Special Education, PreK-8 Teacher Licensure Track

This teacher licensure track leads to a master's degree in inclusive education and Massachusetts initial licensure in special education, PreK-8.

Kindergarten students in classroom
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Program Overview

The Inclusive Education Master's Degree Program prepares educators to create and lead equitable classroom environments that encompass a range of student needs and promote equity, social justice, diversity and accessibility.

All inclusive education master's students are required to take five core courses as well as the coursework for their licensure track. For the Special Education, PreK-8 Teacher Licensure Track, courses such as Language & Literacy in Special Education and Teaching Math to Students with Disabilities prepare educators to create and lead an inclusive classroom environment for diverse student populations in grades PreK-8. 

Sample Courses

Language & Literacy in Special Education

EDU 620
This course is designed for preservice special education teachers and other related service providers interested in expanding their knowledge base for understanding and supporting the needs of students with language-based learning disabilities. Both assessment and intervention issues for school-age children and adolescents with language learning disabilities (LLD) will be discussed, with an emphasis on oral language and literacy connections.

Teaching Math to Students with Disabilities

EDU 621
This course provides an in-depth look at the causes and correlations of math difficulty, contemporary methods of assessment in the domain of math as well as evidence-based instructional approaches and interventions for students with math learning disabilities. Students will acquire an understanding of typical development in the domain of mathematics, profiles of various mathematics learning disabilities, methods for assessing mathematical competencies and research-proven instructional techniques for this population.

Assessment for Special Education

EDU 630
This course addresses issues in the assessment of children and youth with disabilities, and reviews norm-referenced and criterion-referenced assessments, developmental scales, and formal and informal observation techniques. Students will acquire an understanding of the issues related to selecting and administering a variety of assessment tools, and to interpreting, communicating and utilizing data from assessments to support the education of students with disabilities.

Practica Placements

Licensure students complete practica placements at both urban and suburban sites as well as specialized locations. This is an opportunity for students to observe, assist and teach in a range of educational settings. All students are required to complete a field experience or internship.

Partnerships

Stonehill has partnerships with several area school districts as well as specialized locations. Teacher residency students can work with a particular population of students at our partner sites, including the League School and South Shore Educational Collaborative, among others. 

Students pursuing a master's degree leading to initial licensure in special education, PreK-8 can pursue their degree coursework at our off-campus instructional site, Stonehill at Riverview.

Student Research

Students have the opportunity to work with faculty on research in a variety of areas. In 2019, three students worked with Elizabeth Stringer Keefe to examine the process of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the perspective of both parents and educators and presented their findings at the Massachusetts Council for Exceptional Children Annual Conference.

Contact Information

Melissa Ratliff

Melissa Ratliff

Dean of Graduate Admission
mratliff@stonehill.edu
508-565-1877
Duffy 124/126
Admission

Meet the Director

Elizabeth Stringer Keefe

Elizabeth Stringer Keefe

Associate Professor of Education, Director of Graduate Teacher Education
stringerkeefe@stonehill.edu

Related Links

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