Special Education, MEd

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The following tracks for an MEd in special education utilize a pre-admission process.

MEd in special education without initial teacher certification
MEd in special education with certification as an educational diagnostician
Educational diagnostician - certification seeking only. This track is for individuals who possess current teacher certification and an MEd.

Before you complete an application to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies at SFA, contact Dr. Paige Mask (maskp@sfasu.edu) for a shared folder invitation that will allow you to electronically upload the pre-admission items listed below for your chosen MEd or certification-seeking-only track. Each applicant’s pre-admission items will be reviewed by the program faculty members. Do not submit a Graduate Studies application before completing these requirements as the $50 application fee is nonrefundable.

Pre-admission Items: MEd in special education without initial teacher certification

Copy of undergraduate transcript and, if applicable, copy of graduate transcript
Three letters of recommendation (two of a professional nature and one can be a community member who has known you for some time). Please make sure these letters are signed.
Current résumé
A typed, double-spaced written statement (minimum three to five pages in length) describing your experience in the field of special education, your philosophy on educating students with special needs, and how personal qualities and educational experience would make you an exceptional candidate for the special education graduate program.
A video introducing you to program faculty members in a professional manner. This video is to be no longer than five minutes. A free video-recording resource is located at screencast-o-matic.com. Include the following information in your video:
1. Name
2. Current employment
3. Years of teaching experience and/or types of teaching experiences
4. Teacher certifications (if applicable)
5. Qualities and competencies you possess that would make you a good candidate for our program and a future professional in the field
6. Statement regarding your ability and motivation to participate in a rigorous program.

Pre-admission Items: MEd in special education with the educational diagnostician certification and the educational diagnostician certification-seeking-only track

Letter from your special education director indicating permission for you to complete a 160-hour practicum experience during the course of two semesters at the end of your certification program. An information letter you can provide to your special education director may be obtained from Dr. Mask. The practicum letter is not completed at this time, but serves to inform your director of experiences we would like for you to have during your final two semesters in the program.
- Note: Please know that school districts are not required or obligated to grant permission for practicum experiences to prospective SFA program students. Your request for practicum experiences must be done respectfully and with the full knowledge that your first priority is to the district/school in which you are currently teaching or other currently held position in the district. You will have two semesters in which to earn 160 hours of practicum experience. The majority of our students continue to work full-time in a district while completing these hours.
Copy of your official teacher service record
Copy of undergraduate transcript and, if applicable, a copy of graduate transcript
Copy of your teacher certifications, which may be obtained online at secure.sbec.state.tx.us/sbeconline/virtcert.asp
Complete and return a provided advanced certification-seeking tracking form. This certification-tracking form will not be submitted until you are admitted to the program and enrolled in your first semester of coursework.
Three letters of recommendation (two of a professional nature; one can be a community member who has known you for some time). Please make sure these letters are signed.
Current résumé
A typed, double-spaced written statement (minimum three-to-five pages) describing your experience in the field of special education, your philosophy on educating students with special needs and how personal qualities and educational experience would make you an exceptional candidate for the special education graduate program.
A video introducing you to program faculty in a professional manner. This video is to be no longer than five minutes. A free video-recording resource is located at screencast-o-matic.com. Include the following information in your video:
1. Name
2. Current employment
3. Years of teaching experience and types of teaching experiences
4. Teacher certifications
5. Qualities and competencies you possess that would make you a good candidate for our program and a future quality educational diagnostician in the field
6. Statement regarding your ability and motivation to participate in a rigorous certification program.

All pre-admission items will be uploaded to a shared folder (via invitation email sent by Dr. Paige Mask). In order to receive the shared folder invitation, you will need to create a free Microsoft account that uses your current email account. Directions for creating this account may be obtained from Dr. Mask. When your Microsoft account has been created and you are ready to upload your pre-admission items, email Dr. Mask (maskp@sfasu.edu) to request a shared folder invitation.

When the above items have been completed and submitted, you may be asked to participate in a short, online video-conferencing interview session in which you will be asked up to five additional questions. You will access this interview via a provided web link. Once this process is complete and you been notified of your acceptance to the program, you may apply online to SFA’s graduate school through the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. Complete the application as an MEd-seeking student, and do not submit an ORGS application before completing these requirements as the $50 application fee is nonrefundable.

Visual Impairment/Orientation and Mobility Admission Requirements

The visual impairment/orientation and mobility programs use a cohort training model. Candidates typically are admitted once each year. Applications are accepted from September through March, and students begin their training during the first summer session. A limited number of candidates may be approved for admission out of sequence on a case-by-case basis upon review by program faculty members. In order to be admitted to the vision impairment program, a prospective student must complete the following steps:

Complete an Office of Research and Graduate Studies application through ApplyTexas indicating intention to pursue a graduate degree.
Complete all visual impairment/orientation and mobility program pre-admission items. Admission information can be found on the James I. Perkins College of Education’s Graduate Programs: Special Education webpage.
Provide three letters of recommendation, one of which should be from a direct supervisor in the applicant’s current position.
Submit a three- to five-page paper distinctly describing: the applicant’s philosophy of education, understanding of the role of the teacher of the visually impaired or certified orientation and mobility specialist, and reasons for pursuing the field of visual impairment as a degree and/or career change.
Have an overall GPA of 2.75 or better, or a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours of work completed
GRE is not required.

Admission to any of the graduate special education programs is contingent upon admission to Graduate Studies; therefore, a student applying to the graduate program must meet the criteria for admission to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. Criteria for admission to Graduate Studies include a 2.5 overall GPA for provisional admission and a 2.8 overall GPA for clear admission. The GRE is waived for individuals who hold an M.Ed. in a related field or for individuals with an overall or last 60 hours GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The following will be completed for the Office of Research and Graduate Studies:

Application to Graduate Studies that includes official transcripts indicating all college-level enrollment.
A $50 application fee

Transcripts should be sent to the following address:

Office of Research and Graduate Studies
Stephen F. Austin State University
P.O. Box 13024, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962

The program director for special education programs is:

Dr. Paige R. Mask

Stephen F. Austin State University

Department of Human Services

Human Services Building, Room 313B

P.O. Box 13019

Nacogdoches, TX 75962

(936) 468-1076

Degree Requirements

Special Education, Major