Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education
with a concentration in
Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS I)

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THERE WAS A CHANGE IN CORE STARTING SPRING 2006

Based on the ISBE Special Education Certification Structure and Content Area Standards and a multifaceted conceptual framework, this newly revised program is designed to facilitate the preparation for changing and increasingly complex professional roles in schools. You are qualified to teach in a variety of educational settings: an inclusive classroom as a co-teacher; a mainstreamed classroom as a collaborative consultant; a resource room or self-contained classroom as a diagnostic teacher; and an alternative setting, such as a special public or private school.

The M.Ed. program is designed specifically for individuals who already have a teaching certificate. Completion of this program results in a master's degree in Special Education. The state of Illinois has additional test requirements for certification.

The link between theory and practice marks the essence of graduate study at National-Louis University. Each of the 3 semester hour graduate courses for the masters degree have a clinical experience component of 15 clock hours. The clinical experience requirements are organized around the content of each course and represent a practical application of the material presented. In order to receive the M.Ed. degree, students are required to fulfill a student teaching practicum in the public schools. Graduate students, in consultation with their faculty adviser, will choose one of the following options based on experiences, strengths, and needs: (1) collaborative student teaching practicum for full-time employed experienced teachers; (2) full-day student teaching practicum for those who have never taught on a certificate; and (3) summer student teaching practicum for less experienced and inexperienced teachers, and for some teachers who work full-time during the year (The summer option is limited.).

Offering of Classes

The majority of classes in the Special Education program are offered at National-Louis University's Lisle, North Shore, and Wheeling campuses, with some courses offered at the Chicago and Elgin campuses. As a full-time student, you may complete the program requirements in as little as 2 years.

M.Ed. in Special Education

Core Course Requirements: Semester Hours

• EPS500B Human Development with a Focus on Elementary & Middle School Age Children 2
• ESR506 Graduate Research: Interpretive/Critical 2
• ESR507 Graduate Research: Empirical/Quantitative 2
• FND504 History & Philosophy of Education 2
• FND505 Perspectives on Contemporary Issues in Education 2

New Core Courses - spring 2006

• EPS541 Cognition and Instruction 2
• ESR505 Educational Inquiry and Assessment 3
• FND511 Social and Cultural Politics of Education: Personal and Contextual Perspectives 3

Professional Certification Requirements for Special

Education LBS I Through Entitlement

Semester Hours

• SPE506 Frameworks and Perspectives in Special Education* 3
• SPE 500 Introduction to Exceptional Children and Adolescents* 3
• SPE545 Assistive Technology (Technology for Special Education) 2
• SPE502 Language Development and Challenges in Children & Adolescents OR 2
• SPE526 Best Practices in Child Word Finding: Academic Accommodations for Students with Expressive Language Difficulties 2
• SPE503 Collaborative and Consultative Teaming and Teaching* 3
• SPE508 Critical Literacy* 3
• SPE501 Educational and Diagnostic Assessment of Exceptional Children & Adolescents* 3
• SPE509 Clinical Literacy* 3
• SPE523 Diagnosis and Remediation of Mathematics Disabilities/Special Education* 3
• SPE507 Social/Emotional: Development, Teaching,  and Support* 3
• SPE527 Individual Curriculum and Instruction* 3
• SPE592 Practicum/Teaching Children and Adolescents with Special Needs 3

Certification Requirements

In order to be certified in special education, you must complete the general education requirements, the professional education coursework, and clinical experiences, plus pass the State of Illinois examinations in Basic Skills, APT (K-12), LBS I and Special Education General Curriculum (SEGC) test.

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