Inclusive Education, M.Ed.

Individualized Curriculum/Special Education Concentration

Contact: Changnam Lee
Office: KH 3207
Phone: (678)-797-2121
Fax: (770) 423-6263
Email: clee91@kennesaw.edu
Web address:http://www.kennesaw.edu/education/grad/Specialedirr.htm

The Master of Education in Inclusive Education, with a concentration in Individualized General Curriculum (special education) meets the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC) standards for certification of Individualized General Education Program and endorsement in the content area of Reading as well as the national standards established by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and is part of KSU’s teacher education unit fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

Program Admission Requirements

General Requirements for Admission to Master of Arts in Teaching for MAT in Special Education General Curriculum:

• Online graduate application & application fee;
• All official transcripts from each college attended showing, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with an adjusted undergraduate GPA of 2.75;
• Passing scores on the GACE Basic Skills Assessment Exam (Three sections: Reading, Writing, Mathematics) (http://www.gace.neinc.com) required in Georgia. You may be exempted form this test by SAT scores of at least 1000 (verbal and math), ACT scores of at least 43 (English and math), or GRE scores of at least 1020 (verbal and quantitative). Check with the certification officer at 770-423-6043 for exemption scores if you took the SAT prior to 1995 or ACT prior to 1989. Please see the Professional Standards Commission (www.gapsc.com) Website for alternative exemption tests;
• A one-to-two page, typed personal statement in support of the application explaining what led to your decision to become a (special) educator;
• Two letters of recommendation from two sources capable of assessing interpersonal skills applicable to teaching and/or potential for graduate work. Should address potential as a (special) educator or success in graduate studies and be on school or business letterhead;
• A clear criminal background. For details visit the KSU Office of Field Experiences’ website at www.kennesaw.edu/education/ofe;
• A professional resume detailing educational background and work experience;
• International applicants only: For additional admissions requirements, please see http://www.kennesaw.edu/graduate/admissions/international.html

In addition to the core requirements for all MAT concentrations, admission to the special education program requires:

• Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (General Test) (waived for students with prior graduate degrees);
• A face-to-face or telephone interview with special education faculty;
• All candidates will be required to complete an undergraduate reading course (if not already completed) prior to admittance or during the first two semesters of the MATin Special Education program.

The admission process will be competitive, limiting each special education cohort to 20 candidates. Applications will be evaluated based upon the extent to which they meet or exceed the admissions criteria. The Graduate Special Education Admissions Committee will make the final decisions for acceptance
 

TESOL concentration

Contact: Dr. Ben Lester
Office: KH 3205
Phone: (770) 499-3126
Fax: (770) 423-6263
Email: blester1@kennesaw.edu
Web address: http://www.kennesaw.edu/education/grad/MES%20Inclusive.htm

The Master of Education in Inclusive Education, with a concentration in TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) meets the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC) standards for the degree and is part of KSU’s teacher education unit fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

General Requirements for Admission to M.Ed. in Inclusive Education

Candidates are admitted in cohort groups. Individualized General Curriculum concentration begins in summer semesters.

Applicants for the degree program must be fully certified teachers (ECE, MGE, SED, P-12) in the State of Georgia and meet the general admission requirements for the Master of Education in Inclusive Education program.

Applicants for the concentration in Individualized General Curriculum must demonstrate they have met competencies in human growth and development, teaching students with exceptionalities, and teaching reading. Applicants for the concentration in TESOL must demonstrate they have met competencies in human growth and development and teaching students with exceptionalities. Specific requirements are:

1. Valid Georgia certificate (clear renewable) in a teaching field;
2. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities an applicant has attended showing evidence of a bachelor’s degree with minimum GPA of 2.75 from an accredited institution;
3. Full or part-time employment as teacher in public or private school;
4. Official GRE scores. No minimum score is required, but the applicant’s GRE scores will be considered in the review process;
5. Professional résumé documenting education, teaching experience, volunteer, and service accomplishments, and record of leadership
6. Two letters of recommendation that address applicant’s success in teaching and ability for success in master’s degree studies
7. Teaching essay and statement of professional goals.

Additional requirements for concentration in Individualized General Curriculum:

1. Three years successful contractual experience as an educational professional in the public schools;
2. PSC designation of “highly qualified” (if available).

*International applicants have additional requirements; see Graduate Admission section of this catalog.

Full Standing

Applicants who meet all admission requirements including all of the above criteria will be reviewed for admission to full standing in a degree program. The review will be made by the program admission committee in March for admission to cohort beginning in the summer and will consider all application materials in assessing the applicant’s potential for success in the program.

Transfer Credit

Graduate courses taken at other accredited institutions must be evaluated and approved by the program coordinator or department chair. A maximum of nine semester hours of transfer credit (with grades of “B” or higher) may be applied toward a degree program. No courses will be accepted for transfer credit if they are more than five years old at the time of evaluation. Transfer credit includes all course work accepted into the M.Ed. program prior to admission in full standing (maximum nine semester hours), whether earned at another institution or at Kennesaw State University.

Degree Requirements

The minimum requirements for completion of an M.Ed. degree in Inclusive Education include:

1. completion of a minimum of 36 hours of approved graduate course work;
2. completion of a minimum of 27 semester hours of the minimum 36 hours in full standing at Kennesaw State University;
3. an earned cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 in all graduate course work at Kennesaw State University with no more than two C’s in coursework toward this degree;
4. successful completion of INED 7790 and presentation of a professional portfolio. (See SPE portfolio handbook).

E-portfolio

An e-portfolio serves as a permanent record of the candidate’s professional growth while working toward a Master of Education in Inclusive Education degree. The e-portfolio encourages the Kennesaw State University candidate as learning facilitator to implement a systematic, reflection-in action approach to problem solving and decision making. E-portfolio assignments are integrated in each course syllabus. The e-portfolio provides a detailed authentic picture of the candidate’s professional practice and reflective analysis of the integration of courses taken supported by theory and research literature. Changes in classroom practice as well as in oneself are documented. Impact on student achievement is documented. Candidates enroll in a capstone course (INED 7790) to support development of an e-portfolio and presentation during the candidate’s final semester of study.

Petition to Graduate

Each M.Ed. candidate must submit a Petition to Graduate at least one semester prior to completion of program requirements. The Petition to Graduate form can be found online at www.kennesaw.edu/education/grad/.

 

Programs of Study