Degree Requirements
To obtain a master's degree in special education at Mercyhurst, the student must complete a core of 30-33 graduate credit hours. The program can be completed in 24 months (full-time), or 30-36 months (part-time).
Course curriculum includes:
Foundations of Applied Research
(6 credits)
- EDSP 502 Educational Research: Single Subject (required)
- EDSP 676 Special Education Thesis or
- EDSP 677 Research-Based Project
Foundations of Special Education
(9 credits)
- EDSP 500 Cultures of Disability
- EDSP 501 Applied Behavior Analysis and Classroom Management
Educational Diversity
(Select one; 3 credits)
- EDSP 512 Second Language Acquisition Methodology
- EDSP 514 Language in Contact
- EDSP 621-3 Seminars
- EDSP 640 Basic Principles of Behavior
- EDSP 650 Extended Applications: Functional Analysis
- EDSP 635 Leadership in Urban Education
Specialization in Special Education
(12 credits)
- EDSP 601 Curriculum and Instruction: Learning Disabilities
- EDSP 602 Curriculum and Instruction: Behavior Disorders
- EDSP 607 Curriculum and Instruction: Developmental Disabilities
- EDSP 503 Curriculum Based Assessment and Instructional Planning
Student Teaching-Internship
(Select one; 3-6 credits)*
- EDSP 675 Student Teaching: Special Education (one, six-week block)
Students seeking PA certification - EDSP 673 Internship: Special Needs (For students not seeking PA certification)
- EDSP 672 Intensive Practicum: Applied Behavior Analysis (750 hours) (For students seeking BCBA certification, and not seeking PA certification)
*Additionally, students seeking certification without prior completion of student teaching in special, elementary, or early childhood education, are required to complete three additional credits of student teaching (two, six-week blocks (12 weeks total). Students seeking dual certification (SPED-ELED, SPED-ECED, SPED-SECONDARY) are required to complete three additional credits of student teaching (two, six-week blocks).
Co-requirements, Special Education and Certificate: Autism/Applied Behavior Analysis
(9-12 credit hours)
- EDSP 640 Basic Principles of Behavior
- EDSP 650 Extended Applications: Functional Analysis
- EDSP 660 Advanced Seminar: Applied Behavior Analysis
- EDSP 672 Intensive Practicum: Applied Behavior Analysis (optional)
*One of the these courses (640, 650, or 660) may be used as the Educational Diversity requirement above
Requirements, Certificate: Autism/Applied Behavior Analysis
(15-18 credit hours)
- EDSP 501 Applied Behavior Analysis and Classroom Management
- EDSP 502 Educational Research: Single Subject
- EDSP 640 Basic Principles of Behavior
- EDSP 650 Extended Applications: Functional Analysis
- EDSP 660 Advanced Seminar: Applied Behavior Analysis
- EDSP 672 Intensive Practicum: Applied Behavior Analysis (optional)
Undergraduate Co-Requirements for Teacher Certification: Special Education and Elementary Education
(27-42 credit hours)
- EDUC 174 Seminar in Urban Education and Academics (+ EDUC 175) or
- EDSP 635 Leadership in Urban Education
- EDUC 301 Professional Communication for Teachers
- ELED 101 Children's Literature
- ELED 204 Teaching Literacy: Primary Grades (+ EDUC 205)
- ELED 206 Teaching Literacy: Intermediate Grades (+ EDUC 207)
- ELED 222 Aesthetic Education
- ELED 304 M/M for Teaching Math
- ELED 305 Project Oriented Teaching: Science, Health, Social Studies
- ELED 474 Pre-Teaching Internship
- HDFR 110 Human Growth and Development or
-
PSYC 121 Child Psychology American Government Biology/Science and Lab other Mathematics (two total) Geopolitics or World Geography
Other Requirements
- Admission to Undergraduate Student Teaching Program
- NTE-Praxis Requirements
Undergraduate Co-Requirements for Teacher Certification: Special Education Only
(15 credit hours)
- ELED 204 Teaching Literacy: Primary Grades (+ EDUC 205)
- ELED 206 Teaching Literacy: Intermediate Grades (+ EDUC 207)
- ELED 304 M/M for Teaching Math
- ELED 305 Project Oriented Teaching: Science, Health Social Studies
- HDFR 110 Human Growth and Development or
- PSYC 121 Child Psychology
Other Requirements
- Admission to Undergraduate Student Teaching Program
- NTE-Praxis Requirements