Advanced Professional M.A.:Intervention Specialist
Dr. Tracy Gershwin Mueller, Program Coordinator
Purpose
In 2004, through the direction of the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), the
School of Special Education at UNC changed previous disability specific special education teaching license programs (e.g., moderate needs, severe needs affective, severe needs cognitive, profound needs) to a more general license that would address a continuum of disabilities, referred to as the Special Education Generalist teacher. Following this state licensure change, a need was identified to provide a new graduate program to undergraduate and graduate Generalist students with a comprehensive masters degree aligned with CDE specialist standards. The Intervention Specialist Masters of Arts degree addresses all Colorado Department of Education (CDE) specialist standards.
The Intervention Specialist is a comprehensive program that weaves research and practice while providing current educational professionals with the knowledge and skills that are needed to provide services, supervise, and coach other educators to ultimately foster student growth academically, behaviorally, and socially through post-secondary outcomes.
The MA Intervention specialist program is proud to prepare leaders who work with students across a broad range of disabilities, as well as equipping you to provide services, supervise and coach other educators. This program will prepare you to become a leader in your work setting.
Length of Program and Program Requirements
At UNC, we provide cutting edge theory and evidence-based practices in all of our courses. This Master of Arts degree is 34* credits and can be completed in two years (six terms) around your busy schedule. Courses are delivered entirely online with one 8-week course at a time. This means you will take two courses each semester. Additionally, due to small class sizes (maximum 20-25 students per course) faculty maintain a high level of personal interaction with the students.
At the end of the MA Intervention Specialist program, you will complete coursework in the following areas: behavior support and intervention systems; response to intervention; mathematics content and strategies; literacy content and strategies; teacher leadership, action research and reflection; advanced assessment approaches; meeting the needs of learners with autism and significant support needs; adapting instruction for culturally and linguistically diverse learners with disabilities; leadership for transition services; and applied instructional coaching skills.
Required Emphasis Classes for Intervention Specialist (34* Credits)
- SRM 600 Introduction to Graduate Research (3)
- EDSE 670 Legal and Policy Foundations of Special Education (3)
- EDSE 672 Leadership in the School community (3)
- EED 610: Interventions in Literacy (3)
- MED 645: Interventions in Mathematics (3)
- EDSE 673 Research and Reflective Practice (3)
- EDSE 675 Issues in Special Education Assessment (3)
- EDSE 676 Assessment and Interventions for Students with Challenging Behaviors (3)
- EDSE 677 Transition to Adulthood for Youth with Exceptionalities (3)
- EDSE 678 Leadership Strategies in Significant Support Needs/Autism (3)
- EDSE 679 Interventions for Students with Culturally and Linguistic Differences (3)
- *EDSE 696 Practicum in Instructional Coaching (1-9)
- *(1-9 variable credit hours with a minimum of 1 credit is required)
Admission Requirements
NOTE: The MA Intervention Specialist Online program is being offered in a cohort model. To inquire about joining the next cohort, please contact program coordinator, Dr. Tracy Gershwin Mueller (tracy.mueller@unco.edu)
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in teacher education or a related field.
- Provide evidence of a minimum of one-year successful teaching experience and licensure/endorsement as a special education generalist teacher.
- All official transcripts.
- Grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last 60 semester hours of academic work OR GRE scores of 900 or above and a 3.5 on Analytical Writing.
- Resume.
- A minimum of two letters of recommendation are required.
- A 1-2 page statement of educational goals and philosophy (this should focus on who you are as an educator and how the intervention specialist program can assist you with your future goals).
** FINANCIAL AID may apply for those who qualify**
To Apply Online
Go to the Graduate website and follow the instructions
For more information about joining the next cohort please contact the MA Intervention Specialist Program Advisor:
Tracy Gershwin Mueller, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
tracy.mueller@unco.edu
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
School of Special Education
Campus Box 141
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO 80639
Office: (970)351-1664
Fax: (970)351-1061
http://www.unco.edu/cebs/sped/
