Students have the option of receiving an endorsement while working toward their master's degree. Graduate students can also complete an endorsement-only program to obtain additional licensure.
Drake offers two areas of study in special education at the graduate level: a master's degree and an endorsement-only track. The programs' coursework prepare educators to teach in a challenging but rewarding field. Special education teachers work individually with students with disabilities to help them grow personally and academically.
The special education programs are designed to prepare highly competent special educators to teach students with mild or moderate disabilities, behavioral disorders or learning disabilities across a variety of school settings. The program accommodates applicants with a variety of backgrounds and interests, and with or without previous special education training. The applicant must currently hold a valid Iowa teacher's license either at the elementary or secondary level, and must meet graduate admission requirements for both the endorsement and Master's of Science in Special Education.
The Instructional Strategist I—Elementary MSE degree or endorsement will prepare pre-service or in-service teachers provide instruction to students with mild to moderate disabilities in grades K-8 instructional settings.
| Course | Credits |
| *EDUC 201 - Education Research I | 3 |
| EDUC 275 - Literacy Assessment and Instruction I | 3 |
| SPED 220 - Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 222 - Characteristics of Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 223 - Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction | 3 |
| SPED 251 - Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation | 3 |
| SPED 253 - Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| SPED 272 - Schools, Families, Communities, and Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 275 - Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning | 1 |
| *SPED 278 - Consultation and Inservice | 3 |
| Select one of the following | |
| SPED 266 - Student Teaching in Special Education, Mild and Moderate Disabilities | 4-8 |
| SPED 227 - Practicum - Mild and Moderate Disabilities | 3-5 |
| *SPED 291 - Professional Seminar | 1 |
* Required only for M.S.E.
The Instructional Strategist I—Secondary MSE degree or endorsement will prepare pre-service or in-service teachers to provide instruction to students with mild to moderate disabilities in grades 5-12 instructional settings.
| Course | Credits |
| *EDUC 201 - Education Research I | 3 |
| EDUC 275 - Literacy Assessment and Instruction I | 3 |
| SPED 220 - Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 222 - Characteristics of Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 223 - Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction | 3 |
| SPED 251 - Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation | 3 |
| SPED 253 - Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| SPED 272 - Schools, Families, Communities, and Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 275 - Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning | 1 |
| SPED 276 - Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs | 2 |
| *SPED 278 - Consultation and Inservice | 3 |
| Select one of the following | |
| SPED 228 - Practicum - Mild and Moderate Disabilities | 3-5 |
| SPED 268 - Student Teaching in Special Education, Mild and Moderate Disabilities | 4-8 |
| *SPED 291 - Professional Seminar | 1 |
*Required only with M.S.E.
The Instructional Strategist II—MSE degree or endorsement will prepare teachers provide instruction to students with moderate to severe learning disabilities and behavior disorders in K-12 instructional settings. Candidates for this endorsement must already hold a bachelor’s degree in teaching with an endorsement in special education.
| Course | Credits |
| *EDUC 201 - Education Research I | 3 |
| EDUC 275 - Literacy Assessment and Instruction I | 3 |
| SPED 220 - Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 223 - Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction | 3 |
| SPED 225 - Introduction to Behavioral Disorders and Learning Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 226 - Evidence-Based Interventions for Students with Learning Disabilities and/or Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| SPED 229 - Practicum in Behavioral Disorders and/or Learning Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 251 - Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation | 3 |
| SPED 253 - Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| SPED 272 - Schools, Families, Communities, and Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 275 - Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning | 1 |
| SPED 276 - Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs | 2 |
| *SPED 278 - Consultation and Inservice | 3 |
* Required only for M.S.E.
The Instructional Strategist II endorsement will prepare teachers to provide instruction to students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities in K-12 instructional settings. Candidates for this endorsement must already hold a bachelor’s degree in teaching with an endorsement in special education.
| Course | Credits |
| EDUC 275 - Literacy Assessment and Instruction I | 3 |
| SPED 220 - Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 223 - Learning Environments and Differentiated Instruction | 3 |
| SPED 224 - Curriculum & Methods for Students with Moderate & Severe Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 225 - Introduction to Behavioral Disorders and Learning Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 229 - Practicum in Behavioral Disorders and/or Learning Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 251 - Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation | 3 |
| SPED 253 - Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| SPED 254 - First Aid, Health, and Safety for Individuals with Moderate & Severe Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 272 - Schools, Families, Communities, and Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 275 - Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning | 1 |
| SPED 276 - Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs | 2 |
The Special Education Consultant endorsement prepares students as specialists for consultant roles at the district, regional or state level. This program is designed to help future special education consultants understand how to research best practices and to evaluate research-based interventions and procedures with high fidelity. Must have, or be in pursuit of, a master’s degree in Special Education or a master’s degree in another area of education plus an endorsement in at least one special education instructional area.
| Course | Credits |
| EDUC 276 - Principles of Program/Curriculum Development | 3 |
| SPED 221 - Supervision of Instruction for Students with Special Needs, or EDL 278 - Supervision of Instruction |
3 |
| SPED 278 - Consultation and In-Service Training | 3 |
The Work Experience Coordinator endorsement program prepares individuals to collaborate with community resources and parents, to build assistance teams, and to provide support service to secondary school programs (5-12). This endorsement is appropriate for individuals who already hold a secondary special education endorsement, have or are in pursuit of a 5-12 special education endorsement, and who wish to work with older students having disabilities in areas of school to work transition.
| Course | Credits |
| SPED 274 - Career and Vocational Assessment | 3 |
| SPED 275 - Career, Vocational, and Transitional Planning | 1 |
| SPED 276 - Coordination of Cooperative Occupational Programs | 2 |
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.