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Home Teacher Education and Clinical Practice Graduate Special Education (K-12) Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Special Education K-12 (MAT)

The Special Education K-12 master's program leads to a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree and a Tennessee License to teach grades K-12.

MAT candidates must apply for admission to TEP before the end of the second semester and fulfill all TEP requirements. Candidates must have a 3.0 graduate GPA to be admitted to TEP and maintain a 3.0 GPA while in the graduate program. Candidates must pass Praxis II exams to be licensed to teach in Tennessee. For information on registration, costs, and more, vist the Educational Testing Service and use the dropdown menu to find the correct required exams. Job Embedded Practitioner (JEP) License candidates can visit our JEP site for more information or contact Mary Lanier, our license and certification specialist.

For the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA), all candidates obtaining a MAT and TN Teaching License must complete The Professional Seminar (ICL 7993). Each candidate must also complete and pass a nationally scored teacher performance assessment. You are only required to submit the edTPA portfolio if you are enrolled in ICL 7808. Job-embedded teacher candidates are not required to submit the edTPA. 

For additional information, please contact LaRuth Lofties, MAT Academic Counselor.

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Degree Timeline

Suggested Course Sequence for Fall I Semester (9 Hours)

  • SPED 7000 - Introduction to Exceptional Learner**
  • ICL 7105 (Interventionist License) -  or - SPED 7050 (Comprehensive License only)
  • LITL 7553 - Literacy Development K4 - Interventionist Requirement

Timeline

  • Begin studying/preparing for your Praxis content exam.
    • Access Praxis Resources here.
  • Required Exams: 5545 (SPED Comprehensive, SPED Core Knowledge & Severe and Profound Applications), 5543 (SPED Interventionist, SPED Core Knowledge & Mild to Moderate Applications), and 5205 (Teaching Reading)

Suggested Course Sequence for Spring I Semester (6 Hours)

  • SPED 7001 - Tests and Measurements for Exceptional Child/Adult
  • LITL 7553 - Literacy Development K4 - Interventionist Requirement**

Timeline

  • Continue Praxis support and studying
  • Continue to take your Praxiss II content exam(s) if not already passed.
  • Apply for TEP Admissions.
  • If you are not admitted to TEP, you will not be able to continue to Level 2 coursework.

Suggested Course Sequence for Summer I Semester (6 Hours)

  • EDPR 7111 - Child Psychology Applied to Education - or - SPED 7015 - Teaching Students with Exceptionalities Across Differences and Abilities
  • SPED 7212 - Content Methods in Special Education**

Timeline

  • Continue to take Praxiss II content exam(s) if not already passed.
  • Apply for TEP Admissions if not already done.

Courses with asterisks (**) have clinical/field hours connected to them. You will be expected to visit a school to complete these hours. Your course instructor will share the number of hours to be completed with you.

Suggested Course Sequence for Fall II Semester (6 Hours)

  • LITL 7554 - Literacy Development
  • SPED 7221 - Behavior Management in Special Education**

Timeline

  • Complete your Clinical Teaching application.

Suggested Course Sequence for Spring II Semester (9 Hours)

  • IDT 7061 - Instructional Design and Educational Technology
  • ICL 7106 - Professional and Ethical Practice in Inclusive Classrooms
  • EDPR 7521 - Introduction to Educational Research 

Timeiline

  • Complete your Clinical Teaching application, if not already done.

Suggested Course Timeline for Summer II Semester (3 Hours)

  • SPED 7511 - Intellectual Disabilities (Comprehensive License ONLY)

Courses with asterisks (**) have clinical/field hours connected to them. You will be expected to visit a school to complete these hours. Your course instructor will share the number of hours to be completed with you.

Suggested Course Timeline for Fall III Semester - Clinical Teaching Candidates (9 Hours)

  • ICL 7808 - The Clinical Teaching Semester
  • ICL 7993 - Professional Seminar (REQUIRED)

Suggested Course Timeline for Fall III Semesterd - Job Embedded Candidates (3 Hours)

  • ICL 7992 - Master's Project

Timeline

  • Candidates should have all courses completed and passed:
    • SPED Comprehensive: Praxis 5545 (SPED Core Knowledge & Severe and Profound Applications) exam prior to enrolling in Level 3 courses.
    • SPED Interventionist: Praxis 5543 (SPED Core Knowledge & Mild to Moderate Applications) and exam prior to enrolling in Level 3 Courses.
  • Candidates who plan to graduate must apply for graduation at the beginning of the semester through their myMemphis portal. (Visit The University of Memphis Commencement Office for more information)

  • An application is required one (1) semester prior to The Clinical Teaching Semester - ICL 7808.
  • All clinical teaching candidates must take the Professional Seminar to obtain licensure - ICL 7993.
  • No other courses may be taken with the clinical teaching semester and/or the ICL 7993 Professional Seminar or 7992 Master's Project classes
  • Candidates who have an active Job Embedded Practitioner License will be exempt from submitting the edTPA