| |  | | Educational Psychology—Special Education | Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information—Special Education, University of Minnesota,250 Education Sciences Building, 56 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-0367; fax 612-624-8241; sped-adm@umn.edu).
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of this catalog for Graduate School requirements that apply to all major fields and see the general educational psychology requirements.
M.A., Ph.D., and certificate of specialist degrees are offered in special education in the following specializations: deaf/hard-of-hearing, emotional behavior disorders, early childhood special education, learning disabilities, autism, and developmental disabilities. Early involvement in research projects and the development of original research programs in such areas as instructional strategies, social and cognitive development, behavioral and psychological management, child development, and technology are encouraged. Special projects and training programs supplement academic studies.
The program focuses on the attainment of core competencies and related skills, since special education professionals share many common concerns and goals. A complementary emphasis is placed on problems unique to or extremely influential in the field, including social and cultural perceptions about disabilities, and federal, state, and local legislation regarding prevention and the care, treatment, education, training, and support of persons with disabilities.
Courses—Refer to Educational Psychology (EPSY) in the course section of this catalog or in Twin
Cities Courses on the University Catalog Web site for courses pertaining to the program.
Use of 4xxx Courses—None of the five tracks allow 4xxx or 6xxx coursework to be counted toward Graduate School degree program requirements.
| M.A. Degree Requirements | | Students may emphasize consulting, college teaching, or research in one or more of the specializations.
Students must complete at least 30 credits, including credits in EPSY core courses (statistics, measurement, learning, and social psychology), 6 credits in special education foundations, and 6 credits in a related field or minor. Plan A students must take 10 thesis credits.
Language Requirements—None.
Final Exam—The final exam is oral.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—A
master's minor requires at least 6 credits of graduate-level EPSY courses.
| Ph.D. Degree Requirements | The Ph.D. program trains graduates to address problems related to the full development of individuals with disabilities and their families. Intensive course-related learning and guided experiences prepare students to assume professional leadership. Further competencies may be achieved in four areas of emphasis: research, professional preparation, administration/policy, and clinical practice/community service.
Students must complete credits in EPSY core courses (statistics, measurement, learning, social psychology, issues in educational psychology, and research methods), 12 credits in special education (EPSY 8701 and 8702 and 6 additional credits which must be from EPSY 86xx or 87xx offerings), 12 credits in a supporting program or minor, and 24 thesis credits.
Language Requirements—None.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—A doctoral minor requires at least 15 credits of graduate-level EPSY courses, of which at least 9 credits must be in 8xxx courses. Course selection is determined in consultation with the educational psychology committee member. |
Certificate of Specialist Requirements | Students must complete at least 60 credits, including credits in EPSY core courses (statistics, measurement, learning, social psychology, and research methods) and 6 credits of special education foundations. The remaining coursework usually focuses on two or more special education areas, determined in consultation with the adviser.
Language Requirements—None.
Final Exam—The final exam is oral. | | | | | |
