Special Education
Interim Department Head: Michaelene Ostrosky, Ph.D.
Correspondence and Graduate Admissions Information: Cheri Karrick, Admissions Officer
288 Education Building
1310 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 333-0260
Fax: (217) 333-6555
E-mail: speced@illinois.edu
Major: Special Education
Degrees offered: Ed.M., M.S., C.A.S., Ed.D., Ph.D.
Off-Campus Program: Special Education
Degree Offered: Ed.M.
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Special Education and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
www.education.illinois.edu/sped/programs/
The Department of Special Education offers several master's program areas of emphasis and certification: Infancy and Early Childhood Special Education, Learning and Behavior Specialist I (LBS-I), Learning and Behavior Specialist II (LBS-II), General Master's in Special Education, and Research Practitioner in Special Education. LBS-I is the master's program that prepares teachers for their initial teaching certificate. The other master's programs are available for practicing teachers and other professionals interested in graduate studies. Several of these programs can be completed on a full or part-time basis. In most cases, full-time students take two years to complete their program of studies.
The Department also offers a terminal degree called the Certificate of Advanced Study in Special Education (C.A.S.). The advanced certificate program is intended for students who desire a planned course of study beyond the master's degree, but do not wish to pursue the type of scholarly work typically expected in a doctoral program. Director of Special Education certification is available as one emphasis in the C.A.S. degree.
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is a research focused degree and is tailored to the individual. Each candidate works closely with an adviser to develop an integrated course of study reflecting his or her goals in the area of special education. All doctoral students have the opportunity to be involved in research, university teaching, and service to the field of special education during their doctoral studies. Doctoral students typically complete the program in four to five years of full-time resident study. Please see the Department of Special Education www.education.illinois.edu/sped/programs/DocProgram.html for more information about requirements and to view the Department of Special Education Doctoral Advisement Manual.
A course of study leading to the Doctor of Education Degree in Special Education (Ed.D.) is planned by each student with an adviser to provide advanced professional training and to develop further ability in the scholarly study of professional practice. The College of Education requires Ed.D. candidates to complete a continuous residence of four consecutive terms (including summers) in an approved full-time combination of academic courses and professional experiences.
Admission
www.education.illinois.edu/sped/admissions.html
Applicants must submit a complete application for admission.The application is located on the Graduate College Web site.The applicant must submit three letters of reference and official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work. A 3.0 grade point average (A = 4.0) for the last two years of the undergraduate program and for any previous graduate work is a minimum requirement for admission. The applicant must also submit a goal statement indicating his/her interests, experiences, and goals for pursuing graduate study in special education. In addition to the above items, international students must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score (taken within two years of the start of the semester for which the student is requesting admission). International students must have a total iBT score greater than 102 (72nd-79th percentile). The minimum speaking score is 24 (79th percentile). Master's applicants should also submit a Master's Degree Program Special Education Form. Doctoral program applicants are encouraged to submit a writing sample in addition to their goal statement.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Web site, the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook, and the Graduate College Handbook.
Please refer to the departmental website for typical course sequences and certification requirements for specific program emphases.
Master of Education (Ed.M.), Special Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Psychological Foundation Courses in Educational Psychology Foundations of Learning: 2 hours AND Foundations of Personality and Development: 2 hours |
4 |
| Social Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies: 2 hours AND Philosophical Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies: 2 hours | 4 |
| SPED 517, 524, 526 or 566, and 591 | min 18 |
| Elective Hours: 400/500-Level Hours Required: 6 hours (Independent Study included) |
6 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-6 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Program/Certification Requirements: 10-61 hours depending on emphasis | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Master of Science (M.S.), Special Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Psychological Foundation Courses in Educational Psychology Foundations of Learning: 2 hours AND Foundations of Personality and Development: 2 hours |
4 |
| Social Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies: 2 hours AND Philosophical Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies: 2 hours | 4 |
| SPED 517, 524, 526 or 566, and 591 | min 18 |
| Elective Hours: 400/500-Level Hours Required: 4 hours (Independent Study and Thesis Hours included) |
4 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 |
| Thesis Hours Required – SPED 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 2-8 |
| Total Hours | 32 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Program/Certification Requirements: 10 - 61 hours depending on emphasis | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS), Special Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| If the student does not have a Masters degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Foundation Courses must be completed: Psychological Foundation Courses in Educational Psychology Foundations of Learning: 2 hours AND Foundations of Personality and Development: 2 hours Social Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies: 2 hours AND Philosophical Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies: 2 hours |
8 |
| Elective Hours: 500-Level Hours Required: 12 hours (Independent Study included) General Coursework Required: 20 hours |
32 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32-40 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Enrollment must be preceded by at least two years of acceptable professional work experience. | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), in Special Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Competence in one of four research specialization areas. These courses are required, but hours do not count toward the degree. (The number of hours needed varies.) | |
| Elective Hours: 500-Level Hours Required: 12 hours (Independent Study included) Minimum Hours Required in Education: 32 hours General Coursework Required: 16 hours |
60 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-12 |
| Thesis Hours Required – SPED 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 4-32 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD Residency: Maintain continuous full time (12 hours) enrollment until the student takes the preliminary examination and during the graduating semester. Zero hours are required for all other semesters. Early Research Requirement Qualifying Exams Required Human Subjects approval Preliminary Exam Required Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required Dissertation Deposit Required |
3.0 |
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Special Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Cognate Requirement (minimum applied toward degree) | 16 |
| Research Methods | 8 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-12 |
| Thesis Hours Required – SPED 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 4-16 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: Masters Degree Required for Admission to EdD Residency: 16 hours over 4 consecutive semesters of study on campus Qualifying Exam Required Human Subjects approval Preliminary Exams Required Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required Dissertation Deposit Required |
3.0 |
Off-Campus Program
The Department of Special Education offers master’s degree programs off-campus in coordination with Federal Personnel Preparation Grant awards. The focus of the off-campus program changes depending on the type of grant award. For example, past emphases have been on behavior intervention and multiple disabilities. For degree requirements, see the Master of Education chart above.
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Special Education. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Certifications
The Council on Teacher Education functions as the all-University governance system for certification. Graduate students who wish to qualify for the council's recommendation for a teaching or administrative certificate must complete the appropriate graduate program. The Department of Special Education offers graduate-level certification programs in Learning and Behavior Specialist I (LBS-I), and Learning and Behavior Specialist II (LBS-II). Early Childhood Special Education master’s students who already hold the Type 04 certificate qualify for the Illinois ECSE approval. Students completing the Director of Special Education focus are eligible for the State of Illinois Director of Special Education Endorsement. For specific information about certification requirements, call the Council on Teacher Education (217.333.7195) or go to www.cote.illinois.edu.
Faculty Research Interests
The Department of Special Education faculty have a variety of research interests. There are multiple opportunities for graduate students to engage in research activities with faculty. For information about specific faculty research interests, current grants, and publications, please visit the Faculty Research Profiles web site: www.education.illinois.edu/sped/frp.
Facilities and Resources
The College of Education has many resources to assist graduate students through their academic career. The Bureau of Educational Research works with students to secure research funding and provide human subject reviews. Educational Career Services assists with job placement in educational-related settings. The Council on Teacher Education certifies candidates, provides accreditation of professional education programs; and supervision of pre-service field experiences. The Chief Information Office provides technical support, equipment checkout, and an Instructional Computing Lab. The Thesis Format Office assists students in the formatting of their thesis or dissertation for degree completion.
Information on University resources can be found at www.grad.illinois.edu/campus-resources.
Financial Aid
Students engaged in graduate study and research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign find an environment where collaboration among faculty members and students is nurtured and rewarded and where the students' contributions are recognized and valued. In many cases, this recognition comes in the form of financial awards that enable students to devote concentrated attention to their studies. Virtually all doctoral candidates receive assistantships/ traineeships. Traineeships are grant funded and are available for full-time students pursuing initial teacher certification and leadership preparation in specific areas. Other financial aid opportunities (e.g., fellowships and assistantships) are available to part-time and other master's degree students on a competitive basis. Students receiving traineeships, assistantships, and fellowships are exempt from payment of tuition and some fees.
There are opportunities available through the department, the College of Education, and the Bureau of Educational Research. Campus opportunities can be found at the Graduate College and the Office of Student Financial Aid.