{"id":4594,"date":"2024-05-10T13:53:17","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T18:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/?p=4594"},"modified":"2024-05-15T11:23:17","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T16:23:17","slug":"all-about-point-park-universitys-m-a-and-m-ed-in-special-education-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/2024\/05\/10\/all-about-point-park-universitys-m-a-and-m-ed-in-special-education-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"All About Point Park University’s M.A. and M.Ed. in Special Education Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"

What do the M.A. and M.Ed. in Special Education programs encompass?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Point Park University M.A.<\/a> and M. Ed. in Special Education<\/a> are graduate degree programs designed for students to earn a\u00a0master\u2019s\u00a0degree and Pennsylvania Special Education Pre-K through 12 Certification. The M.A. degree is for teacher candidates currently holding a teacher certification who want to earn a\u00a0master\u2019s\u00a0degree with special education certification. The M.A. program is 30 credits, and teacher candidates will complete the coursework in 18 months (about one and a half years).<\/p>\n

The M.Ed. degree is designed for those teacher candidates with a bachelor’s degree but no teaching certification who want to earn a master\u2019s degree with an initial teaching certification in special education. The M.Ed. program is 42 credits, including a 15-week student teaching experience, and teacher candidates will complete the program in five semesters. The courses for both programs are structured in an eight-week online format, and students are enrolled in one course every eight weeks. The courses meet the standards, competencies, and guidelines for the Pennsylvania Department of Education certification programs.<\/p>\n

What differentiates Point Park University\u2019s M.A. and M.Ed. Special Education programs from other schools that offer similar programs?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Point Park\u2019s program differs from others because master’s degrees at other universities may not offer the M.Ed. for those who want to earn both a master’s degree and a teaching certification. The coursework for both programs is streamlined so that students can complete the program with both a master’s degree and a teaching certificate in special education, Pre-K through 12.<\/p>\n

The cohort sizes are small\u00a0so that\u00a0student candidates and instructors have a more personalized experience.\u00a0The courses are designed and taught by instructors who\u00a0are experienced\u00a0teachers and administrators in special education.\u00a0And\u00a0therefore, the content, assignments\u00a0and\u00a0embedded experiences are very realistic to schools and classrooms.<\/p>\n

How will this program help educators during\u00a0this time of\u00a0COVID and\u00a0Post-COVID\u00a0teaching? How will it better prepare them for\u00a0today\u2019s\u00a0education challenges?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

None of us predicted how the COVID-19 pandemic\u00a0influenced\u00a0how we teach.\u00a0Valuable lessons were learned\u00a0during the pandemic. Teachers, students, and parents\u00a0needed to\u00a0prepare to teach and learn virtually. With an online learning format, graduate students understand the unique challenges of learning, communicating, and collaborating through a virtual format.<\/p>\n

Together, we ensured that our students and student teachers could continue with their teaching experiences even though we shifted our teaching platforms to online learning. We modified, adjusted, and adapted as needed. These are qualities of a good teacher. From a\u00a0learner’s\u00a0perspective, graduate students understand how\u00a0learning styles and preferences can be supported\u00a0without face-to-face teaching. Some courses also require assignments for and about virtual and online learning.<\/p>\n

What career opportunities are available to students who graduate from the program?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is a growing teacher shortage across Pennsylvania and the country. It is estimated that by 2030<\/a>, Pennsylvania will need 10,000 more teachers. But we have\u00a0a sufficient number of great people who would make excellent teachers.\u00a0Students who graduate from the program can teach special education in Pennsylvania in any public, private, or charter school.<\/p>\n

Additionally, students may relocate to another state where a Pennsylvania teaching certification is recognized and accepted by other state\u00a0departments of education.\u00a0With a\u00a0master’s\u00a0degree in special education and a teaching certification, teachers can hold positions such as:<\/p>\n