APPLICATION DEADLINES:
SPRING 2024 Semester
Application OPEN NOW
Application DEADLINE is Thursday, December 21, 2023
VIRTUAL INFORMATIONAL SESSION:
DECEMBER 11, 2023 at 7:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting by contacting Dr. Danehey (adanehey@umd.edu)
ONLINE Masters of Education (M.Ed.) Specialty Program Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Offered FULLY ON-LINE
The University of Maryland Special Education Program is excited to announce its Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) with a focus on Autism. To begin this ONLINE M.Ed. admitted graduate students will have a tuition fellowship funded by the Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs* (PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS). Consequently, there are limited openings for the initiation of this new Master’s degree program.
This 36-credit hour M.Ed. is designed for professionals interested in increasing their skills and expanding their knowledge to better serve the increasing number of students with ASD with high intensity needs. The program offers graduates:
Knowledge and skills in the core & associated characteristics of individuals with ASD;
Providing culturally and linguistically responsive instruction and services;
Opportunities to use intensive, evidence-based methods and interventions to increase academic, behavior, and self-determination in students with ASD and students with related developmental delays and disabilities;
Knowledge about Social-Communication Challenges and Use of Strategies for students with ASD or others requiring alternative & augmentative communication (AAC) systems for persons with complex communication needs;
Skills to increase behavior and classroom management to support students with ASD and related developmental delays and disabilities;
Integration of low- through high-technology supports across all areas of development;
Opportunities to exercising leadership to improve professional practice and services and education for students with ASD; and
Experienced faculty committed to your success.
Schedule -12 courses (36 credit hours) taken across 2.5 consecutive years
*** The program is designed for professionals serving students with disabilities especially Autism with the following backgrounds:
Certified Special Educators who graduated from UMD system programs
Certified Special Educators who graduated from other programs
Certified early childhood, elementary, or secondary general educators from UMD system programs**
Certified early childhood, elementary, or secondary general educators from other programs**
We expect this to be a competitive process and there will be a limited number of graduates admitted. We retain the option to admit to the program on a rolling basis after November 30, 2023
CONTACT Dr. Agnesanne Danehey for informational meetings on November 7th, 13th, and 18th of 2023.
Scholarship/Fellowship Support: Partial Tuition Scholarships for all accepted into this cohort.
* Scholarship Obligation: Scholarship funds are provided by a grant from the U. S. Department of Education. There is a “Service Obligation” requirement attached to the scholarship funds. For more information please see: https://pdp.ed.gov/OSEP/Regulation/ProgramRegs2006 and the Pre-Scholarship agreement form on this website: https://pdp.ed.gov/OSEP/Home/Agreements/
**Please note: In the State of Maryland, teachers with initial certification in a general education area can take the Special Education PRAXIS II test 0354/5354 (www.ets.org) to obtain special education certification through the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Certification and Accreditation. For more information, visit the MSDE website.
***This Online MEd program is interested in recruiting members from underrepresented groups, including applicants with disabilities, multilingual applicants, and applicants from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Esta universidad está interesada en reclutar miembros de grupos subrepresentados, incluidos solicitantes con discapacidades, solicitantes multilingües y solicitantes de orígenes raciales y étnicos diversos.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- 3.0 GPA from Bachelor’s degree
- Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended with nine credits or more. Note: for admission purposes an unofficial transcript with degree conferred posted can be uploaded. If accepted into the program an official transcript from degree completion institutions will be required by the Graduate School by the end of the first semester of enrollment.
- Statement of Goals/Purpose, Interests, and Experiences
- Upload the Personal Experience Essay: You must answer a minimum of at least one question below:
- Community Involvement and/or
- Service Engagement in Leadership Roles, Facilitating Change or Mentoring Others
- Overcoming Social, Economic, Educational or Physical Barriers
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Application Information and Instructions
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
SPRING 2024 Semester
Application OPENS November 1, 2023
Application DEADLINE is December 21, 2023
To Apply:
1) Go to Step-by-Step Guide to Applying | The Graduate School (umd.edu) Scroll all the way down to STEP 1: Complete Online Application and Click on “Online Graduate Application”. Then Click on “New Students create an account” and create an account with a username and password.
2) Go back to the application portal and log in using the newly created user log-in and password (DO NOT use the red button that says “Login with UMD directory ID”).
3) Once you’re in the application, in the Educational Intent section, complete the section with the information below:
- 1) Application Type: Masters
- Intended Program of Study: Special Education MEd Online (SPOL)
- Area of Interest 1: Autism Fellowship
- Term of Entrance: Spring 2024
4) Previous Education: Enter your degree transcripts from your previous Institutions you attended and upload a copy of the transcripts. (Transcript required). (note: can be unofficial transcript as long as the degree conferred is posted).
Note: International WES evaluation transcripts are not accepted by the Graduate School for those with international credentials. The Graduate School will accept a copy of the original language transcript and certificate/diploma along with an English translation of each document. If you only have international transcript, you may need to also provide TOEFL or ILETS or PTE scores. (Note: I-20 or DS-2019 issuance are not eligible for this program).
· If officially admitted by the Graduate School, you will have the first semester of enrollment to request official degree transcripts. The official transcript is to be sent directly to the Graduate School from the previous institution via email or mail.
E-mail transcript to: gradschool@umd.edu, Attn: Heather Kissinger OR
Mail transcript to:
University of Maryland College Park
Enrollment Services Operation
Attn: Graduate Admissions
Room 3125 Mitchell Building
College Park, MD 20742
6) Upload your statement of purpose/goal statement.
7) Upload the Personal Experience Essay: You must answer a minimum of at least one question below:
· Community Involvement and/or
· Service Engagement in Leadership Roles, Facilitating Change or Mentoring Others
· Overcoming Social, Economic, Educational or Physical Barriers
8) Letters of Recommendations. Two letters of recommendation are required. Please enter names and email addresses within the application. Recommenders can be one’s supervisor and Principal.
9) Application Fee: Pay the non-refundable $75.00 application fee.
Upon completion of the application. We will notify you of any missing documentation, etc. If you have any admissions questions, please contact coe-admissions@umd.edu. THANK YOU!
Information for International Applicants:
I-20 or DS-2019 issuance applicants are not eligible for this program.
International applicants are not eligible for this program. However, if you are a US pending permanent or US permanent resident then you may be eligible. If you only have an international transcript, you may need to also provide TOEFL or ILETS or PTE scores.
If you have any questions regarding the online application process, please contact Judy Foster at jfoster@umd.edu. For all program related questions, please contact Dr. Agnesanne Danehey, Program Director, adanehey@umd.edu.
Please contact the Office of Student Services, ed-advising@umd.edu or (301) 405-2364
Visit the College of Education Scholarship opportunities webpage.
Visit the Graduate School Fellowship and Graduate Assistantship web page for additional funding opportunities
For information about other student financial aid, review the Office of the Student Financial Aid website
EXAMPLE OF POSSIBLE COURSES IN THE PROGRAM SEQUENCE*
EDSP 600 Issues, Trends, and EVP in Educating Individuals with Disabilities-ASD
EDSP 602 Instruction of Students w/Severe Disabilities I
EDSP 604 Education of Students with Autism
EDSP 606 Advanced Studies in Inclusive Practices
EDSP 612 Transition Methods & Disability
EDSP 613 Positive Behavior Support and Classroom Management
EDSP 614 Instruction of Students w/Severe Disabilities II
EDSP 617 Social-Communication Challenges and Strategies for Individual with ASDs
EDSP 655 Advanced Seminar in Families, Culture, and Disability
EDSP 670 Single Subject Research in Special Education
EDSP 671 Qualitative Methodologies
EDSP673 Evaluating Evidence Based Practices in Special Education
*Sequence is numerically presented and subject to change at the discretion of Director
Dr. Agnesanne J. Danehey- Co-Program Director, adanehey@umd.edu -Program Questions
Carol Scott- Graduate Coordinator CHSE, cscott18@umd.edu
Judy Foster-Program Coordinator in Student Services-Application Questions ONLY, jfoster@umd.edu
EdTerps Learning Academy (ETLA) - Program Administration Support, edterpslearningacademy@umd.edu
Application Deadline: Application DEADLINE is December 21, 2023
HANDBOOKS
Visit the Department of Counseling, High Education and Special Education program handbooks and forms page.
The Graduate Student Life Handbook provides information on academics, campus resources, finances, health, job opportunities, and information on how to get involved as a graduate student.
POLICY
Graduate students in the College of Education are responsible for meeting University and the Graduate School policy, and for meeting Program requirements. The Graduate Catalog is the official listing of Policies governing graduate education at the University of Maryland. The schedule adjustment policy is available from the Office of the Registrar and provides information on adding and dropping courses, penalties, and refund schedules.
FORMS
Graduate students are required to submit various forms at specific points in the program and as part of the degree clearance process. Please refer to Steps Toward Graduation to determine the steps and forms that are required. The forms for use by graduate students are available here.