Program Requirements

Students enrolled in the Master of Science in Special Education program must meet and maintain the following requirements during their program. 

1. GPA Requirement
   Students must receive a grade of “B” or higher in all program courses.
2. Collaborative Research Requirement
   SEED 548: Collaborative Research will be ongoing throughout the program, but actual enrollment in the 1-credit course will occur in the last term of the M.S. in Special Education program.
3. Capstone Requirement
   Students have the option of completing their capstone as a Curriculum Research Project (SEED 598) or Thesis (SEED 599). Students will register for their capstone course for one credit per semester, and may take it up to three semesters. 
   
   The capstone project must be taken the final semester and approved by the professor of the course one semester prior to taking the class.
4. Fieldwork Requirements
   For California residents — The School of Education will place students taking special education courses in California. The following two steps must be completed every semester: 
   1. Complete a Fieldwork Application
   2. After being notified by email of the assigned placement, contact the principal and cooperating teacher to set up the  fieldwork schedule.
   
   

   For non-California residents — The School of Education will not place students taking special education courses outside of California. The following three steps must be completed every semester:

   1. Complete a Fieldwork Application.
   2. Request a Special Education Field Placement Letter from the School of Education (specialeducation@biola.edu).
   3. Contact schools in local area, and find a placement that meets the course fieldwork requirement. This placement should be a classroom that has at least two documented second language learners and at least one identified student with special needs.
5. Apply credential coursework towards a California Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction (Mild/Moderate) Credential
   California residents wanting to apply credential coursework towards earning a Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential (Mild/Moderate), must complete the Special Education (Mild/Moderate) Credential program requirements as well.