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Certified Teachers

Minimum Requirements for Special Education M.Ed.: 36 credits

¹

Complete the corequisite course before or during admittance to the program or have a comparable transfer course from another university. 

²

Additional fee required. Charges are added to fee statements every semester.

³

Students pursuing a K-12 special education certificate must complete clinical practice in a public school setting.

⁴

Must be enrolled in 3 graduate credits the semester the comprehensive exam is completed.

Initial Certification

Minimum Requirements for Special Education M.Ed.: 39 credits

¹

Complete the corequisite courses before or during admittance to the program or have comparable transfer courses from another university. 

²

Additional fee required. Charges are added to fee statements every semester.

³

Students pursuing a K-12 special education certificate must complete clinical practice in a public school setting.

⁴

Must be enrolled in 3 graduate credits the semester the comprehensive exam is completed.

M.Ed. Degree Without Certification

Minimum Requirements for Special Education, M.Ed.: 36 credits

¹

Complete the corequisite course before or during admittance to the program or have a comparable transfer course from another university. 

⁴

Must be enrolled in 3 graduate credits the semester the comprehensive exam is completed.

The School of Education offers Master of Education degrees in counseling, special education and education. Students in the education major may earn a degree in these areas of specialization: people, place and pedagogy, second language acquisition, bilingual education, and literacy, and online innovation and design. Students completing postbaccalaureate certification in elementary or secondary education may earn an M.Ed. in the respective area. For elementary education, secondary education, special education and counseling majors, refer to specific admission and program requirements listed in the respective sections.

Admission Requirements

Applications will be reviewed on March 1 and Oct. 1 for admission in the following semester. Faculty may vote to admit, not admit or admit with stipulations. Stipulations are specified when additional development in particular areas is needed before beginning a graduate degree program.

Minimum requirements for admission to the M.Ed. program are:

1. Bachelor’s degree and a 3.0 GPA.
2. One year of satisfactory teaching or administrative experience. Alternative experience may be accepted.

Complete the following application procedures for the UAF Graduate School:

1. Submit a graduate application to the UAF Office of Admissions.
2. Submit scores on the general GRE if undergraduate GPA is below 3.0.

3. Submit a four- to five-page essay that describes your career goals and educational philosophy, and how those goals and philosophy are relevant to the School of Education’s mission and education graduate degree program.
4. Submit official transcripts.
5. Submit three letters of reference.
6. Submit a resume.

For Certified Teachers

Complete the following admission requirements:

• Current Alaska teaching certificate or equivalent coursework towards an Alaska teaching certificate.

Prerequisite or corequisite: EDSE F482 or comparable transfer course from another institution.

For Initial Certification

Complete the following admission requirements:

1. Baccalaureate degree along with the following prerequisites:
   1. Documented recent experience (minimum of 12 hours) in an educational setting with children experiencing disabilities.
   2. UAF prerequisite or corequisite courses or comparable transfer courses. Courses may be completed prior to admission or during the program:

      Course List

      Code	Title	Credits
      ED F245	Child Development	3
      Select one from the following:		3
      ED F201	Introduction to Education
      ED F624	Foundations of Education in Alaska: From Segregation to Standards
      EDSC F205	Introduction to Secondary Education
      EDSC F415	Foundations of Modern Educational Practice
      EDSE F482	Inclusive Classrooms for All Children

   3. Passing scores on the Praxis Academic Skills for Educators text (or Praxis I) or another test acceptable to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development before or during the first semester of classes. Current test numbers and minimum scores can be found at the basic competency examination requirement site.
   4. Passing scores on the appropriate Praxis II Exam(s) required before entering EDSE F678. Current test numbers and minimum scores can be found at the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development content area examinations site. Candidates should consult the employing school district to determine preferred tests based on teaching assignment.

   5. Passing scores on the Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications Praxis Exam (test #5354) or another test acceptable to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development before or during EDSE F680. Passing scores are required to complete EDSE F680 and graduate from the Special Education K-12 Postbaccalaureate Certificate of Completion.

Recommended prior to admission or during the program, not required for the degree but for Alaska teacher certification:

1. An Alaska studies course approved by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
2. A multicultural education/cross-cultural communication course approved by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

All prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum final grade of B. 

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Learning Outcomes are measurable statements that describe knowledge or skills achieved by students upon completion of the program.

Students graduating from this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate effective communication skills
• Demonstrate disciplinary content knowledge
• Demonstrate pedagogical knowledge (ability to effectively teach)
• Demonstrate positive impact on student learning
• Demonstrate professional dispositions aligned with the teaching profession
• Demonstrate evidence of effectiveness in the workplace
• Demonstrate advanced understanding and application of special education teaching pedagogical knowledge and skills