Richard A. Culatta, Chair and Professor
CulattaRA@appstate.edu

Monica A. Lambert, Program Director for Special Education and Assistant Professor
LambertMA@appstate.edu

http://www.ced.appstate.edu/departments/lre/

The Department of Language, Reading and Exceptionalities offers the following graduate programs related to special education:
            Master of Arts in Special Education (Major Code: 476*/13.1001), with three concentrations:
                        Intellectual Disabilities (Mental Retardation) (476B) [T]
                        Learning Disabilities (476C)[T]
                        Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (476D)[T]
            Master of Arts in Special Education / Teaching Parent Specialty (Major Code: 484A/13.1001)
           
In addition, the Department of Language, Reading and Exceptionalities houses programs in Speech-language Pathology and Reading Education; these programs are detailed in separate sections in this bulletin. The Department also cooperates with the Departments of Family and Consumer Sciences and Curriculum and Instruction to offer the M.A. degree in Child Development: Birth-Kindergarten. The degree is coordinated and conferred by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. See the Child Development program for information.

The Department of Language, Reading and Exceptionalities includes professionals in Speech-language Pathology, Reading/Language Arts, and Special Education. This enables the department to provide innovative programs focusing, in a transdisciplinary fashion, on all facets of language, reading, and specific areas of exceptionality. All students pursuing programs in the Department of Language, Reading and Exceptionalities must satisfy the Reich College of Education’s and the Graduate School’s requirements pertaining to admission, proficiencies, and licensure.

The Master of Arts degree in Special Education with concentrations available in Intellectual Disabilities (Mental Retardation) (476B), Learning Disabilities (476C), and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (476D), prepares teachers and others to work with students with intellectual disabilities (mental retardation), learning disabilities, and/or emotional or behavioral disorders. Persons graduating from the program will have fulfilled the competencies required for the advanced competencies licensure from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and be eligible for employment in a variety of special education settings to include public and private schools. Students will be expected to complete products of learning to demonstrate skills of a master teacher. Students complete a portfolio and action research project for the degree.

Location of Program 476*: The Special Education program (Intellectual Disabilities (Mental Retardation) (476B), Learning Disabilities (476C), and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (476D)) is offered on campus in Boone in the format described in this Bulletin. Off-campus cohorts are started periodically, and follow a part-time extended program format. For information on upcoming off-campus cohorts, please contact the Office of Extension and Distance Education: http://www.ext-dl.appstate.edu.

The Master of Arts degree in Special Education: Teaching Parent Specialty (484A) is unique in the state. Individuals in the program are prepared to develop and carry out community-based programs for youths who are emotionally disturbed and delinquent. They are also prepared to act as surrogate parents and to provide in-service education for parents, teachers, and public agency personnel.

Location of Program 484A: The Teaching Parent Specialty is offered through the Appalachian Family Innovations Center. Courses are arranged through the Program Director and the location of coursework is determined in consultation with him.

PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE MASTER OF ARTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION (Major Code: 476*/13.1001 [T]) +

+Advanced Licensure: Requirements for this concentration were designed, and have been approved by the appropriate bodies at the state level, to meet the advanced competencies as mandated in the North Carolina Excellent Schools Act for Master-level teacher education programs.

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; North Carolina “A” teaching license or the equivalent from another state; complete application to the Cratis Williams Graduate School (http://www.graduate.appstate.edu), including resume, three letters of recommendation, official GRE general or MAT exam scores, and official transcripts from all colleges attended; a letter of intent addressed to the reading faculty specifying current teaching position, if applicable, and teaching goals, as well as reasons for seeking admission to the reading program.

Basic Criteria for Unconditional Admission: GPA of 3.0 cumulative or in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and official GRE scores or official MAT scores. OR
Cumulative GPA or last 60 hours GPA below 3.0 but above 2.69, and minimum MAT score of 349 (old exam 33) or GREV + GREQ = 800; essay (Obtain prompt from the graduate school.)

Location: On Campus and Off Campus; Off-Campus cohorts begin periodically, and follow a part-time extended format.

Other Requirements for the MA in Special Education:

Thesis: None required
Proficiency: None required
Comprehensive: None required
Product of Learning: Professional Portfolio and Action Research Project

MASTER OF ARTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION/ TEACHING PARENT SPECIALTY (Major Code: 484A/13.1001)

Note: This special program has extremely limited enrollment; interested persons should contact the department chair prior to applying.

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Cratis Williams Graduate School (http://www.graduate.appstate.edu), including resume, three letters of recommendation, official GRE general or MAT exam scores, and official transcripts from all colleges attended.

Basic Criteria for Unconditional Admission: GPA of 3.0 cumulative or in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and official GRE scores or official MAT scores. OR
Cumulative GPA or last 60 hours GPA below 3.0 but above 2.69, and minimum MAT score of 349 (old exam 33) or GREV + GREQ = 800.

Location: Off Campus

Other Requirements for the MA in Special Education / Teaching Parent Specialty:

Thesis: Optional
Proficiency: None required
Comprehensive: Required
Product of Learning: None required