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The M.Ed. program in special education is designed for certified teachers who are seeking initial or additional certification in special education. The program includes 150 hours of practicum experience.

Admission

1. To be considered for admission all of the following materials must be on file in The Graduate School, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208.
   • transcripts of all college and university credits
   • two letters of recommendation from former professors or work supervisors in the field of education
   • a completed graduate school application
   • a letter of intent for proposed study in special education
   • Graduate Record Examination (verbal and quantitative sections) or Miller Analogies Test scores, taken within five years of application date
   • evidence of initial certification
2. Upon verification of the above requirements, the applicant will interview with the Programs in Special Education Committee and participate in an extemporaneous writing sample.
3. Acceptance by The Graduate School and the programs in special education is based on the evaluation of the appiicant’s total academic profile by two admissions committee members. The admissions committee members will rate the applicant’s letters of recommendation, GPA, test scores, writing sample, and interview on a 100-point scale and determine an overall average score. Specifically, a GPA of 2.5 to 3-Cl is equivalent to 75 points and an 800 on the GRE or 388 on the Millers is equivalent to 75 points. The averaged ratings of the committee must meet or exceed 75 for the applicant to be admitted to the M.A.T. program. The profile of typical students admitted into the M.Ed. in Special Education for the past three years on selected items is as follows: GPA.: 3.5 or above; GRE425’500 or MIller Analogies: 400.

Examinations and Certification

Students must:

• maintain an average grade of B or better on all courses taken for graduate credit. Grades of C+ or lower on any 12 hours of graduate work at the University will disqualify a student for a graduate degree from the College of Education.
• pass a comprehensive examination in the area of specialization.

Note: The M.Ed. program is not designed for initial teacher certification. Students wishing to use the M.Ed. program to add certification in an area of special education to their existing teaching certificates must meet requirements as mandated by the S.C. Department of Education. Further information may be obtained from the S.C. Department of Education or from the College of Education’s Office of Students Affairs.

Degree Requirements (36 Hours)