Degree Title and Name:  Master of Education in Blended Early Childhood and Special Education

Program Name and Number:  Blended Early Childhood and Special Education – ME6876

Department/Unit:  Teacher Education/Special Education

Delivery Mode:  Online

Term(s) of Entry:  Fall, Spring, Summer

Program Overview:  The master’s degree in Education with a major in Blended Early Childhood and Special Education is designed for those who already hold a teacher license and who desire to obtain another licensure to teach P-5 learners with and without disabilities or those seeking to advance their knowledge in inclusive early education. The focus of the Special Education program at Ohio University centers on the delivery of high-quality and equitable services and supports to all students.

The mission of this degree program is to utilize the most current adult learning principles to increase the quantity and quality of early childhood teachers and intervention specialists, and thereby to improve services and outcomes for children ages birth to 10 and their families. This program supports teacher leaders to utilize advanced knowledge, skills, and dispositions to (a) identify delays and disabilities early, (b) implement reflective and responsive interventions that are child-centered and aligned with research and theory to young children with and without disabilities birth to 10 years, and (c) to enhance teacher candidates’ capacities to support children’s families in interacting positively and responsively to their children. Individuals in this program are prepared to implement culturally relevant services and supports to children from diverse backgrounds across a variety of settings. This program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Normative time to completion is one year taking two to three courses per semester.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• By the completion of the special education licensure program, candidates will demonstrate mastery of CEC standards. (Core Knowledge)
• By the completion of the special education licensure program, candidates will create an environment that is supportive of continuous improvement of P-5 student learning outcomes. (Pedagogy)
• By the completion of the special education licensure program, candidates will model high professional expectations and ethical practice and create supportive environments that safeguard legal rights and improve outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities and their families. (Professionalism)
• By the completion of the special education licensure program, candidates will engage in the design and implementation of research and inquiry. (Research methods and analysis; Independent Research)
• By the completion of the special education licensure program, candidates will produce written and oral quality communications directed to students, parents/guardians and other professionals. (Scholarly Communications)

Opportunities for Graduates: Teacher shortages in special education have been a problem for numerous years and they tend to be even more challenging to resolve in rural settings. Three-fourths of all Ohio students enter kindergarten without the skills necessary to be successful. Completion of the program meets Ohio’s Educator Licensure Standards for early childhood education and early childhood special education, which are standards for teaching P-5 students who have disabilities. After completing this coursework and passing the Ohio Educator Assessments, individuals will be fully credentialed to teach all young children. Individuals are well-prepared to obtain any of the following occupations: early childhood teacher, early childhood intervention specialist, itinerant early childhood special education teacher, and behavior analyst/interventionist.

Link to Program:  https://www.ohio.edu/education/teacher-ed/blended-masters

Graduation Requirements:

All individuals completing the program must complete a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours of course work, with a grade of a “C” or better. The number of hours required to meet state requirements for licensure is determined in consultation with the advisor and is based on previous degrees, licensures, course work, and professional internship hours and when these previous requirements were completed.  The coursework requirements typically range from 31 to 34 credit hours.

• Teacher Education Core Coursework: EDTE 6670, EDSP 6100, EDTE 5610, EDTE 6940
• Blended Early Childhood and Special Education Core Coursework: EDEC 6110, EDEC 6310, EDEC 6920, EDSP 6210; EDSP 6920, EDTE 6400
• Elective Coursework: EDTE 6410

Culminating Experience:  Individuals complete a Master’s Research Project as their culminating experience that they plan during the Teacher as Action Researcher course (EDTE 6670) and implement/complete during the Master’s Research Project course (EDTE 6940).

Admission Requirements:  Overall 3.0 GPA from most recent degree program; current teaching licensure in early childhood education, elementary education, intervention specialist, special education, or a related field approved by the program coordinator; 1-2 page statement of personal and professional reasons for seeking the degree and major, which serves as the writing sample; and, two acceptable letters of recommendation.

International Students: This program does not permit full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 cannot be issued based on admission to this program.