Online: M.A. in Exceptional Child Education

In addition to the criteria established for general admission to graduate studies, applicants must have the following: 

• An undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale 
• A valid professional teaching certificate OR a qualifying score on the state content exam appropriate for that certificate OR be in the 50th percentile verbal and analytic components of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Note: This program does not lead to initial teacher licensure. 

International applicants must have a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 OR TOEFL score of 95. This requirement is for non-United States citizens who are not native English speakers. Students from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are exempt from English proficiency verification. 

 An applicant having the prerequisite GPA of 2.75 may be given provisional admission prior to completion of all steps in the admission process. The program admission process must be completed within one calendar year. Failure to do so will result in reclassification as a non-degree student. Reinstatement to degree-seeing status will require a new application for admission. Courses taken prior to full admission will not necessarily be accepted toward meeting degree requirements. 

Core Requirements:

• EL615 Research in Action (3)
• EX601 Educational Assessment Techniques (3)
• EX635 Psychology & Education of Students with Special Needs (3)
• EX693 Special Education and the Law (3)
• GR691 Methods of Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Designs (3)
• GR698 Master's Final Comprehensive Exam (0)

Choose one Emphasis Area:

Autism Emphasis

• EX555 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder (3)
• EX556 Communication Interventions and Strategies for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (3)
• EX557 Behavior Management and Interventions for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (3)
• EX558 Research Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
• EX691 Transition Planning for Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs (3)

Diagnosis and Correction Mathematics Emphasis

• EL603 Teaching Elementary School Mathematics (3)
• EL608 Diagnosis and Remediation of Difficulties in Learning Mathematics (3)
• EX616 Behavior Management (3)
• EX652 Techniques of Teaching the Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical (3)
• EX691 Transition Planning for Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs (3)

Early Childhood Special Education Emphasis

• CE530 Foundation of Early Childhood and Special Education (3)
• CE634 Assessing Young Children's Learning and Development (3)
• EX507 Family and Child with Exceptionalities (3)
• EX602 Language Acquisition for the Child with Exceptionalities (3)
• EX616 Behavior Management (3)

Elementary Literacy Emphasis

• EX616 Behavior Management (3)

Choose 3 hours:

• EL630 The Science of Reading I: Foundations of Literacy (3)
• EL646 Aspects of Literacy Development and Acquisition (3)

Choose 3 hours:

• EL631 The Science of Reading II: Assessing and Correcting Emergent Literacy Learners (3)
• EL647 Reading Assessment (3)

Choose 3 hours:

• EL648 Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities (3)
• EL681 The Science of Reading IV: Developing Research-Driven Instruction in Reading Comprehension & Writing (3)

Choose 3 hours:

• EL680 The Science of Reading III: Evidence–Based Literacy Instruction in the Area of Language and Reading (3)
• SE602 Effective Literacy Instruction at the Middle and Secondary Levels (3)

Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Emphasis:

• EX507 Family and Child with Exceptionalities (3)
• EX602 Language Acquisition for the Child with Exceptionalities (3)
• EX616 Behavior Management (3)
• EX652 Techniques of Teaching the Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical (3)
• EX691 Transition Planning for Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs (3)

Technology Emphasis

• EX616 Behavior Management (3)
• EX691 Transition Planning for Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs (3)
• SE600 Multimedia in Education (3)
• SE617 Foundations of Educational Technology (3)
• SE501 AI in Education (3)

• The Autism Spectrum Disorder and Early Childhood Special Education emphasis areas require a practicum course that may be completed in a variety of settings, such as the Southeast Autism Center or the students’ school district’s early childhood special education program. 
• The Autism certificate is a 12-credit hour transcripted certificate and is included as a part of the Autism emphasis area. 
• The Early Childhood Special Education emphasis area offers a MO teaching certificate in Early Childhood Special Education for graduate students who already possess an Early Childhood Education certificate. In addition to the coursework, students must pass the Missouri Content Assessment: Early Childhood Special Education to earn the MO teaching certificate. This exam is not required for the master’s degree. 

• EX 556, EX 557, EX 558 (pre-requisite – EX 555 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder) 
• EL 615 Research in Action (pre-requisite - EX 601 Educational Assessment) 
• GR 698 Action Research Project (pre-requisite - EL 615 Research in Action)