Special Education, M.S.Sp.Ed. (Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential — Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) - Student Teaching) (Licensure)
Program Description
The Master of Science in Special Education (Licensure), formerly Master of Science in Special Education, develops technical skills, such as special education pedagogy, assessment, behavior management, curriculum design, diagnosis, remediation, consultation, collaboration, and instructional techniques to assist students with mild to moderate support needs.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Special Education (Licensure), students will be able to:
- Analyze, evaluate, and apply knowledge of current educational issues, settings, and legislative requirements from a biblical perspective (ULO 1).
- Identify personal assumptions and generalizations related to diversity (e.g., gender, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and [dis]abilities) while affirming that all students are valued as image bearers of God (ULO 2).
- Exhibit growth in one’s professional practice by utilizing professional databases, conducting empirical research, and articulating findings through effective communication in both speaking and writing (ULO 1, 2, and 3).
- Evaluate qualitative and quantitative journal articles based on standard criteria within the profession (ULO 3).
- Synthesize knowledge, skills, and perspectives from concentration-specific content of the master of science program to determine implications for professional practice (ULO 2).*
Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.
*Evidence for proficiency of the SPED PLOs is provided in the SPED portfolio.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must have completed all bachelor's requirements prior to the start of the program and must have a bachelor's degree conferred from a regionally accredited institution prior to the start of the second term.
- Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing approved organization and verified equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree.
- Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.
- Writing proficiency will be evaluated for each applicant in one or more of the following ways: a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above; passage of the CBEST or all CSET subtests, an academic paper, the application essays, or the GRE. A proctored placement exam may be required.
- Hold a preliminary credential or provide verification of the equivalent professional experience.
- Applicants for whom English is not a primary language must verify a score of 100 iBT on the TOEFL exam.
- Complete Biola University's Graduate Education application.
- Interview with a member of the School of Education.
- Must be a California resident in order to fulfill fieldwork requirements.
- Satisfy or meet one area of the Basic Skills Requirement in an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) option.
- Satisfy Subject Matter Competency by an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) option or continuous progress toward meeting the subject matter requirement.
- Hold a valid Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and submit valid TB tests results.
Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student's academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution.
Graduation Requirements
- M.S.Sp.Ed. (Licensure) courses must be passed with a grade of B or higher.
- Candidates must complete the Master of Science in Special Education (Licensure) with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Candidates must successfully complete one Capstone, and all professional requirements (e.g., conference requirement, concentration reflection) related to the coursework and Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs).
- Candidates must demonstrate professional behavior as an important aspect of their preparation to effectively impact the field of education (inside and beyond the classroom). For candidates on probationary status, or where a candidate has struggled with professional dispositions (scores of 1 or 2), these concerns may prevent the candidate from moving forward in the program and graduation.
- A minimum of 40 credits is required for the Master of Science in Special Education (Licensure).
- Candidates must complete the program within six years of continuous enrollment. Candidates who are not continuously enrolled must complete the program within eight years total.
- Candidates must meet with a department advisor and graduate academic records and degree specialist in the Office of the Registrar one semester prior to graduation to declare intent to graduate. (See Graduate Graduation Check description in the Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements section).
Transfer of Credits
Students transferring from an accredited graduate program may transfer a maximum of 6 approved credits for their M.S. in Special Education (Licensure). Courses transferred must be equivalent to Biola University's and have direct applicability to the student's program design. Only courses with a grade of B (3.0) on a 4.0 grade scale or higher will be considered for transfer towards the M.S. in Special Education (Licensure) degree; a grade of B- or lower is not transferable. Credits considered for transfer must have been taken within five years prior to the date of admission.
Curriculum Requirements
All candidates for the M.S.Sp.Ed. Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential — Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) - Student Teaching (Licensure), formerly M.S.Sp.Ed. Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential — Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) - Student Teaching, must complete the following courses and required fieldwork.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| SEED 501 | Philosophy and Values in Schools and Society | 3 |
| SEED 503 | Educational Research and Statistics | 3 |
| SEED 524 | Research in Culture and Intercultural Instruction | 3 |
| SEED 548 | Collaborative Research 1 | 1 |
| SEED 553 | Writing Literature Reviews 2 | 2 |
| SEED 596 | Professional Development Module | 1 |
| SEED 7320 | The Life of Christ for Educators | 3 |
| Capstone Course | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Curriculum Research Project 3 | ||
| Thesis 3 | ||
| Special Education Courses (Online) | ||
| Prerequisite Coursework 4 | ||
| SEED 518 | Designing Successful Classrooms: Starting Right | 3 |
| SEED 530 | Reading Process and Approaches | 3 |
| Credential Coursework | ||
| SEED 561 | Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| SEED 562 | Assessment and Evaluation of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| SEED 563 | Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs in Inclusive Settings | 3 |
| SEED 564 | Behavior and Classroom Management for Students with Special Needs | 3 |
| SEED 580 | Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| SEED 532 | Diagnosis and Remediation in Reading | 3 |
| SEED 582 | Consultation, Collaboration, and Communication for the Education Specialist | 3 |
| SEED 583 | Curriculum Design for Students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs 5 | 3 |
| Clinical Coursework | 12 | |
| Student Teaching in Special Education I | ||
| Student Teaching in Special Education II | ||
| Total Credits | 61 | |
- 1
Students must participate on a research team in their first semester and continue on their assigned project until 1 credit is completed.
- 2
Successful passage of SEED 553 is required for advancement in the program. Writing support and documentation may be mandatory for some students. SEED 554 may be substituted for SEED 553.
- 3
This course must be completed in the final semester. To produce quality research, it is recommended to be the only course taken in the final semester. Course must be passed with a grade of B or higher.
- 4
All candidates for the Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) who come to Biola University with a SB2042 Multiple Subject or Single Subject Credential will have the prerequisite coursework waived. Additionally, candidates who have taken undergraduate or graduate equivalents of the prerequisite coursework will have their transcripts evaluated for equivalency. The Prerequisite Option will be determined by the Program Director during the interview process to the program.
- 5
SEED 583 may only be taken the semester immediately prior to SEED 584/SEED 585.
Minimum Grades and GPA Requirements for Credential Courses
All Education Specialist coursework must be completed with a grade of B- or higher. Overall, a 3.0 GPA must be maintained in the Education Specialist course sequence in order to student teach and to be recommended for a Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential. For the M.S. degree, all courses must be passed with a grade of B or higher.
Taskstream Subscription
Candidates must have a paid subscription to Taskstream while taking Education Specialist courses, including prerequisites, and during student teaching.
Certificate of Clearance and Tuberculosis (TB) Test
Candidates must obtain a valid Certificate of Clearance prior to taking Education Specialist courses in order to participate in the required fieldwork. Fees required.
Candidates must submit valid TB tests results prior to taking Education Specialist courses with fieldwork. TB tests results must be done annually in order to participate in the required fieldwork. Fees required.
Basic Skills Requirement
Candidates must satisfy the basic skills requirement by an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) option. This requirement must be met prior to applying for student teaching.
RICA Exam
Candidates must pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) exam prior to applying for a Preliminary Teaching Credential. Not required for candidates who have earned a California Multiple Subject teaching credential.
Subject Matter Competency Requirement
Candidates must satisfy subject matter competency by an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) option. This requirement must be met prior to applying for student teaching.
Education Specialist CalTPA
Candidates must meet or exceed the minimum standards for passing the two state-mandated Education Specialist California Teaching Performance Assessments (Education Specialist CalTPAs). Cycle 1 of the Education Specialist CalTPAs must be passed prior to student teaching. Cycle 2 must be passed prior to applying for the Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Credential.
Portfolio Assessments
Candidates must complete and successfully present the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) electronic portfolio.
Recommendation
Candidates must be recommended by the faculty of the School of Education as having all requisite professional qualities to be successful as a teacher.
Professional Dispositions and Competencies Evaluations
Candidates must demonstrate high performance in each Professional Dispositions and Competencies Evaluation for Education Specialist coursework in order to remain in the program. Evidence of unaddressed concerns (scores of 1 or 2), or failing to meet a professional disposition, may lead to dismissal.
Fieldwork Evaluation
Candidates must obtain good to excellent scores in each fieldwork evaluation for Education Specialist coursework, including student teaching.
U.S. Constitution Requirement
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requires that a teaching credential candidate must have completed a minimum 2-credit course that covers the U.S. Constitution or fulfill this requirement by examination.
Transfer coursework must be reviewed by a credential analyst in the School of Education. Candidates who have taken one of the courses listed below, with a grade of C or better at Biola University, have met this requirement. This requirement must be met prior to applying for student teaching.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 200 | United States History To 1865 | 3 |
| POSC 225 | Survey of American Government | 3 |
CPR
Candidates must show verification of current training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) — infant, child and adult — that meets the standards of either the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross when applying for the Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Credential.
Advisor Contact
Candidates must meet regularly with an advisor to ensure that all requirements are met.
Applying for a Credential
Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Credential
After successfully completing student teaching and the associated requirements, candidates make an appointment with a credential analyst in the School of Education at Biola University and apply for the Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Credential from the State of California's Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
The Education Specialist Instruction (Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)) Program leading to a California Teaching Credential at Biola University is subject to change in response to new legislation and for accreditation/reporting purposes. Please see a credential analyst for current information on completing the requirements for a teaching credential.
