Exceptional Student Education: Master of Education

The graduate program in Exceptional Student Education prepares graduate students for positions as professional clinical practitioners who work with exceptional individuals. The majority of these clinical practitioners become teachers in self-contained classes or resource rooms while others serve in positions such as consulting teacher, behavior analyst, parent-infant specialist or sign language interpreter. Practitioners may serve individuals with special needs ranging in age from preschool through adulthood. Additionally they may work with the families of individuals with special needs.

American Sign Language (ASL)/English Interpreting: Master of Science

Admission to the Program

Admission into the graduate programs requires a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of a 3.0. In addition, scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)  are required. Students not meeting minimum criteria for admission may be considered for admission under the UNF/College exceptions policy. The program makes special provisions for admitting students with disabilities. Admission also requires the submission of three letters of recommendation. During the application process, inquiries concerning the status of your application should be directed to either The Graduate School or the Office of Academic Advising. See each degree area for more specific information.

Majors in special education consist of a minimum of 36 credits of graduate study. The inital certification Master's degree program requires additoonal credit hours. An individually designed program of study for each student is developed by the student in collaboration with his or her faculty advisor.

Note: All applications, transcripts, test scores, and supporting documents must be sent directly to The Graduate School, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224.

Graduate Concentrations

The graduate Exceptional Student Education program offers multiple concentrations. One track is for students working toward state certification in Exceptional Student Education. This track is ESOL endorsed. The second option is a concentration in Disability Services designed for students interested in serving individuals with disabilities in general education classes or non-school settings. This course of study allows individuals to pursue graduate study in special education and in various cognate areas, but does not lead to certification. The ASL/English Interpreting  program has two concentrations. Both concentrations are available to Deaf interpreters, and are offered online. The General Practitioner concentration (a) is designed to meet the needs of students who aspire to national certification or, (b) certified interpreters who seek to increase their specialized interpreting skill sets and knowledge bases. The Pedagogy concentration is designed to prepare interpreters to teach the interpreting process in colleges and universities. 

Exceptional Special Education

• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Disability Services
• Exceptional Student Education

ASL/English Interpreting

• General Practitioner
• Pedagogy

Certification

The Exceptional Student Education program is approved by the Florida Department of Education for initial certification.  The ASL/English Interpreting programs are committed to upholding the 2014 accreditation standards formulated by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE). The College of Education and Human Services is accredited by the National Council on Accreditation in Teacher Education (NCATE).

All students enrolled in College of Education and Human Services courses that require a field or clinical component and/or are taught at a school site are mandated by state law to be fingerprinted and cleared prior to being permitted on elementary and secondary school campuses. Students should be aware that noncompliance with fingerprinting requirements will result in the inability to complete course requirements. Contact the Office of Educational Field Experiences, (904) 620-3934, for information regarding fingerprinting procedures.