is for current UD Early Childhood Education majors and Elementary and Middle School Teacher Education majors in the special education concentration.
This five-year program combines undergraduate and graduate coursework. Students will earn a bachelor’s degree in their major at the end of four years and an M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities in one additional year. Students who complete the M.Ed. requirements during the +1 year are eligible for additional teacher certification in their chosen concentration.
K-12 Concentration Course Requirements
Students complete 33 graduate credits for the M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities program. During the senior year, students complete 9 graduate credits (which may be in lieu of 9 undergraduate credits) and complete all remaining undergraduate requirements. During the +1 year, students complete 18 credits of graduate coursework plus 6 credits of a graduate teaching internship in special education in local K-12 schools (i.e., elementary, middle, or high).
- EDUC 653: Assistive Technology: High Incidence Disabilities
- EDUC 673: School-to-Adult Life Transitions and Disability
- EDUC 679: Special Education Instruction and Curriculum: Advanced
- EDUC 680: Educational Evaluation: Exceptional Children and Youth
- EDUC 681: Techniques for Behavior Change and Positive Behavior Support
- EDUC 682: Current Issues in Special Education
- EDUC 745: Collaborative Teaming in Special Education
- EDUC 750: Graduate Teaching Internship (6 credits)
- EDUC 754: Special Education Instruction and Curriculum: Elementary
- OR EDUC 674 Special Education Instruction and Curriculum: Secondary
- EDUC 757: Diagnosis and Instruction in Literacy: Grades 4-12
Autism/Severe Disabilities Concentration Course Requirements
Students complete 33 graduate credits for the M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities program. During the senior year, students complete 9 graduate credits (which may be in lieu of 9 undergraduate credits) and complete all remaining undergraduate requirements. During the +1 year, students complete 18 credits of graduate coursework plus 6 credits of a graduate teaching internship in autism and severe disabilities in local K-12 schools (i.e., elementary, middle, or high).
- EDUC 624: Introduction to Autism and Severe Disabilities
- EDUC 625: Special Education Instruction and Curriculum: Autism/Severe
- EDUC 626: Functional Communication for Individuals with Autism and Severe Disabilities
- EDUC 655: Assistive Technology: Autism/Severe Disabilities
- EDUC 669: Engagement in the General Curriculum for Students with Severe Disabilities
- EDUC 673: School-to-Adult Life Transitions and Disability
- EDUC 681: Techniques for Behavior Change and Positive Behavior Support
- EDUC 682: Current Issues in Special Education
- EDUC 745: Collaborative Teaming in Special Education
- EDUC 750: Graduate Teaching Internship (6 credits)
Internship Requirement
To fulfill the 6-credit internship requirement, students are placed for 16 hours each week for nine months as graduate teaching interns in a local partnership school. Students receive supervision from UD and school staff.
Exit Requirements
- One of the exit requirements is the Praxis II Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications test.
- In addition, students must also complete a performance assessment as required by the state.
To apply to the 4+1 (K-12 or Autism/Severe Disabilities) you must complete an Abbreviated 4+1 Application.
Prior to starting the application, you should prepare the following documents to be uploaded.
- Copy of your unofficial UD transcript
- Essay: A personal statement (essay) for 4+1 applicants to any of the College of Education & Human Development graduate programs is required. In the essay, respond to prompts 1 and 2 below:
- 1. Outline your educational plans and career goals and discuss how your proposed plan of graduate study relates to them. Some areas of discussion might include: Specific attributes of the program at UD that lead you to believe that this degree is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives. Within the area of study you have selected, are there areas of special interest to you?
- 2.a. Select an important problem facing individuals with disabilities or the schools, teachers, or other people who work with them and propose a solution to this problem; or, 2.b. Describe an experience in your own life that influenced your decision to work with individuals with disabilities; or, 2.c. Upload a brief paper that you submitted in a recent education course to your application file.
- Resume: Add your resume to the essay document and upload both as a single file.
- Graduate Course Approval Form
Recommendations. After submitting the application, you must separately request two letters of recommendation.
- Please forward this link to your recommenders and ask them to complete the 4+1 Letter of Recommendation Submission Form. For any questions related to this requirement, please follow up with your program of interest directly at cehd-info@udel.edu.
- ONE of your recommendations comes from UD professors (i.e., School of Education for ETE, HDFS for ECE, and Arts and Sciences for Secondary Ed), who can speak to your academic abilities.
- The SECOND recommendation should be someone who has observed you teach or work with children. This could be your methods supervisor or from a part-time job with children (e.g., tutor, summer camp counselor, YMCA).
- When you ask your recommenders to provide a reference for the 4+1 application, you should email them your request and provide them with the link. Below is a suggested script to use that can be adapted to fit your situation.
Dear xx,
I am a junior in the xx major and am applying to a graduate program. Since you have observed my work in/at xx, I hope you can provide a recommendation for the 4+1 option in the M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities program at the University of Delaware. If you can provide the recommendation, please complete the recommendation form at the following link by December 15: https://www.cehd.udel.edu/41-letter-of-recommendation-submission/. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Applicant’s Name