Offered in: Chicago

Roosevelt’s MA program in Special Education is a K through age 22 program leading to an Illinois teaching license with an Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS 1) endorsement. Completing the program qualifies graduates to teach children with all areas of special education needs except sensory impairments and communication disorders. The LBS 1 endorsement scope includes the categories of specific learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbances, other health impairments, traumatic brain injury, Autism Spectrum Disorder, orthopedic impairments, and multiple disabilities.

With careful planning, students can add one or more of the following endorsements to their teaching license: Elementary Education, Bilingual/ESL, Early Childhood Special Education approval,  Middle School, and Reading Teacher.

Currently, licensed teachers who wish to receive state approval to teach students with special needs at the level of their existing endorsement should consult the description of the certificate program in Special Education included elsewhere in this catalog.

Admission

Admission to the program requires a BA degree in any academic area with a grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, at least 120 credit hours of undergraduate courses from an accredited college or university.

At the time of admission, an advisor reviews transcripts and evaluates all course work completed at other colleges or universities. Advising plans are developed and any deficiencies related to licensure requirements are noted. If additional course work is needed, the student's advisor will indicate the course work needed on an advising plan. Students must confer with their assigned advisors before enrolling in the program and during each advising period to ensure that all requirements are being successfully completed.

Requirements

Students working toward the MA in Special Education must complete 52 credit hours and maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 while enrolled in the education program. Should a student fall below a 3.0 GPA, the program's faculty will review the student's eligibility to continue moving forward in the licensure program.

One semester prior to their student teaching, students must submit proof of passing the appropriate content exams(s) that meet the state's criterion.

Students must pass all courses with grades of C- or higher. Student Teaching must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

Field experience &student teaching

Pedagogical and real-world training is at the center of graduate degree coursework. Consequently, all graduates are required to enroll in one credit hour "Individualized Coaching and Field Experiences" courses in each of three semesters prior to their student teaching.

In their Individualized Coaching courses, students will complete the field experiences needed to develop professional knowledge, skills and dispositions in alignment with Roosevelt's social justice mission. As students progress from one Individualized Coaching course to another, they will take on tasks and responsibilities that are increasingly complex and challenging. These experiences will prepare students for success in the student teaching experiences that culminate the major and facilitate the awarding of an Illinois Professional Educator License. 

Placement in student teaching sites is planned with consideration of professional standards and partnership schools. Student teaching placements are open only to students who have successfully completed the appropriate general education and professional education courses, the required content test(s), and other student teaching requirements. Placements in sites with diverse student populations are required. Students must submit a formal application two semesters prior to the semester in which they plan to do their student teaching. Applicants are expected to be in good academic standing and must provide evidence of competency with regard to professional dispositions, including passage of a criminal background check. Students should consult regularly with their advisor about the specific requirements for licensure and student teaching in Illinois.

In addition to the requirements outlined in this academic catalog, students in Special Education program are obligated to become familiar with, and comply with, all requirements outlined in the Initial Licensure Field Experience & Student Teaching Handbook in order to receive a passing grade for field experience and student teaching courses proceeding to licensure. Students enrolled in field experience and student teaching courses will receive the handbook from the Director of Field Placement.

Licensure Requirements

Students who complete the Special Education program earn a State of Illinois Professional Education License with a Special Education endorsement (Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS 1). With careful planning, students can add one or more of the following endorsements to their teaching license: Elementary Education, Bilingual/ESL, Early Childhood Special Education approval,  Middle School, and Reading Teacher.

In order to qualify for Roosevelt University’s recommendation for the Illinois teaching license in Special Education, students must meet all general education requirements that are in effect at the time of their application.

Students must consult with their education advisor to determine which general education courses are acceptable toward fulfillment of licensure requirements. Because requirements for licensure, graduation, and continuing enrollment are subject to change, graduates must consult frequently with their education advisors. The advising plan developed at program admission provides the most up-to-date and authoritative information with respect to all program and licensure requirements.

One semester prior to their student teaching, students must submit proof of passing the content exam(s) that meets the state's criterion and have a minimum 3.0 GPA in all graduate courses. All courses must be passed with grades of C- or higher and a grade of  C or higher in Student Teaching.

Before issuing a license, the Illinois State Board of Education may also require satisfactory scores on the Educator Teacher Performance Assessment Portfolio (edTPA).