Departments | Special Education
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for getting into the Special Education graduate program?
Admission to the graduate program is based on a weighted formula that includes the application essay, undergraduate GPA, interviews, and references. Full admission to the program requires permanent initial licensure in an academic area of education or completion of 15 hours of prerequisite competencies. Students who do not have permanent initial license may be admitted on a conditional basis until the 15 hours of prerequisites are completed.
Some students may be admitted on a conditional basis pending their performance on the first nine hours of coursework.
What is the difference between the MAT program and the M.Ed. program?
The MAT program is for students who do not have a permanent initial license in special education. The program is 39-54 hours depending on the student's background in education.
The M.Ed. program is for students who have an undergraduate degree in special education.
What are the requirements for graduating from the School of Education graduate program?
Students entering the program must complete:
- Required coursework
- A comprehensive portfolio of projects from their graduate work
- A final comprehensive written exam
NOTE: Satisfactory passing grades on the required Praxis tests are required for students to obtain NC licensure.
What are Gateways in a Master's degree?
As students progress through their program, there are critical points where students and their advisors should review progress toward the master's degree. These points are identified as gateways and involve a review of the student's grades, portfolio products, and dispositions.