Special Education, MAT

Contact: Drs. Katie Bennett & Harriet Bessette
Office: BEB 431, BEB 434
Phone: (470) 578-2255
Fax: (470) 578-9108
Email: kbenne72@kennesaw.edu; hbessett@kennesaw.edu
Web Address: http://bagwell.kennesaw.edu/majors-programs/masters-degrees/master-arts-teaching/mat-special-education-general-curriculum/

The Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education leads to a Master’s degree and initial P-12 Certification in Special Education - General Curriculum. The course work as well as the field and clinical experiences are aligned to the Council for Exceptional Children’s Initial Special Education General Curriculum Standards and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission’s standards for special education.  The program content focuses on supporting candidates to teach P-12 students with high incidence disabilities in inclusive settings. Candidates are eligible for the Reading Endorsement upon completion of the program and receipt of a Georgia Induction Certificate once hired.

Courses will be delivered in a variety of formats (face-to-face, hybrid, and online). All core special education courses are taught face-to-face or hybrid. Face-to-Face courses will be held at KSU in the evenings during the fall and spring semester. Courses during summer term will be offered either in the afternoon or evening.  Field experience and clinical experience hours are also required, including a yearlong clinical experience. Field experience hours in each of the following teaching levels are required throughout the program: P-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. These experiences are essential to development as a special educator.

• ALL candidates must submit GACE Content Exam scores to KSU as well as ethics entry before beginning the program. 
• Prior to applying for graduation, candidates will conduct a program audit with the MAT program coordinator/advisor.
• Candidates must maintain cumulative GPA of 3.0 in order to progress and graduate.
• A disposition survey, completed by each candidate & instructor, will occur in every SPED course. 
• Program key assessments measuring special education content knowledge and skill are strategically placed throughout the program of study. 
• Faculty evaluations will occur three times throughout the program (at the end of Summer I, end of Spring I. and end of Spring II). Students will meet with the MAT coordinator to review evaluation results and develop aligned professional development plans. If at any point student performance does not meet criteria as determined by MAT coordinator and SPED faculty an improvement plan will be instituted. 

Program of Study