The new program allows those who have completed an undergraduate degree, even if it’s not in education, to enter into graduate work in the field. 

“This program is designed for those with an undergraduate degree seeking more knowledge beyond undergraduate programs and allowing graduate students to focus their learning,” said Dr. Dixie McCollum, assistant professor and M.A. in Exceptional Child Education program coordinator. “The new program expands the potential candidates who can enter the program.”

The M.A. in exceptional child education is designed to provide tools and methods for educators to work with students with special needs in their classrooms. The program does not lead to an initial teaching certificate;  it does offer coursework to prepare for the Missouri Content Assessment to obtain add-on teaching certification in Early Childhood Special Education and Mild Moderate Cross Categorical for those who already have a teaching license.

Students must meet the University's standards for graduate admissions. In addition, an undergraduate applying must meet a minimum of a 2.75 grade point average. They also must meet one of the following:

• have a valid professional teaching certificate
• get a qualifying score on the state content exam appropriate for that certificate
• rank in the 50th percentile in the verbal and analytic components of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (new)
• be under contract with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Temporary Authorization Certificate(TAC) (new). 

A student can customize the degree with three emphasis areas: mild/moderate cross-categorical, autism, and early childhood special education.

The degree is housed in the College of Education, Health, and Human Studies. Southeast has been preparing educators for 150 years, and it is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.