Program Coordinator: Dr. Sue F. Foo
Phone: 508-929-8071
Email: sfoo@worcester.edu

Candidates for the Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a concentration in Moderate Disabilities (Non-Licensure) Program are required to meet the competencies established by the Office of Graduate Programs for all candidates seeking a Master of Education Degree through Worcester State University. Candidates are advised to contact the program coordinator for further information prior to formal application to the program.

The program allows candidates who possess the following to obtain a Master of Education with a Concentration in Moderate Disabilities without an initial licensure in Moderate Special Needs:

• candidate has licensure in other non-academic areas such as occupational therapy, speech language pathology;
• candidate has licensure in an academic area and is interested in a Master of Education in Moderate Disabilities.
• candidate is a non-resident of Massachusetts and does not plan to teach in Massachusetts but is interested in the Special Education Program.

Candidates who have completed this program and decide to earn an initial licensure in Moderate Disabilities, must fulfill the following criteria:

• pass all the MTEL requirements;
• meet with the Program Coordinator;
• apply to the initial licensure program and be accepted;
• register for ED-921, ED-922, ED-923, ED-924, ED-909, ED-926, and ED-928.

OR

Candidates who are working on this program and decide to earn an initial licensure in Moderate Disabilities must fulfill the following criteria:

• withdraw from the Non-Licensure program through the Department of Graduate and Continuing Education (DGCE);
• apply to the Moderate Disabilities Initial Licensure program through DGCE;
• pass all the MTEL requirements.

To access online information about the program, including an application and admission requirements, please go to: www.worcester.edu/graduate

Items Needed to Apply:

• Online application found at www.worcester.edu/apply
• Essay explaining reason for pursuing this degree program
• Application fee
• Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources
• Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended showing a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Official transcript evaluation for any transcript from outside the United States
• An English language proficiency test if the student’s academic background is not in English
• GREs are required, but are waived with passing scores on MTEL or possession of an earned master’s degree

Program of Study

The Worcester State University Master of Education  Moderate Disabilities (Non-Licensure) Program is a 37-credit program, consisting of twelve (12) three-credit courses and a one-credit portfolio course. The portfolio course requires candidates to document mastery of content and pedagogical standards beyond the initial license.

The courses in the M.Ed. with a concentration in Moderate Disabilities (Non-Licensure) program fall into 3 categories. The first set of courses meets the core education requirements common to several of the M.Ed. programs. There are four core courses, which total to ten (10) credits.

Completion of these courses assures that candidates have acquired graduate level knowledge and skills in the foundation of education, and in the interpretation, planning and implementation of educational research.

Candidates are advised to take the course, ED-981 early in the program as it provides the foundation for the graduate program. The research course ED-982 informs candidates on interesting areas of research as well as a foundation for ED-993. The seminar course is completed near the end of the program and leads to a completed research paper in the area of Moderate Disabilities (Non-Licensure). ED-992 must be taken during the last semester. The course guides candidates in compiling a program portfolio that demonstrates successful attainment of the state standards and the college standards for the Master in Education Degree.

These courses are required to complete the M Ed. with a concentration in Moderate Disabilities (Non-Licensure) to meet the state regulations regarding “content or pedagogical courses beyond those for the initial license based on the academic discipline, developed or taught in collaboration with experts who hold at least a master’s degree in that discipline or hold a full time faculty position in that discipline in the arts or sciences or appropriate professional school other than education.”

Candidates are required to take one course as elective under the advisement of the program coordinator.

Elective Courses (select from the following)