University of Southern Maine

The Special Education Program, Teaching ALL Students concentration is now accepting admission applications on a rolling basis with priority deadlines of September 1, October 15, February 1, March 15, and May 1. For more information on the admission process, review the admission information page through the Office of Graduate Studies.

This 39 credit program is designed for elementary and secondary classroom teachers who want to learn more about how to support students in their classrooms who need some extra support. It begins by concentrating on the different strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics of the three groups of students most challenging for teachers in regular education classrooms: students with special needs, students who are gifted and talented, and students who are English Language Learners. The program then culminates in a capstone course on how teachers can use Universal Design to teach and support ALL students in their classroom.

Core Course (7 Credits)

EDU 600 Research Methods and Techniques
SED 601 Introduction to Student Programming and Master's Goal Setting (1 credit)
EDU 562 Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in the Classroom

Special Education (12 Credits)

SED 614 Methods of Teaching Mathematics for Students With Special Needs
SED 615 Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
SED 618 Programming for Learners With Special Needs
SED 679 Consultation and Special Education

Gifted and Talented (6 Credits)

SED 550 Teaching Gifted Students in the Regular Classroom
SED 662 Productive Thinking and the Gifted Learner

English Language Learners (9 credits)

EDU 559 Aspects of Reading for the Multilingual Learners
EDU 561 Aspects of the English Language
EDU 563 ESL Language Testing and Assessment

Capstone (5 Credits)

SED 697 Universal Design Implemented
SED 698 Capstone Seminar and Portfolio - last course (2 credits)

Portfolio Requirements

Students in this program will create, in SED 601, the goals and objectives they plan to accomplish through their plan of study. The plan of study and the goals and objectives can be an expansion of the admissions essay they use for matriculation into the program.

The students will complete their portfolios during SED 698, the semester after all their other courses are completed. The portfolio will demonstrate how they have meet the goals and objectives they planned at the beginning of their program, and the new and unexpected knowledge that they gained while in their program. Students will then present live, or via video, their portfolios to the advisors of the program.

Prospective students, please contact:
Office of Graduate Admissions
(207) 780-4386
(800) 800-4USM
TTY: (207) 780-5646