Program Overview

Special Education - Licensure and Master's

The University of Toledo's Licensure and Master's Program (LAMP) is designed for adult learners who already have a degree and wish to become special education teachers. This two-year program prepares students to be successful Ohio educators and earns them a Master of Education degree (M.Ed.). Graduates are eligible for an Ohio Resident Educator license as an intervention specialist for grades K to 12 in mild/moderate or moderate/intensive needs.

Program Overview

• The program is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
• Students observe, participate in, and reflect on real-world teaching practices in a supportive and structured environment throughout the school year.
• By the time of graduation, students will have a full year of experience working with highly qualified teachers, students, and administrators within local school settings.
• Opportunities are available to prepare educators in primary, middle childhood, adolescent to young adult, or world languages.

Top Reasons to Study Special Education

1. Program Variety: This unique graduate program offers resources and support from one of the best public universities in Ohio, preparing students to teach at any elementary, middle, or high school in Ohio in any of seven licensure areas.
2. Field Placements: Students are in the field early and often, with a variety of student teaching experiences from rural to urban settings.
3. Acclaimed Statewide: The LAMP program in Middle Childhood and Adolescent-to-Young-Adult Education was awarded the Outstanding Field Experience Program Award by the Ohio Association of Teacher Educators.
4. Full Support: The program is highly selective, admitting 35-40 graduate students each year, ensuring personal attention from faculty and staff, including a dedicated enrollment specialist.
5. Outstanding Job Placement: 90% of LAMP graduate students with Ohio teaching licensure qualifications receive job offers for educator positions before they graduate from the University of Toledo.
6. Community Partnerships: The University of Toledo is a top, accredited research university with strong local and regional partnerships, important for student-teacher placements.
7. Financial Aid: LAMP graduate students are eligible for awards from both the Judith Herb College of Education and The University of Toledo.

Career Opportunities

UToledo students who earn an initial Ohio teaching licensure and M.Ed. are well-prepared to lead and manage classrooms. 90% of LAMP students receive job offers before graduating, and they are highly sought after by public school systems across Ohio for their excellent teaching skills.

Internship Opportunities

As a LAMP student, you are guaranteed a student-teaching placement in Toledo Public Schools or a neighboring school district. The College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Education takes advantage of community partnerships to find placements that are good fits for each graduate degree student. Internships with mentor teachers in classroom settings, combined with classes on campus, produce better experiences and outcomes.