Grand Canyon University offers the Master of Education in Special Education (Not Eligible for Institutional Recommendation) Program in the online format. This cross-categorical program is designed for individuals intending to pursue careers in education of children with special needs in the K-12 setting but who are not yet seeking teacher certification. The curriculum courses have been directly aligned with the standards of the Arizona Professional Teacher, the Interstate New Teacher Support and Assessment Consortium, and the Council for Exceptional Children. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The program length is thirty-four (34) credits and one hundred twenty (120) practicum hours. Required courses include Special Education Foundation and Framework, Classroom Management for Students with Special Needs, Educating Learners with Diverse Needs, SEI English Language Teaching: Foundations and Methodologies, Diagnosis and Assessment in Special Education, Characteristics of Learning Disabilities and Strategies to Teach Individuals with LD, Characteristics of Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities and Strategies to Teach Individuals with EBD, Characteristics of Mental Retardation and Strategies to Teach Individuals with MR, and Educational Implications for Students with Physical and Health Impairments. Students need to have access to a K-12 special education classroom to complete the assignments of the program.

Graduates are expected to be able to work with special needs population and accommodate the various learning needs of students through implementation of individualized educational plans. Students can choose to move to the eligible version prior to the posting of their degree as the program specifically prepares them to smoothly advance into the student teaching/credentialing component of the certification program. Applicants should be US citizens and have already earned their bachelor’s degree. Program cost is approximately $12,600.00.

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