Low Incidence: Severe Disabilities

Serve students with intellectual disability, autism, multiple disabilities and other intensive support needs.

Program Overview

The Severe Disabilities track prepares master's level scholars to teach children and young adults with autism, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, and other developmental disabilities. Our goal is to prepare future special education teachers with evidence-based strategies to enhance the learning and outcomes of students with severe disabilities.

Careers

  • Special education teacher for students with complex support needs
  • Community-based transition special education teacher
  • Special education coach
  • Special education advocate
  • Behavior analyst

Program Facts

Director of Professional Studies and Admissions Representative: Alexandra Da Fonte
Admissions Coordinator: Kelly Limina
Admission Term: Fall
Credit Hours: 30-60

Application Dates

  • Application Deadline 1

    Jan 3, 2025
  • Application Deadline 2

    Feb 3, 2025
  • Rolling Admissions

    After Feb 3, 2025*

    *Applications received after the Feb 3rd second deadline are reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted as space and funds allow.

Funding and Scholarships

Generous funding for this training is provided by personnel preparation grants from the Office of Special Education Programs. No additional application is needed. All scholars will be considered for these funds during the admissions application review. For more information about these grants, contact Dr. Alexandra Da Fonte.

Funding is also available for students seeking initial licensure or an additional teaching endorsement. Through college scholarships, training grants, or research grants, students may receive (full or partial) tuition remission, as well as stipend support.

Coursework

  • Core Courses
    • SPED 7000 Education and Psychology of Exceptional Learners
    • EDUC 6010/PSY-PC 7040 Psychological Foundations of Education
    • SPED 7400 Management Procedures for Academic and Social Behaviors
    • SPEDS 7000 Issues in Family Intervention
    • SPEDS 7100 Augmentative and Alternative Communication
    • SPEDS 7200 Access to General Education and Teaching Functional Academics
    • SPEDS 7250 Methods of Instruction for Students with Autism, Intellectual, and Multiple Disabilities
    • SPEDS 7300 Procedures for Transition to Adult Life
    • SPEDS 7600 Teaching Reading to Students with Severe Disabilities
    • SPEDS 7700 Characteristic of Students with Autism, Intellectual, and Multiple Disabilities
    • SPEDS 7710 Current Issues in Autism and Severe Disabilities
  • Field Experiences
    • SPEDS 7951 Fieldwork in Autism, Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities
    • SPEDS 7953 Advanced Fieldwork in Autism, Intellectual, and Multiple Disabilities
    • SPEDS 7954 Fieldwork in Severe Disabilities
    • SPEDS 7991 Extended Student Teaching for Graduate Students in Severe Disabilities
  • Elective Courses
    • See Degree Audit for potential elective courses.
  • Thesis or Specialty Project
    • SPEDS 7960 Reading and Research in Special Education (Independent Studies)
    • SPED 7989 Specialty Project in Special Education
    • SPED 7990 Master’s Thesis in Special Education
  • Interdisciplinary Required Courses
    • SLP 5335 Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Research Labs

Faculty

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