Professional Master in
Special Education
The Professional Master’s in Special Education is a professional master’s degree program that is learner-centered and designed to develop the knowledge, attitude, values, competencies, and skills of SPED teachers, practitioners, and educational leaders on the assessment, intervention, and medical components of special education. This program enables the graduate students to acquire necessary practice-based experiences through immersion in conducting and providing assessment and appropriate intervention by applying clinical approaches, validated practices, and methods.
Program Goals
The Professional Master’s in Special Education program aims to enhance the competencies of Special Needs Education teachers and practitioners in recognizing the strengths and addressing the needs of learners with exceptionalities in diverse settings. The program seeks to capacitate professionals to apply these competencies to conduct assessments, design curricular and behavior programs, and implement interventions for learners with unique needs through immersive learning, case studies, and applied research projects.
Program Outcomes
By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:
- demonstrate in-depth knowledge, attitude, skills, and competence in addressing the needs of different special learners in the classroom, home, day care, hospital, therapy clinic, and other related settings;
- develop an understanding of the educational and intervention programs for students with unique needs;
- demonstrate knowledge and skills in conducting applied research projects and programs responsive to the development of special education; and
- apply clinical approaches, strategies, and methods in conducting assessments, monitoring, and providing intervention in special education.
Key Competencies Developed
By the end of the program, graduates will be able to develop the following key competencies:
- Assessment – Conducting educational assessments, using informal and authentic methods, to accurately determine learners’ strengths, abilities, and individual needs.
- Program Planning and Implementation – Designing, developing, and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and Individualized Transition Plans (ITP) for learners with diverse disabilities and special educational needs.
- Individualized Instruction – Selecting and applying a repertoire of evidence-informed instructional techniques and strategies aligned with specific program goals and learner profiles.
- Behavior Management and Intervention – Conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) and using the resulting data to effectively develop, implement, and monitor comprehensive Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs).
- Collaboration and Communication: Working collaboratively with colleagues, parents, and families, and utilizing culturally responsive communication skills to ensure cohesive support for the learner across all settings.
These competencies can be assessed through a variety of methods, including the following:
- Case study
- Reflection or Synthesis Papers
- Assessment Reports
- Program Planning
Total Program Units: 31 units
Course Work: 25 units
Capstone Project: 6 units
Comprehensive Exam
Standard Completion Time: 16 months
CHED Center for Excellence
The Department of Early Childhood Education is a designated Center for Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). More Information >
The special project is practice-based where the student applies learned understandings, concepts, values, competencies, and skills on Special Education. Each student may choose to work on a project, or an action research related to the students’ field of specialization. All these with the guidance of a professor.
The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed by this program:
Potential Careers
Graduates of this program may venture on the following careers:
- Special Needs Education teacher
- Inclusive General Education teacher
- Shadow teacher (in an inclusive class)
- Parateacher
- Learning Support Teaching Assistant
CURRICULUM SUMMARY
Courses | Units |
Specialization Courses | 24 |
| |
MC Required Courses | 1 |
EDUC 201 (Institutional Course)
| |
Comprehensive Exam | – |
SPED 258 (Comprehensive Exam) | |
Capstone Course/Practicum | 6 |
SPED 259 (Internship and Capstone Project) |
|
Total Number of Units | 31 |
Partners
- Wesleyan University
- Project Inclusion Network
- Wordlab School, Inc
- Alternative Learning Resource School (ALRES) Philippines, Inc.
- Independent Living Learning Centre (ILLC Philippines
- Philippine Network for Inclusive Education
