Special Education

The MEd in Special Education will broaden your knowledge base in special education, allowing you to more effectively meet the needs of special students in grades PK-12. Converse’s program comprises a wide diversity of field and clinical experiences in public schools. We will help you develop the skills needed to craft individualized learning tools for the unique needs of your students. Our dedicated faculty continually challenge students to integrate theory with practice.

More reasons to choose Converse:

Veteran Faculty: Our faculty have extensive experience in public education as teachers, administrators, or special consultants. They are active as researchers, clinicians, and leaders in the field of education.

Quality Education: Our curriculum is aligned with professional standards and meets all the requirements for national approvals by the Council for Accreditation for Educator Preparation (CAEP), approved by the South Carolina Department of Education. You will be qualified for certification reciprocity with many other states.

Community Partnerships:  Our program gives you ample opportunities to work with local public schools and to interact with the local community

Convenience: Flexibility is essential for students who manage busy work schedules and personal commitments. Most required courses are conducted after 4 p.m. to accommodate students who maintain their current teaching positions. We work with you, one-on-one, to accommodate your specific needs, allowing you to balance work life, personal life, and school.

Degree Prestige and Value: Since 1890, Converse has provided students with education rooted in the liberal arts. Converse graduates are principled and productive citizens capable of creative thinking and problem-solving.

For consideration of admission to the MEd degree program, the applicant should have the following credentials:

• Graduation from an accredited institution with a major undergraduate program appropriate for given teaching areas
• Grades indicating likelihood for success in graduate studies. For full, non-provisional admission, the applicant must have an overall cumulative 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale of college work.
• Certification in some area of teaching.

Visit the graduate catalog for detailed admission requirements.

Please submit the following:

• Online application *Including the $40 application fee
• Two letters of recommendation(at least one from an academic source)
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended
• NTE/Praxis II scores
• Copy of professional certification as an educator
• *A personal statement

*Converse’s founder, Dexter Edgar Converse, held the ideal that Converse students “may be enabled to see clearly, decide wisely, and to act justly.” Please write a personal statement, approximately 250-300 words in length, on how your personal goals as an educator tie with the Converse concept of The “Ideal” Educator. In keeping with the Honor Tradition at Converse, your essay must be entirely your own work. Please be specific on how Converse can help you become the “Ideal” Educator, taking special care to organize your essay clearly and proofread your work. The personal statement should be submitted as a part of the application or emailed to the Office of Graduate Admission.

Deadlines for Completed Application and Materials

• July 15 (For Fall Admission)
• December 15 (For Spring Admission)

*Converse Graduate Admission admits applicants on a rolling basis upon review of completed materials

The MEd in Special Education is a 36-hour, on-campus program designed to expand and refine your teaching competencies while broadening your knowledge base in special education to more effectively meet the needs of special students. A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained in content courses as well as education courses.

Upon completion of the program you will be able to:

• Describe the characteristics of exceptional students and the effects of these special needs on the teaching/learning process;
• Collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, and personnel from community agencies;
• Demonstrate skills necessary for planning and assessing instructional objectives for exceptional students; these will include assessment for the purpose of drafting IEP’s, as well as the assessment of instructional objectives;
• Describe various instructional procedures appropriate for the education of exceptional students.

Visit the graduate catalog for current course requirements for this degree

View benchmark worksheets for an outline of academic requirements for this program

See comprehensive graduate tuition and fees here.*

*Tuition and fees subject to change

Learn about Financial Aid opportunities.