Pending Approval: Applications will not be available until all necessary approvals have been received. 

The Master of Arts in Special Education is a graduate program designed for current teachers without special education certification who are looking to develop knowledge and skills needed to teach students with high-incidence disabilities. The program curriculum is aligned with coursework requirements for students who are working in a school district under a Temporary Authorization Certificate (TAC) for mild/moderate cross-categorical disabilities in the state of Missouri. Students should consult with their school district and/or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for details about the TAC process.

 

Please note that UMKC's MA in Special Education is not a certification program, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City will not recommend completers of this program for certification. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

• 1. Understand how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
• 2. Understand individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
• 3. Work with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
• 4. Understand the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
• 5. Understand how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
• 6. Understand and use multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
• 7. Plan instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
• 8. Understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
• 9. Engage in ongoing professional learning and use evidence to continually evaluate their practice, particularly the effects of their choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapt practice to meet the needs of each learner.
• 10. Seek appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.

Program Requirements

The Master of Arts in Special Education is not currently admitting new students.