Program Overview

Special Education K-12 (MAT) Program

The Special Education K-12 master's program leads to a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree and a Tennessee License to teach grades K-12.

Admission Requirements

• MAT candidates must apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) before the end of the second semester and fulfill all TEP requirements.
• Candidates must have a 3.0 graduate GPA to be admitted to TEP and maintain a 3.0 GPA while in the graduate program.
• Candidates must pass Praxis II exams to be licensed to teach in Tennessee.

Program Structure

The program is divided into three levels of coursework.

Level 1 Coursework

• Suggested Course Sequence for Fall I Semester (9 Hours)
  • SPED 7000 - Introduction to Exceptional Learner
  • ICL 7105 (Interventionist License) - or - SPED 7050 (Comprehensive License only)
  • LITL 7553 - Literacy Development K4 - Interventionist Requirement
• Suggested Course Sequence for Spring I Semester (6 Hours)
  • SPED 7001 - Tests and Measurements for Exceptional Child/Adult
  • LITL 7553 - Literacy Development K4 - Interventionist Requirement
• Suggested Course Sequence for Summer I Semester (6 Hours)
  • EDPR 7111 - Child Psychology Applied to Education - or - SPED 7015 - Teaching Students with Exceptionalities Across Differences and Abilities
  • SPED 7212 - Content Methods in Special Education

Level 2 Coursework

• Suggested Course Sequence for Fall II Semester (6 Hours)
  • LITL 7554 - Literacy Development
  • SPED 7221 - Behavior Management in Special Education
• Suggested Course Sequence for Spring II Semester (9 Hours)
  • IDT 7061 - Instructional Design and Educational Technology
  • ICL 7106 - Professional and Ethical Practice in Inclusive Classrooms
  • EDPR 7521 - Introduction to Educational Research
• Suggested Course Timeline for Summer II Semester (3 Hours)
  • SPED 7511 - Intellectual Disabilities (Comprehensive License ONLY)

Level 3 Coursework

• Suggested Course Timeline for Fall III Semester - Clinical Teaching Candidates (9 Hours)
  • ICL 7808 - The Clinical Teaching Semester
  • ICL 7993 - Professional Seminar (REQUIRED)
• Suggested Course Timeline for Fall III Semester - Job Embedded Candidates (3 Hours)
  • ICL 7992 - Master's Project

Additional Requirements

• An application is required one semester prior to The Clinical Teaching Semester - ICL 7808.
• All clinical teaching candidates must take the Professional Seminar to obtain licensure - ICL 7993.
• No other courses may be taken with the clinical teaching semester and/or the ICL 7993 Professional Seminar or 7992 Master's Project classes.
• Candidates who have an active Job Embedded Practitioner License will be exempt from submitting the edTPA.

Assessment and Evaluation

• Candidates must pass Praxis II exams to be licensed to teach in Tennessee.
• Candidates must complete and pass a nationally scored teacher performance assessment.
• The Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) is required for all candidates obtaining a MAT and TN Teaching License, except for Job-embedded teacher candidates.