Master of Arts with Director of Special Education and Pupil Services (WI 5080)
Our Director of Special Education and Pupil Services program prepares school administrators to have more focused instruction in the areas of Special Education and Pupil Services at the district and site levels. When chosen as your area of emphasis, your master's degree will be 16 courses (45-credit hours).
Blended delivery, with M.A. core coursework online:
- 12-credits of M.A. core coursework (5 courses)
- 21-credits of Educational Leadership core coursework (7 courses)
- 12-credits of required Director of Special Education and Pupil Services coursework (4 courses)
To add Principal Licensure (WI 51), students will take an additional 3 credit hours.
Admissions
Admission Requirements for all Graduate Programs in Education (degree, license, endorsement, or certificate) include the following, but may include additional program-specific admission requirements:
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA for 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution in order to be admitted in good standing
- Earned teaching or administrative license
- One academic reference contact required for Wisconsin and Iowa Educational Leadership programs
All requirements for any graduate program in education must be completed within seven years from the date of application to the graduate program. Coursework must have been taken within the last seven years from the date of application to be applied to program requirements, with the exception of Iowa Educational Leadership programs which is limited to five years.
A student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to complete any graduate program in education and a grade of C or higher earned in all Viterbo University coursework.
Proseminar
In order to attend EDUC 604 Proseminar and engage in commencement ceremonies, students must have completed all required courses in their program of study. Proseminar is the culminating course in the MAE program; it is offered on campus each summer only. Proseminar provides students with the opportunity to present their research and to participate in commencement ceremonies. Degrees are conferred in August after successful completion of all required coursework including EDUC 604 Proseminar.
Registration
Students must apply online and be accepted into the program of their choice before registering for courses. Students will be assisted by their advisor/program specialist when registering for the first semester. In all subsequent semesters, the student will register online in VitNet/Student Planning.
Transfer Credit
Master of Arts in Education and Educational Leadership
Upon acceptance, student may transfer up to six credit hours of graduate credit taken within seven years of application date to be applied to the MAE degree program. Up to six credit hours taken within seven years of application may be considered for the Wisconsin Educational Leadership program for equivalent graduate courses. Up to six semester credit hours taken within five years of application may be considered for the Iowa Educational Leadership program for equivalent graduate courses.
- Action Research: Synthesize information and experiences to grow professionally and actively participate in the educational community of which he/she is a part.
- Leadership: Apply quality principles of teacher leadership - including the skills of effective communication, collaboration, and motivation to shape, change, and improve student learning.
- Synthesis: Integrate opportunities to grow professionally and actively participate in the educational community of which they are a part.
- Ethics: Integrate historical, philosophical, and social foundations of education into their educational practices.
- Pedagogy: Demonstrate the ability to provide different approaches to learning and create instructional opportunities that are equitable, based on developmental needs of students, and that are adapted to the diverse needs of students.
- Assess: Integrate student achievement data, local, state, and national standards, and district initiatives into plans for instruction.