Master Degrees/Graduate Options & Program Information At-A-Glance

Graduates will be prepared to work with students who have high-incidence disabilities, such as learning disabilities (e.g., reading, writing, math), mild/moderate intellectual disabilities, behavioral and emotional disabilities, and communication disorders. Graduates teach evidence-based academic and behavioral strategies to students in grades K–12 in a continuum of settings. Mild/Moderate students are encouraged to complete the ESL Endorsement.  Find Out More >>

The Severe Disabilities program prepares candidates to become leaders within their school communities by working with students with severe (low incidence) disabilities in grades K–12 and adults up to age 22. The emphasis area in Severe Disabilities prepares teachers to serve students who are in need of systematic and individualized instruction. Students will learn to design effective instruction programs, plan and deliver differentiated instruction, effectively manage school classrooms, individual behavior, and implement data-driven and evidence-based interventions. The program integrates coursework with field experience, providing candidates with classroom-based opportunities to experience and implement strategies and procedures taught in special education courses.  Find Out More >>

The Preschool Special Education/Early Intervention program prepares graduates to work with infants, toddlers, and preschool children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. Family-centered early intervention services (birth-three) are primarily provided in family homes. Team members from various disciplines partner with the parent(s) and infant or toddler to enhance the child’s development and inclusion within family routines. Preschool special education teachers work in inclusive or specialized preschool programs as a classroom teacher, co-teacher, or itinerant support specialist who teams with general education preschool teachers and families to provide specialized individualized instruction and support for children with delays or disabilities within general education preschool curriculum and learning activities.  Find Out More >>

This program specialization prepares teacher candidates to work with children/students who are blind and visually impaired. Candidates may choose from two tracks. Track 1: Candidates prepare to serve children, ages birth through five, in home-based and preschool settings. Track 2: Candidates prepare to work in specialized classrooms or inclusive/itinerant settings with students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The Visual Impairments specialization provides a range of coursework that includes instruction in: the Unified English Braille code, Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairments and the Expanded Core Curriculum for students who are blind or visually impaired to provide candidates with a knowledge base to support their students in the development of social skills, pre-academic and academic success.  Find Out More >>

This program specialization prepares teacher candidates to work with children/students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Candidates may choose from two tracks. Track 1: Candidates prepare to serve children, ages birth through five, in home-based and preschool settings. Track 2: Candidates prepare to work in specialized classrooms or inclusive/itinerant settings with students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing specialization provides a range of comprehensive coursework that includes spoken language through audition, visual communication approaches and American Sign Language, towards language and literacy development, the development of cognition, social skills, and pre-academic and academic success.  Find Out More >>

The Deafblind program prepares candidates to serve children and youth who have combined hearing and vision impairments. When combined with another special education license (Visual Impairments, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Severe Disabilities, Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Early Childhood Special Education), the program leads to an endorsement in Deafblindness in Utah. Teachers with the endorsement may serve as itinerant deafblind consultants or as classroom teachers serving a variety of children including those who are deafblind. They may work in school districts or specialized schools for children with sensory disabilities.  Children and youth who are deafblind comprise a very heterogeneous population, but most have disabilities in addition to deafblindness and this program is designed to prepare teachers to meet the unique and intensive needs of the varied population. In addition to specialization courses in Deafblindness, candidates take classes in Visual Impairments, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Severe Disabilities, and American Sign Language.  Find Out More >>

This emphasis prepares graduates to work with a wide range of children and adult populations (with and without disability labels) in a variety of settings, including schools, residential and vocational programs, and home and community environments. Graduates learn a wide variety of behavior analytic concepts and applied behavior analytic applications and strategies for use in a wide range of settings.  Find Out More >>

ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION (APE)

Graduates of the Adapted Physical Education (APE) program lead specially designed physical education for students who experience a wide range of disabilities and educational needs in grades K–12 and adults up to age 22. This program prepares teachers to serve and advocate for students who need individualized instruction to develop the skills required for lifetime physical activity. Upon program completion, graduates will have learned to design and implement effective individualized education programs, effectively manage student behavior, and utilize assessment data to drive future educational decisions. The APE program strives to meaningfully connect coursework with experiential learning out in local schools and within the service-learning program, U-FIT.  Find Out More >>