MA in Education: Learning and Technology and Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Credential

APU’s M.A.Ed. in Learning and Technology with Moderate/Severe Disabilities Education Specialist Credential program offers comprehensive foundation courses emphasizing teaching and educational methods using modern technology, as well as specialization courses providing content required for the disabilities specialist credential.

Azusa Pacific University’s Master of Arts in Education: Learning and Technology and Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Credential program prepares candidates to earn a Master of Arts in Education: Learning and Technology degree along with an embedded Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Preliminary Credential. This program includes comprehensive foundation courses emphasizing teaching and educational methods, as well as specialization courses providing content required for the education specialist credential. Practical classroom and fieldwork experiences provide application to theory, preparing candidates to teach in diverse settings. Advanced coursework in the emphasis area of learning and technology provides candidates with the knowledge to effectively design and infuse technology-embedded curriculum into K-12 teaching and learning environments. The mode of delivery includes face-to-face instruction, campus-based classes, distance learning, online courses, and field experiences.

Approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which is transitioning to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Azusa Pacific University’s Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Credential program comprises specific methods courses that are accompanied by practical classroom applications and clinical experiences in public school assignments.

Upon completion of the requirements listed below and all of the requirements detailed in the Steps to a Credential, the candidate will have earned an Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Preliminary Credential and a Master of Arts in Education: Learning and Technology degree.

Computer and Software Requirements

Each student must have a Mac or PC laptop or notebook running the latest operating system with a word processing program and a stable internet connection.

Course Requirements

Foundation Courses
TESP 501Art of Teaching I: Foundations of Teaching 13
TESP 502Science of Teaching I: How Students Learn 13
TESP 503The Soul of Teaching: Tapestry of American Education3
TESP 504Schools and Educational Systems3
Specialization Courses
SPED 517Art of Teaching II: Pedagogy and Instructional Design for Education Specialists3
SPED 518Science of Teaching II: Effective Assessment Strategies for Learners with Special Needs3
SPED 525Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing3
SPED 527Teaching Students with Extensive Support Needs3
SPED 528Assessment and IEP Development: Mild to Extensive Support Needs3
SPED 529Positive Behavior Supports for Students with Exceptional Needs3
SPED 570Clinical Practice I: Extensive Support Needs2
SPED 573Clinical Practice II: Extensive Support Needs2
Emphasis Courses
EDUC 560Action Research in Education1
EDUC 546Digital Communications3
EDUC 547Special Topics in Educational Technology 23
EDUC 548Emerging Trends in Technology3
EDUC 569Capstone Seminar2
Elective Courses 3
EDUC 538Current Issues in Education3
Total Units 446-49
1

These courses must be completed prior to beginning clinical practice.

2

May be taken for credit up to three times as an additional elective as long as topics are not repeated.

3

Elective courses can be used toward the master’s degree only for the individual needing additional units to complete the degree. Elective courses cannot be used to replace foundation, specialization, or emphasis course requirements.

4

The program is designed to be completed with 46 units; the use of elective units to complete the degree may increase the unit total.

NOTE: A maximum of 8 units may be taken per 8-week session. Teacher candidates in master’s degree programs who have opted to waive coursework must take additional units to fulfill the unit requirement. Completion of all credential requirements—including all examinations, coursework, and other requirements—must be met before the master’s degree will be posted. A Graduation Application must be completed and fees paid by the deadlines set by the registrar.

NOTE: Candidates who hold an intern credential must enroll in a candidate support and supervision course (SPED 500) during each 8-week session (fall or spring) in which they are not enrolled in a clinical practice course.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to submit a credential application through the Office of Credentials upon completion of a credential program to receive his/her California educator credential. This request may be submitted to the credentials office up to one month before completion of all credential requirements.

Admission

University graduate admission and program-specific requirements must be met before an application is complete (see Admission to the University). Program-specific application requirements are available online.

International students should contact Graduate and Professional Admissions for application procedures.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
  1. Engage and support all students in learning.
  2. Create and maintain effective environments for student learning.
  3. Understand and organize subject matter for student learning.
  4. Plan instruction and design learning experiences for all students.
  5. Assess student learning.
  6. Develop as a professional educator.