Program offered is a Master.

The Master of Education in Special Education (Not Eligible for Institutional Recommendation) is a crosscategorical program. It is designed for any individual interested in the education of children with special needs in the K-12 setting who does not wish to seek a teaching certificate. The format and courses of this regionally accredited program are tailored to meet the needs of the adult learner and to maximize strengths that the teacher candidate already possesses. Courses are taught by experts in their respective fields who share knowledge and experience in areas of learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disabilities, and other physical and cognitive impairments. All courses are directly aligned with the Arizona Professional Teacher Standards, the Interstate New Teacher Support and Assessment Consortium Standards, and the Council for Exceptional Children Standards. Opportunities are provided to apply concepts, theories, and research throughout the program. Assignments within each course guide teacher candidates through observational and practice-based experiences. Teacher candidates must have access to a K-12 special education classroom to complete the program assignments. The classroom setting must have at least three of the five following disability categories represented: emotional disability, learning disability, mental retardation, physical impairment, and/or health impairment. Graduates of the program are prepared to work with special needs populations and implement individualized educational plans to accommodate the teacher candidates' various learning needs.