Curriculum and Instruction: Special Education Concentration
This program is designed primarily for special education, early childhood, elementary or secondary education classroom teachers. It seeks to prepare them to work with students with disabilities in general or special education classrooms. Emphasis is placed on providing a balance of theoretical background and methodology appropriate for the needs of exceptional children and youth. This program does not lead to initial teaching certification.
The special education program reflects the state of Maryland education certification areas: generic (mild and moderate disabilities), noncategorical education for students with disabilities at a designated age-grade level. Students without any teacher certification who are seeking initial certification in Special Education (Grades 1-8) are referred to Initial Teaching Certification. Hood does not offer an MSDE approved program for currently-certified teachers who wish to obtain additional certification in special education.
Degree Requirements
Professional Education Core Courses (12 credits)
| EDUC 502 | Technology for Teaching, Learning & Leadership | 3.0 |
| EDUC 577 | Introduction to Educational Research | 3.0 |
| EDUC 581 | Research-Based Teaching, Learning & Assessment | 3.0 |
| EDUC 582 | Educational Philosophy in a Diverse Society | 3.0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 |
Foundation Courses (9 credits):
In addition to the four professional education core courses for the M.S. degree, all candidates in the Special Education Concentration must complete three courses in special education content coursework for 9 credits:
| EDUC 565 | Classroom Organization & Management in Special Education | 3.0 |
| EDUC 571 | Historical, Philosophical & Legal Foundations of Special Education | 3.0 |
| EDUC 583 | Principles of Curriculum Development & Appraisal | 3.0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 |
EDUC 571: Waived if student has taken special education survey or mainstreaming course at the undergraduate or graduate level within five years and obtained a grade of “B.” An elective may then be selected by the student.
Content Electives (12 credits):
In addition to the professional education core and foundation courses, the candidate must select four elective courses. One must be taken in reading. Substitutions are permitted with approval by the program director. (12 credits)
| EDUC 500 | Methods for Teaching Multilingual Learners | 3.0 |
| EDUC 530 | K-12 Blended Learning | 3.0 |
| EDUC 553 | Foundations of Elementary STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics) Education | 3.0 |
| EDUC 573 | Assessment, Diagnosis & Prescription in Special Education | 3.0 |
| EDUC 574 | Curriculum & Methods in Inclusive Classrooms: English Language Arts & Social Studies | 3.0 |
| EDUC 576 | Curriculum & Methods in Inclusive Classrooms: Math and Science | 3.0 |
Reading
Capstone Courses (3 credits):
Candidates enrolled in the M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction degree program in capstone course must successfully meet the following requirements:
- Maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in the capstone courses: EDUC 597A and EDUC 597B Capstone Research Project.
- Complete acceptable performance activities as part of the collaborative practice component in EDUC 597A and EDUC 597B.
- Successful evaluation of a yearlong action research project.
- Complete the Exit Survey, a self-assessment measure on the Institutional Outcomes
The Capstone project is year-long, split across two courses and terms: EDUC 597A in the Fall and EDUC 597B in the Spring. Each course is 1.5 credits each, for a total of 3 credits for the project.
Program Follow Up
Program completers in the Curriculum and Instruction program will complete the following activities:
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Program Evaluation Survey at the completion of the action research course.
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Program Survey one year after program completion.