The multicategorical special education program emphasizes theoretical and practical implications of identification, assessment and instruction of students with disabilities. By observation of and practice with students with disabilities in varied settings and across the age range from kindergarten to age 22, teacher candidates gain the expertise necessary to provide direct instruction to students with disabilities; monitor students' progress; conduct assessments; employ various methods and materials; and collaborate with families, various professionals and paraprofessionals.
Successful completion of this program leads to the Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS) I license. Candidates pursuing the LBS I license may or may not be licensed educators. Requirements for graduate students seeking LBS I licensure vary depending on their previous coursework. Candidates must have coursework in methods of teaching mathematics for elementary school and methods of teaching reading for elementary school. These courses will be included in the program schedule for individuals who need them.
Learning Behavior Specialist I (for non-licensed graduate candidates)
Graduate students who do not hold an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) and are seeking to complete the program requirements for Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS) I must successfully complete the following courses as additional program requirements:
- EDGSP 418: Methods of Teaching Reading at the Elementary Level (3)
- EDGSP 421: Methods of Teaching Mathematics at the Elementary Level (3)
Candidates will be exempt from these courses if documentation of previous completion of equivalent coursework is provided.
And the following professional education courses required for licensure and the Master of Arts degree (39 credit hours):
- EDGSP 403: Introduction to the Special Education edTPA (1)
- EDUGL 470: SOE Orientation (0)
- EDGSP 445: Seminar in Teaching and Learning (2)
- EDGTE 480: Methods and Material for Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
- EDGSP 520: Characteristics of Students with Disabilities (3)
- EDGSP 521: Foundations of Special Education (3)
- EDGSP 522: Adaptations and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (3)
- EDGSP 523: Language Disorders and Instruction in Diverse Classrooms (3)
- EDGSP 524: Diagnostic Assessment for Educational Decision Making (3)
- EDGSP 525: Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities (6)
- EDGSP 530: Student Teaching: Students with Disabilities (6)
- EDGSP 531: Advanced Behavioral Discourse (3), and
- EDGSP 532: Individualized Positive Behavior Support Plans (3)
Requirements in this program are subject to change within the time span of one's University career due to changing requirements at national, state and local levels.
Non-licensed graduate students in multicategorical special education are required to:
- Pass Content Area Test, LBS I (#290) prior to student teaching.
- Pass the edTPA Special Education licensure exam to obtain the PEL entitlement.*
*edTPA is currently paused, per the Illinois State Board of Education.
Learning Behavior Specialist I (for licensed graduate candidates)
Graduate students who already hold an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) and are seeking to complete the program requirements for Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS) I must successfully complete the following courses or provide documentation of previous completion of equivalent coursework:
- EDGSP 418: Methods of Teaching Reading at the Elementary Level (3)
- EDGSP 421: Methods of Teaching Mathematics at the Elementary Level (3)
And the following professional education courses required for licensure and the Master of Arts degree (34 credit hours):
- EDGSP 403: Introduction to the Special Education edTPA (1)
- EDUGL 470: SOE Orientation (0)
- EDGTE 480: Methods and Material for Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
- EDGSP 520: Characteristics of Students with Disabilities (3)
- EDGSP 521: Foundations of Special Education (3)
- EDGSP 522: Adaptations and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (3)
- EDGSP 523: Language Disorders and Instruction in Diverse Classrooms (3)
- EDGSP 524: Diagnostic Assessment for Educational Decision Making (3)
- EDGSP 525: Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities (6)
- EDGSP 526: Practicum: Students with Disabilities (for educators already licensed) (3)
- EDGSP 531: Advanced Behavioral Discourse (3)
- EDGSP 532: Individualized Positive Behavior Support Plans (3)
Candidates may elect alternative courses for the two-course options by consultation with and approval by the division director.
Successful completion of one of these options satisfies requirements for a Master of Arts degree.
Requirements in this program are subject to change within the time span of one's University career due to changing requirements at national, state and local levels.
Licensed graduate students in multicategorical special education are required to pass the Learning Behavior Specialist I (#290) prior to beginning EDGSP 526: Practicum: Students with Disabilities
Learning Behavior Specialist Endorsement
At this time, the Illinois State Board of Education allows teachers who already hold a Professional Educator License (PEL) to earn an endorsement in special education (LBS I) on that license. In order to be eligible for the LBS I endorsement, teachers must earn credit in the courses listed below and pass the Learning Behavior Specialist I (#290) test.
- EDGSP 413: Survey of Students with Exceptionalities (3)
- EDGSP 520: Characteristics of Students with Disabilities (3)
- EDGSP 524: Diagnostic Assessment for Educational Decision Making (3)
- EDGSP 525: Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities (6)
Completion of the LBS I endorsement courses and passing the LBS I (#290) Illinois Content Licensure exam are required for this K-age 22 endorsement.
Requirements in this program are subject to change within the time span of one's University career due to changing requirements at national, state and local levels.
Early Childhood Special Education Approval
The Illinois State Board of Education allows teachers who hold an Illinois license endorsed in early childhood self-contained general education or LBS I (PreK-age 22 or K-age 22) to earn an approval in Early Childhood Special Education. This approval allows teachers to teach PreK special education.
The following courses are required:
- EDGEC 521: Assessment of Typically and Atypically Developing Young Children (2)
- EDGEC 507: Methods of Teaching Young Children with Special Needs (2)
- EDGSP 523: Language Disorders and Instruction in Diverse Classrooms (3) OR EDGEC 554: Emergent Literacy and Language Development (2)
- EDGEC 509: Child, Family and Multicultural Community (2)
Requirements in this program are subject to change within the time span of one's University career due to changing requirements at national, state and local levels.
Dismissal of a Candidate from the M.A. in Special Education program
Candidates may be dismissed from the M.A. in Special Education and M.A. Dual Endorsement programs for any of the following reasons:
- A candidate fails to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- A candidate fails to pass the required edTPA performance assessment by the ISBE-mandated due date.*
- A candidate is placed on suspension or is dismissed from their student teaching site (if applicable).
- A candidate demonstrates unprofessional dispositions.**
- A candidate is convicted of a crime while in the program.
*edTPA is currently paused, per the Illinois State Board of Education.
**Dispositions may be observed in behavior or verbal or written communication. Contexts may include but are not limited to the SXU class meetings, advising meetings, emails, and/or interactions with students, parents, teachers, university coordinators, or administrators from the Residency site.
Appeal Process
A graduate student who has been notified of dismissal from the program and seeks to be reinstated must submit a written request for review by the Education Division Director and CLAE Dean within 15 days of dismissal from the program. If this request is not approved, the student may request that the dismissal be reviewed by the Provost. That request, stating the detailed justification, must be submitted in writing to the Provost's Office within 15 business days of the denial of readmission. The Provost shall seek a recommendation from the Director or Dean. The Provost's decision will be sent to each party in the appeal within 20 business days after receipt of the written request for review.