Special Education-Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), M.Ed.

OSRHE Program Code: 154
CIP Code: 131013
Major Code: 6880

Purpose

The M.Ed. Special Education - Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) program aligns with NSU’s focused mission of “empower[ing] individuals to become socially responsible global citizens by creating and sustaining a culture of learning and discovery.”  In like manner, this program empowers teachers to sustain a culture of learning for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and all other disabilities.  One in every 59 school-aged children have been identified with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2018).  The goal of this program is to prepare teachers to effectively educate students with ASD and other disabilities.  The program includes three components: professional education, special education, and enrichment courses.  These three components lead to a final culminating capstone experience.

Specialty Accreditation

NSU’s educator preparation programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), www.caepnet.org, (1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036-1023, 202-223-0077), and the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (840 Research Parkway, Suite 455, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, 405-522-5399), www.ok.gov/oeqa

Credential Requirements

Courses included in the Special Education - Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Master of Education program do not represent all courses needed for a Special Education teaching certificate. Candidates seeking certification should contact NSU’s Teacher Certification office for individual advisement on courses needed based on previous college credits.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Utilize multiple methods of assessment and data-sources in making educational decisions.
2. Apply foundational knowledge of the field and their professional Ethical Principles and Practice Standards to inform special education practice, to engage in lifelong learning, and to advance the profession.
3. Collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways to address the needs of individuals with exceptionalities across a range of learning experiences.
4. Demonstrate their understanding of how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
5. Select, adapt, and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities.
6. Create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments so that individuals with exceptionalities become active and effective learners and develop emotional well-being, positive social interactions, and self-determination.

Admission, Retention, and Graduation

Admission. Beyond the admission requirements for the Graduate College, admission to the Special Education-Autism Spectrum Disorders, M. Ed. program requires:

1. Earn a 2.5 overall GPA, or 2.75 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework, or a scaled score above the 25th percentile on the GRE or MAT prior to the first enrollment.

Advisement. The Graduate College assigns students an advisor upon admission to graduate studies. It is the candidate’s responsibility to make an appointment with the advisor prior to enrollment to discuss policies and procedures relevant to the degree program. Confering with the student, the advisor develops a plan of study, assists in the selection of classes, and counsels the student.

Retention and Graduation. Candidates for the Master of Education in Special Education-Autism Spectrum Disorders must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Continue to meet the Graduate College’s retention standards. See the Academic Information page for more information.
2. Monitor degree progress using the degree audit system in the goNSU portal.
3. Meet Graduate College policies detailed in Academic Information and Master’s Degree Requirements regarding GPA, minimum grades, coursework age, residency and institutional / state regulations governing degree conferral.