Initial Teacher Certification, Special Education Pre K-12, M.Ed.

This Accelerated Degree Program is designed to provide individuals, who have undergraduate degrees in fields other than education, the opportunity to pursue a career in teaching special education in grades PK-12. While earning a Master of Education degree, students also meet Pennsylvania state requirements for Special Education PK-12 teacher certification.

Program Details

The course of study includes a background in psychology and pedagogy, as well as the study of the knowledge and skills needed by special education teachers Three credits of practicum, are required prior to the supervised field experience. For the culminating experience, the student must spend a semester, or a minimum of 14 weeks, full-time in a special education classroom, supervised by Holy Family University School of Education faculty.

Upon completion of the program, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the cognitive, emotional, physical and social development of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and children in the primary grades
• Design and implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum for all children
• Analyze the classroom environment to determine how it can be adapted to meet diverse needs of children
• Develop and implement appropriate formative and summative assessment strategies

Career Paths

As a professional degree, the M.Ed. is intended for students who wish, upon graduation, to assume positions of leadership in a practical setting or positions requiring more advanced study than that available at the bachelor’s level (e.g., as an instructional technologist or as a district resource teacher). 

Internships & Employment

School districts working with our students and employing our graduates include:

• Archdiocese of Philadelphia
• Bensalem
• Bristol Borough
• Bristol Township
• Centennial
• Central Bucks
• Cinnaminson
• Council Rock
• Mount Laurel
• Neshaminy
• New Hope-Solebury
• Pennsauken
• Pennsbury
• Philadelphia