2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Master of Education in Special Education - Learning Disabilities Emphasis

• Requirements for M.Ed. in Learning Disabilities

For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Education and Community Innovation section in this catalog.

Website: gvsu.edu/coe/grad

Mission

Teaching, leading, and learning in a democratic society.

Philosophy

Believing that schools function as social and political entities as well as for the growth of individuals, the College of Education and Community Innovation prepares teachers and leaders a) to enhance the academic and personal potential of their students, and b) to evaluate the social and ethical implications of educational policies and practices.

Values

The College of Education and Community Innovation values expertise to guide our practice, equity to guide our interactions, liberal education to guide our perspectives, and social responsibility to guide our commitment to democratic education. We value these ideals in our preparation of candidates, our development of faculty, and our relationships with the larger community we serve.

Accreditation

The program is a nationally recognized by the Specialty Program Association: Council for Exceptional Children, Michigan Department of Education approval.

Minimum Number of Hours in Program
The M.Ed. degree in special education with an emphasis in learning disabilities requires a minimum of 33 credit hours.

Admission

Students who are degree seeking and are working for special education endorsement are required to take additional courses beyond the normal requirements for the master's degree. Students who want to enroll in a master's degree program and are not seeking special education endorsement should select a master's degree emphasis program and consult with a special education graduate advisor to develop a program consisting of foundations and emphasis coursework, including research applications.

Program Location
Program is offered at DeVos Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, located in downtown Grand Rapids, MI.

Requirements for M.Ed. in Learning Disabilities

Candidates for the M.Ed. degree must complete the following courses.

Social Foundations of Education

Choose one of the following (three credits) to be completed early in program:

• EDF 671 - Educational Policy and Practice (3 credits)
• EDF 672 - Social/Cultural Foundations of Education (3 credits)

Research and Evaluation

Complete the following (three credits) early in program:

• EDF 660 - Educational Inquiry and Evaluation (3 credits)

Special Education

Requires 6 or 12 credits. Candidates completing the LD emphasis as an additional endorsement must choose two courses from EDS 555, EDS 627, EDS 629.

Candidates completing their first endorsement must complete all of the following:

• EDS 652 - Foundations of Special Education (3 credits) Required for LD candidates who DO NOT hold a special education endorsement. This course must be taken first.
• EDS 555 - Behavior Support for Students with Disabilities (3 credits) Required for LD candidates who DO NOT hold a special education endorsement and LD internship candidates.
• EDS 627 - Technology and Professional Practice (3 credits) Required for LD candidates who DO NOT hold a special education endorsement.
• EDS 629 - Transition Practices (3 credits) Required for LD candidates who DO NOT hold a special education endorsement.

Learning Disabilities

Requires 15 credits, including:

• EDS 625 - Inclusive Practices (3 credits)
• EDS 636 - Introduction to Specific Learning Disability (3 credits)
• EDS 637 - Explicit Language Instruction (3 credits)
• EDS 638 - Educational Interventions for Specific Learning Disability 1 (3 credits)
• Complete after EDS 636, EDS 637, and EDS 638.

Practicum/Graduate Field Experience

Requires three credits, including:

• EDS 685 - Practicum/Graduate Field Experience (3 or 6 credits)

Students must apply in advance for each practicum course. Advisor approval is required. Application deadlines (practicum): February 15 for spring/summer, May 15 for fall, September 15 for winter semester.

Capstone

Choose one (three or six credits):

• EDS 693 - Master's Project (1 to 3 credits)
• EDS 695 - Master's Thesis (1 to 6 credits)

Students should meet with their advisor midway through their program to decide on a Capstone and discuss plans for completion. Subject to department approval, Capstone courses may be taken in variable amounts from one to three credits (EDS 693) or one to six credits (EDS 695) and require continuous enrollment each semester until completed.

Application deadlines (thesis/project): February 15 for spring/summer, May 15 for fall, September 15 for winter semester.

Requirement for Learning Disabilities K-12 Single Endorsement

Candidates for this program must possess a valid Michigan teaching certificate. Candidates adding a new endorsement must pass the Michigan Subject Area Test and maintain a 3.0 G.P.A. Completion of both EDS 636 and EDS 638 satisfy the state reading requirement PA 118.

Special Education Courses

Requires six or 12 credits. Candidates completing the LD emphasis as an additional endorsement must choose two courses from EDS 555, EDS 627, EDS 629.

Candidates completing their first endorsement must complete all of the following:

• EDS 652 - Foundations of Special Education (3 credits) Required for LD candidates who DO NOT hold a special education endorsement. This course must be taken first.
• EDS 555 - Behavior Support for Students with Disabilities (3 credits) Required for LD candidates who DO NOT hold a special education endorsement.
• EDS 627 - Technology and Professional Practice (3 credits) Required for LD candidates who DO NOT hold a special education endorsement.
• EDS 629 - Transition Practices (3 credits) Required for LD candidates who DO NOT hold a special education endorsement.

Preteaching Course

Requires six credits, including:

• EDS 550 - Preteaching in Special Education (3 credits) Required for LD candidates who DO NOT hold a special education endorsement. Application required. Candidates with approved special education experiences may seek a waiver of the EDS 550 requirement.

Learning Disabilities Coursework

Requires 15 credits. All LD candidates must complete the following:

• EDS 625 - Inclusive Practices (3 credits)
• EDS 636 - Introduction to Specific Learning Disability (3 credits)
• EDS 637 - Explicit Language Instruction (3 credits)
• EDS 638 - Educational Interventions for Specific Learning Disability 1 (3 credits)

Practicum/Graduate Field Experience

Requires three or six credits, including:

• EDS 685 - Practicum/Graduate Field Experience (3 or 6 credits) Six credits required for first endorsement candidates.

Students must apply in advance for each practicum course. Advisor approval is required. Application deadlines (practicum): February 15 for spring/summer, May 15 for fall, September 15 for winter semester.