Program of Study

The Master of Education in Special Education (M.Ed.) is a professional graduate degree that serves experienced teachers who obtained an undergraduate degree and a Standard Professional 1 (SP1) Professional Educator’s License and who wish to be collaborative instructional leaders who are knowledgeable, effective, reflective, and responsive to equity and diversity. Upon completion of the 33-hour program, graduates will qualify for the North Carolina Standard Professional 2 (SP2) Professional Educator’s License.

Additional Admission Requirements

1. Official transcripts of all previous work beyond high school documenting an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale)
2. Potential students who are applying directly for admission to the M.Ed. in Special Education - Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) should provide official agency reports of satisfactory GRE or MAT test scores (30th percentile or above). Applicants who previously have received a grade of A in three (if the fourth course is in progress at the time of application) or all four of the 4 Graduate Certificate courses in AIG at UNC Charlotte may waive the GRE/MAT score requirement.  Students who have received one or more course grades below A in UNC Charlotte graduate certificate courses in AIG are not eligible for this waiver and must provide GRE or MAT scores with their application to the M.Ed.
3. At least three evaluations from professional educators familiar with the applicant’s personal and professional qualifications
4. An essay of one to two pages describing the applicant’s experience and objective in undertaking graduate study
5. Apply online at graduateschool.uncc.edu

Degree Requirements: Major in Special Education

Degree Requirements: Major in Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG)

Admission to Candidacy

The Candidacy form supplied by the Graduate School must be received no later than the eighth instructional day of the semester in which completion of all degree requirements is expected.

Application for Degree

The Application for Degree/Graduation form supplied by the Graduate School must be received early in the last semester of the student’s program. Students should apply no later than the announced deadline, early in the last semester of their program. Full-time students must have completed 24 hours and be enrolled for at least an additional 9 hours. Part-time students must have completed at least 30 hours.

Assistantships

The Program sometimes has a limited number of graduate assistantships. Students may apply for a graduate assistantship by using the form available online at graduateschool.uncc.edu under “Funding Resources.” Students should return the completed form to the Department of Special Education and Child Development.

Internships

No internship is required.

Clinical Field Experiences

Most courses require students to apply the knowledge learned in classes to public/private school classrooms.

Capstone Experiences

The capstone experience is fulfilled by completing a Master’s Research Project.

Elective Courses

The Major in Special Education includes 12 elective hours in a Specialty Track.  These hours enable students to add on an additional North Carolina teaching license in Adapted Curriculum or General Curriculum, or students may select an individualized set of courses for their Specialty Track requirements with approval by their advisor.  The Major in Academically or Intellectually Gifted has no elective hours.

Advising

Upon acceptance into the program all students are assigned an advisor. Students are expected to meet with their advisor each semester to discuss their coursework.

Licensure

Successful completion leads to the North Carolina Standard Professional 2 (SP2) Professional Educator’s License in Special Education or in Special Education: Academically or Intellectually Gifted, as appropriate to the major.

Committees

Each student will have a committee of two graduate faculty members who will provide guidance through their research project.

Research Opportunities/Experiences

The Special Education faculty continuously achieves regional, state, and national recognition in scholarship, teaching, and research. As a result students will have the opportunity to become involved in an applied research project.

Financial Aid/Financial Assistance

Information is available from the Office of Teacher Education Advising, Licensure, and Recruitment (TEALR). See tealr.uncc.edu for details. Additional information is available from the Office of Student Financial Aid at finaid.uncc.edu.

Program Accreditation/Approval

All teacher education programs at UNC Charlotte are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.  Both the M.Ed. in Special Education, Major in Special Education, and the M.Ed. in Special Education, Major in Academically or Intellectually Gifted, have been approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education.