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 [email protected].
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 www.fldoe.org 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
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 teacher education candidates are required to complete ViaTM by Watermark requirements before being certified for graduation. ViaTM by Watermark access is required for the portfolio. See https://ccie.ucf.edu/explore-via/.
Total Credit Hours Required: 39 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
The Exceptional Student Education K-12 MA program has potential ties to professional licensure or certification in the field. For more information on how this program may prepare you in that regard, please visit https://apq.ucf.edu/files/Licensure-Disclosure-CCIE-Exceptional-Student-Ed-MA.pdf.
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:
- EDF6481 - Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3)
- TSL5085 - Teaching Language Minority Students in K-12 Classrooms (3)
- TSL6250 - Applied Linguistics in ESOL (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
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- A copy of current ESOL endorsement, IF applicable.
- A copy of current Reading Endorsement, IF applicable.
- A copy of current professional teaching certificate, IF applicable.
- Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Students may not switch from an MA program to an MEd program, or vice versa, without going through the university's admission process.
Application Deadlines
| Exceptional Student Education K-12 MA | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Dec1 | Apr 1 |
| International Applicants | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Nov 1 |
*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
