Earning a Master’s in Special Education Degree Programs in Vermont is an important step towards making a difference in the lives of children living with disabilities in the state. The rate of children with autism and other special needs is rapidly increasing, causing a significant need for qualified special education teachers and school leaders. Most teachers will have a child with special educational needs in the classroom, but often, intervention and specialized instruction is conducted or supervised by a teacher with a special education credential. In Vermont, the educational component required for the credential can be completed at one of the two programs at the University of Vermont. These two programs are fully accredited and meet all of the Vermont Department of Education requirements for earning the special education endorsement on a valid teaching license.
The University of Vermont
College of Education and Social Services
The College of Education and Social Services is comprised of four departments: the Department of Education, the Department of Leadership and Developmental Services, the Department of Social Work and the Education Centers and Special Programs. The college has 16 undergraduate, 12 master’s level and 2 doctoral level programs for the nearly 1,200 students enrolled the College of Education and Social Services. The special education program at the University of Vermont has bachelor’s majors and minors, as well as master’s degree programs in early childhood special education and K-12 special education. There is also a Ed.D. in Transformative Leadership program.
Master’s of Education in Early Childhood Special Education
The ECSE program at the University of Vermont is designed for both current teachers and those seeking an initial teaching license. The program provides learners with an authentic community-based program, with an abundance of hands-on learning experiences and classrooms taught by local professionals and families of children with disabilities. The program also focuses on evidence-based practice, economic and cultural diversity and current research in the field. The US Department of Education Office on Special Education has awarded the university a $800,000 grant in order to provide scholarships for qualified applicants to the program. Students who complete this program will be eligible to work with children from birth through age six who have mild, moderate or profound disabilities.
Master’s of Education in Special Education (K-12)
The K-12 special education program is the perfect program for busy professionals, with the majority of the courses being offered during the evenings during the school year. The primary goals of the program are to train special education teachers to use evidence-based practices in collaborative strength-based inclusive settings and to work as a team with parents, other teachers and professionals in the field. Applicants to the program should have at least two years of teaching experience or other experience in the field of special needs. This program will qualify teachers to work with children who have a full range of disabilities, from mild to profound, in a kindergarten through 12th grade setting.
Accreditations
The Special Education Program at the University of Vermont is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators has also approved the program. The university as a whole is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Accreditation (NEASC).
Contact
College of Education and Social Services
Student Services Office
528 Waterman Building
Burlington, Vermont 05405
(802) 656-3468
DeMethra.Bradley@uvm.edu
http://www.uvm.edu/~doe/specialeducation/
For those seeking to work with children who have special needs in either an early childhood or a K-12 setting, earning a master’s degree in special education is an important step. The master’s degree can either be completed in order to earn an initial teaching degree or can result in an endorsement being added to an existing teaching license. Individuals interested in this career path can attend the University of Vermont in order to enroll in an accredited and highly respected Master’s in Special Education Degree Program in Vermont.
