The Master of Arts in Exceptional Student Education K-12 program is for non-education majors or previously certified teachers in another content area.
Graduates must be eligible for certification by the successful completion of the degree program in the area of exceptional student education (ESE) and must pass the Florida certification exams. Graduates will also receive Reading and ESOL endorsements upon successful completion of the program, if not currently endorsed. For additional information, contact the Exceptional Student Education Graduate email.
This is a state-approved, initial teacher preparation program designed in compliance with Florida Statutes and State Board of Education Rule 6A-5.066. Degree requirements are subject to change based on state mandates. Students enrolled in this program should remain in close contact with their adviser to keep informed of any program changes implemented to comply with new state requirements.
Passing scores on ALL applicable sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) are required prior to graduation. See FLDOE website for available test dates, test sites, and possible score conversions. The exams include:
- FTCE Professional Education Test (P.Ed.)
- FTCE Subject Area Exam for Exceptional Student Education K-12 (SAE)
The Master of Arts (MA) in Exceptional Student Education K-12 program requires a minimum of 39 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree including 9 credit hours of required core courses, 21 credit hours of specialization courses, and 9 credit hours of Internship and Reading Practicum. Individual learning projects, including research skills and action research, are embedded in the specialization courses and completed in authentic settings. In addition, a culminating Comprehensive Exam will be completed to demonstrate mastery of research, knowledge, skills, and dispositions of standards from accrediting educational agencies. Students entering the MA program without prior related courses and/or appropriate teacher certifications may need to complete courses in the MA Foundation Core/Co-requisite area as prescribed by Florida State Statutes for initial teacher preparation (ITP).
All initial teacher preparation program candidates are required to purchase a subscription to Student Learning and Licensure. Candidates are required to upload artifacts in most courses, including the final internship sequence. For more information, click here.
Total Credit Hours Required: 39 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
This program prepares students for state-regulated professional licensure or certification. For more information on how this program may prepare you in that regard, please view the licensure disclosure for the Exceptional Student Education K-12 MA program.
Program Prerequisites
These foundation core/co-requisite courses are prescribed by Florida State Statutes for initial teacher preparation (ITP). Students entering the Exceptional Student Education MA program without prior related courses and/or appropriate teacher certifications may need to complete courses in the Foundation Core/Co-requisite area.
If a student has successfully completed equivalent courses in the Foundation Core/Co-requisite area, as prescribed by Florida State Statutes for initial teacher preparation, then course waivers can be requested (see adviser).
- EEX 5051 - Exceptional Children in the Schools 3 Credit Hours Students are strongly advised to enroll in EEX 5051 early in their graduate program.
- EDF 6727 - Critical Analysis of Social, Ethical, Legal, and Safety Issues Related to Education 3 Credit Hours
- EDG 6415 - Principles of Instruction and Classroom Management 3 Credit Hours
- EDF 6237 - Principles of Learning and Introduction to Classroom Assessment 3 Credit Hours
- RED 5147 - Developmental Reading 3 Credit Hours
- RED 5517 - Classroom Diagnosis and Development of Reading Proficiencies 3 Credit Hours Please note that this is currently not available online.
Degree Requirements
Core
9 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- TSL5085 - Teaching Language Minority Students in K-12 Classrooms (3)
- TSL6250 - Applied Linguistics in ESOL (3)
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- EDF6481 - Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3)
- EDF6472 - Data-Driven Decision-Making for Instruction (3)
- TSL 5085 and TSL 6250 are required courses leading to ESOL endorsement. Students should see an adviser if they hold a current ESOL endorsement
Specialization
21 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- EEX6061 - Instructional Strategies Pre-K-6 (3)
- EEX6065 - Programming for Students with Disabilities at the Secondary Level (3)
- EEX6107 - Teaching Spoken and Written Language (3)
- EEX6295 - Assessment and Curriculum Prescriptions for the Exceptional Population (3)
- EEX6524 - Organization and Collaboration in Special Ed (3)
- EEX6612 - Methods of Behavioral Management (3)
- EEX6342 - Seminar-Critical Issues in Special Education (3)
Internship and Practicum
9 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: EEX 6946 Graduate Internship: ESE
- Complete the following:
- RED5948 - Practicum in Reading Assessment and Instruction (3)
Grand Total Credits: 39
Application Requirements
Application Deadlines
Foundation Core/Co-requisites
These foundation core/co-requisite courses are prescribed by Florida State Statutes for initial teacher preparation (ITP). Students entering the Exceptional Student Education MA program without prior related courses and/or appropriate teacher certifications may need to complete courses in the Foundation Core/Co-requisite area.
If a student has successfully completed equivalent courses in the Foundation Core/Co-requisite area, as prescribed by Florida State Statutes for initial teacher preparation, then course waivers can be requested (see adviser).
- EEX 5051 - Exceptional Children in the Schools 3 Credit Hours Students are strongly advised to enroll in EEX 5051 early in their graduate program.
- EDF 6727 - Critical Analysis of Social, Ethical, Legal, and Safety Issues Related to Education 3 Credit Hours
- EDG 6415 - Principles of Instruction and Classroom Management 3 Credit Hours
- EDF 6237 - Principles of Learning and Introduction to Classroom Assessment 3 Credit Hours
- RED 5147 - Developmental Reading 3 Credit Hours
- RED 5517 - Classroom Diagnosis and Development of Reading Proficiencies 3 Credit Hours Please note that this is currently not available online.
Additional Graduation Requirements
- Pass all applicable sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination. See NESINC or FLDOE for additional information about test dates and resources.
- Pass Comprehensive Exam.
- Complete Student Learning and Licensure (SLL) Professional Portfolio.
- Complete a TESOL Portfolio.
- Compliance with all university and graduate student policies.
NOTE: Effective January 1, 2015, only examination results earned by educators within 10 years prior to the date of application for a new Florida Educator's Certificate with the Florida Department of Education may be acceptable for certification eligibility requirements (SBR 6A-4.002).
Independent Learning
The Exceptional Student Education K-12 MA program requires the completion of an Action Research Project, Internship, and Reading Practicum. These independent learning activities take place in authentic settings where students must apply, reflect upon and refine their knowledge, skills and dispositions acquired in the program.
