Special Education, 5-12 Teacher Licensure Specialization

This teacher licensure specialization leads to a master's degree in inclusive education and Massachusetts initial licensure in special education, 5-12.

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Program Overview

The Inclusive Education Master's Degree Program prepares educators to create and lead equitable classroom environments that encompass a range of student needs and promote equity, social justice, diversity and accessibility.

In this program, students will: 

  • Develop pedagogical skills to teach diverse adolescent learners 
  • Design and implement equitable curricula across content areas in middle and high school settings
  • Explore universal design, intersectionality and inclusivity
  • Learn to foster care, connection and community with colleagues and adolescent learners and their families

All inclusive education master's students are required to take five core inclusivity courses as well as the coursework for their licensure. For the Special Education, 5-12 Teacher Licensure Specialization, courses such as Curricular Innovations & Assistive Technology and Teaching Content Math to Diverse Middle & High School Learners prepare educators to create and lead an inclusive classroom environment for diverse student populations in grades 5-12. 

Sample Courses

Literacy for Adolescent Students with Disabilities

EDU 622
This course explores language and literacy instruction for middle/high school students with disabilities. The course will emphasize how to design literacy lessons for diverse adolescent learners, including how to assess students’ literacy progress. Course participants will learn about the specific aspects of reading and explore how to support students’ needs in all areas. The course will provide participants with assessment strategies in literacy. Participants will also learn specific strategies to support students writing skills throughout all content areas.

Teaching Content Math to Diverse Middle & High School Learners

EDU 623
This course examines the pedagogy of math instruction for middle and high school aged diverse students. The course will explore instructional strategies and routines to support all learners to develop mathematical thinking. Participants will develop instructional routines and apply standards in the design of curricula to improve how math can be humanized in classrooms. The course explores issues related to technology, math pedagogy, and math equity.

Curricular Innovations & Assistive Technology

EDU 631
This course explores how curriculum built on the goal of student understanding, integrated with instructional approaches that emphasize reaching every learner, can provide teachers with more specific teaching targets and more flexible ways to reach them. Students will examine the teaching, instruction, and curricula required to meet the needs of diverse learners, who by virtue of their experiential, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, challenge traditional curriculum and instructional programs. Course participants will determine how to deconstruct curricular barriers and create and apply curricular solutions, including assistive technology and AAC, to maximize access and academic success.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Our inclusive education graduate students engage in action research, semester-long project-based learning, intensive residency and research with faculty.

Practica Placements

Licensure students complete practica placements at both urban and suburban sites as well as specialized locations. This is an opportunity for students to observe, assist and teach in a range of educational settings. All licensure students are required to complete a field experience or internship.

Partnerships

Stonehill has partnerships with several area school districts as well as specialized locations. Residency students can work in diverse settings at our public and private partner sites, including the League School and South Shore Educational Collaborative, among others. 

Students pursuing a master's degree leading to initial licensure in special education, 5-12 can pursue their degree coursework at one our off-campus instructional sites, Stonehill on Cape Cod or Stonehill in Boston. 

Project-based Learning

In courses such as Curricular Innovations & Assistive Technology, students complete a semester-long assistive technology project focused on increasing curricular access.

Student Research

Students have the opportunity to work with faculty on research in a variety of areas. In 2019, three students worked with Elizabeth Stringer Keefe to examine the process of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the perspective of both parents and educators and presented their findings at the Massachusetts Council for Exceptional Children Annual Conference.

Contact Information

Graduate & Professional Studies Admission

grad@stonehill.edu
508-565-1600
Duffy – 124/126

Graduate & Professional Studies Admission assists students as they explore graduate and professional opportunities offered at Stonehill College. 

Meet the Director of Graduate Teacher Education

Rebekah C. Louis

Rebekah C. Louis

Assistant Professor/Coordinator of Graduate Clinical Experience, Director of Graduate Teacher Education, Coordinator of Graduate Clinical Experience
rlouis3@stonehill.edu
Duffy 290
Education

Related Links

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