2025-2026 Graduate Catalog Special Education

Behavior Intervention Specialist, Curriculum Adaptation Specialist, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Listening and Spoken Language Professional Graduate Specialization Certificate, Early Intervention Vision Specialist, Multiple Disability Specialist, Specialist in LBS 1 Endorsement (Fully online), Technology Specialist, Transition Specialist.

*Some certificates may be listed in the catalog, but not offered for admissions.

General Special Education Sequence

This 30-hour degree requires:

• 21 hours: SED 409, SED 410, SED 422 or SED 472, SED 440, SED 445 or SED 470, SED 448, and SED 454. Students successfully completing the core are considered to have Advanced Graduate status.
• 3 hours: An approved elective course to be determined with the graduate advisor.
• 6 hours: A pre-approved capstone research or application project including SED 482 and 3 additional hours from SED 498. Students must have attained Advanced Graduate status to begin the capstone experience.

Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Sensory Disabilities Sequence

This interdisciplinary sequence provides teachers of the visually impaired and teachers of the deaf with knowledge and skills to meet the unique needs of infants and toddlers who have sensory disabilities and their families. While the program will provide an overview of the impact of sensory loss on early development, an intense focus will also be provided on language, communication, and feeding issues common to this population. A variety of practicum and clinical experiences with children and families will allow students to apply knowledge and skills to professional practice.

This 32-hour sequence requires:

• 24 total hours in major department
• SED 409, SED 420, SED 421, SED 423, SED 440, SED 482, SED 498A03 (6 hours); CSD 406, CSD 420 or CSD 412; EAF 410
• The required courses must be completed with grades not lower than a “C” while maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.00 for retention in the program.

Prerequisite: Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher in Special Education with an emphasis in blind/partially sighted or deaf/hard of hearing.

The Master of Science in Education degree is intended for teachers with prior general education licensure who are currently teaching with a special education caseload or are seeking special education endorsement.

This 39-hour degree requires:

• 30 hours: EAF 410 or EAF 415; SED 406, SED 407, SED 410, SED 422, SED 440, SED 445, SED 448, SED 454 and SED 477. Students successfully completing the core are considered to have Advanced Graduate status.
• 6 hours: An area of concentration or approved elective courses to be determined with the graduate advisor.
• 3 hours: A two-semester Clinical Capstone experience including SED 490 (1 credit hour) and SED 491 (2 credit hour). Students must have attained Advanced Graduate status to begin the capstone experience.

This 32-hour degree requires:

• 3.00 Cumulative GPA is required for retention in this program.
• Required courses (26 hours): SED 413, SED 432, SED 433, SED 434, SED 435, SED 436, SED 437, SED 438, SED 439
• Required clinical experience (6 hours): SED 498

Prerequisite - Professional Educator License

Requirements for endorsement as a Director of Special Education may be met through a postmaster’s degree program (Doctorate in Special Education) or through a non-degree program. Students seeking Director of Special Education endorsement must be admitted to the department as a post-master’s graduate certificate student or as a doctoral student. Coursework will enable students to meet ISBE standards leading to the Director of Special Education endorsement.

This 12-hour post-master’s graduate certificate requires:

• 12 hours: EAF 434*, SED 502, SED 513, SED 517
• Depending on coursework completed at the master’s level, the student may need to complete SED 422 or an equivalent to meet Illinois State Board of Education professional license endorsement requirements.

*This course may be fulfilled by those who have a principal endorsement master’s degree. Substitute this with a foundational course.

All doctoral candidates must complete a minimum of 66 semester hours to include:

• 23 hours of core course work: EAF 415, EAF 508 or EAF 509, EAF 510; SED 501, SED 502, SED 512, SED 513, SED 540
• 22 hours of specialized course work consisting of: SED 514, SED 515, SED 522, SED 579, SED 591, SED 594, SED 598A01, SED 598A02
• 6 hours of electives
• 15 hours of dissertation work resulting in an approved dissertation
• Other university requirements for doctoral degrees are listed elsewhere in this catalog.

All graduate certificates: Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point and have a minimum grade of C in each required course. Performance-based portfolios are required.

Program completers in the Behavior Intervention, Curriculum Adaptation, Multiple Disabilities, Technology, or Transition graduate certificate programs who pass a state certification examination may also receive an advanced teaching endorsement from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Specialist in LBS 1 Endorsement (Online)

The LBS I Endorsement Certificate is intended for students who are general educators and are seeking special education endorsement through ISBE, or want to expand their ability to teach students with disabilities in their general education classrooms. This fully online endorsement program provides general educators with induction and mentoring support, a strong foundation of initial competencies in special education, and an introduction to advanced competencies in special education with an enhanced emphasis on instructional methods courses.

• This 15-hour certificate requires: SED 406, SED 410, SED 422, SED 445, and SED 448
• There will be one pre-requisite course for admission into the program. SED 411 (Survey of Methods in Special Education) or equivalent.

Behavior Intervention Specialist

Certificate requirements include:

• Prerequisites: SED 101, SED 411 or equivalent survey course
• 15 hours: SED 410, SED 448, SED 449, SED 452, and SED 454. SED 410, SED 448, SED 449, and SED 452 require application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations
• Students may be required to have concurrent enrollment in SED 498 if not currently teaching in a setting that allows for application of these skills

Curriculum Adaptation Specialist

Certificate requirements include:

• Prerequisites: SED 101, SED 411 or equivalent survey course
• 12 hours are required including SED 410, SED 422, SED 445, and SED 454. SED 410, SED 422, and SED 445 require application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations
• Students may be required to have concurrent enrollment in SED 498 if not currently teaching in a setting that allows for application of these skills.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Listening and Spoken Language Professional Graduate Specialization Certificate*

(Currently not admitting new students)

Certificate requirements include:

• Prerequisites: SED 101, SED 411 or equivalent survey course
• 12 hours are required including SED 402, SED 403, SED 404, and SED 405
• Some courses require application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations; therefore, students will be required to enroll in 3-6 semester hours of SED 498 unless this requirement is specifically waived by the department.

Early Intervention Vision Specialist*

(Currently not admitting new students)

This 15-hour certificate requires:

• SED 414, SED 415, SED 416, SED 417; and SED 498A02 Professional Practice
• 3.0 Cumulative graduate GPA

Multiple Disabilities Specialist*

(Currently not admitting new students)

Certificate requirements include:

• Prerequisites: SED 101, SED 411 or equivalent survey course
• A minimum of one year or current experience teaching students with severe or multiple disabilities
• 15 hours: SED 470, SED 471, SED 472, SED 473, and SED 474
• Some courses require application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations. Students may be required to have concurrent enrollment in SED 498 Professional Practice if not currently teaching in a setting that allows for application of these skills.

Technology Specialist*

(Currently not admitting new students)

Certificate requirements include:

• Prerequisites: SED 101, SED 411 or equivalent survey course
• 9 hours: SED 377, SED 379, and SED 479
• Students who have not completed Technology Passport requirements will also be required to complete TCH 401 or an equivalent course.
• SED 479 requires application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations. Students may be required to have concurrent enrollment in SED 498 Professional Practice if not currently teaching in a setting that allows for application of these skills.

Transition Specialist*

(Currently not admitting new students)

Certificate requirements include:

• Prerequisite: SED 101, SED 411 or equivalent survey course
• 12 hours are required including SED 451, SED 453, SED 455, and SED 457
• All courses require application of knowledge and skills with appropriate student populations. Students may be required to have concurrent enrollment in SED 498 Professional Practice if not currently teaching in a setting that allows for application of these skills.

*Certificate programs with an asterisk are currently closed to new admissions.