May 15, 2025  
2025-2026 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
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2025-2026 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook

Special Education, M.A.

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Program Description

The Master of Arts in Special Education degree programs provide the skills, theories, and tools to develop an inclusive learning environment for learners at all ability levels. Individuals who would like to become licensed to teach in the special education areas of learning disabilities (LD), emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD), and/or autism spectrum disorders (ASD) take additional coursework, including field placement.  The special education coursework is based on the standards required by the Minnesota Professional Educator and Licensing Standards Board (PELSB). All standards and requirements must be successfully completed by candidates prior to recommendation to PELSB for licensure.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Special Education program, graduates are expected to do the following:

  1. Analyze educational principles, structures, and systems to identify and meet the needs of learners with exceptionalities.
  2. Apply due process procedures within legal parameters for learners with exceptionalities.
  3. Create and implement learner-specific instructional strategies.
  4. Maintain professionalism to cultivate collaborative relationships with learners, families, educators, other professionals, and the community.
  5. Develop intercultural competence to understand and inform educational practice for all learners, specifically learners from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
  6. Demonstrate critical thinking and reflection in analysis and decision making.
  7. Identify and continue to explore ethical frameworks to inform practice.

Program Structure and Delivery

This program is fully online, however, the education foundation courses are offered online with required synchronous meetings.

There are three distinct programs to accommodate students’ licensure needs and professional goals.

  • Program 1: M.A. in Special Education without Licensure (Non-Licensure)– (30 credits) is for those who are seeking to fully understand special education issues and approaches, but do not wish to obtain a license in special education. 

  • Program 2: M.A. in Special Education with Additional Licensure – (36 credits) is for already licensed teachers in Minnesota who want to add licensure in one or more special education areas: Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD), Learning Disabilities (LD), and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

  • Program 3: M.A. in Special Education with Initial Licensure – (57 credits) is for those without a professional teacher licensure who want to be licensed to teach in one or more special education areas in Minnesota: Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD), Learning Disabilities (LD), and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

This program is fully online. However, students in Program 3 must complete the education foundation courses through a remote (synchronous) delivery model. The online delivery model provides flexibility, while the remote (synchronous) delivery model offers the benefits of synchronous instruction.

Degree Requirements

M.A. in Special Education Degree Program Options

Program 1: Special Education - M.A. Degree without Licensure  
Program 2: Special Education - M.A. Degree with Additional Licensure  
Program 3: Special Education - M.A. Degree with Initial Teacher Licensure  

Field Placement

Experience applying theoretical concepts in real life settings is crucial to a teacher’s development as a professional. Saint Mary’s categorizes these experiences through three credits of practicum experience for those teachers adding a special education license, or a 3-credit student teaching experience for those students working on their initial teaching license.  
 

All students in the program, regardless of if they are seeking licensure, will be expected to access K-12 classrooms for observational practicum in order to complete course assignments and activities during the length of their program.  Students can expect a minimum of 3 hours and maximum of 15 hours of observational practicum per course.

Faculty

The faculty members for this program have earned doctorate or master’s degrees. Faculty are selected for their combination of educational and professional experience and expertise.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply for admission to master degree programs at any time during the year. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework. All applicants must complete an interview with a program administrator.

Application Process

Applicants must submit:

  1. Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee and,
  2. An official transcript issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards).  Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted. 
  3. A personal statement which includes:
  • brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience and,
  • statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to the program and,
  • description of the areas the applicant considers to be his or her strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities and,
  • personal information the applicant wishes to share.
  1. Names of two people (including title, organization, email, phone number) who could serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you in a professional capacity, such as current or former supervisors.
  2. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.
  3. Applicants with international transcripts may require an English language proficiency exam (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or MELAB accepted.)

 

Please Note: Application materials should be sent to the attention of the Office of Admission on the Minneapolis Campus.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Office of Admission
2500 Park Ave S
Minneapolis, MN  55404

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