Special Education (M.A.)

Admissions Information  

Typically students seek the Master’s degree in Special Education while pursuing certification in one or more areas. A degree of flexibility provides additional opportunities for those not needing or wanting certification. Students wishing to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Special Education must select from the following specializations: Advanced Specialist in Disabilities, Early Childhood Special Education, or Multicategorical Special Education K-12. Students are encouraged to discuss program specializations with an advisor at the time of admission to the program.

NOTE: Students who do not hold either elementary or secondary education certification may only pursue the Multicategorical specialization and will need to complete additional coursework and certification requirements for initial teacher certification. A series of Praxis tests are required for successful completion of the program and to earn initial teaching certification in the state of South Dakota. Students pursuing initial teacher certification will need to pass the Praxis II Special Education Core Knowledge, and the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam for successful completion of the program and teacher licensure. Students who do not possess certification will need to have completed all of the admission requirements for teacher education at the University of South Dakota. Students who are seeking teacher certification are encouraged to meet with an advisor for clarification.