Department of Special Education
Policies and Procedures Manual
MAE PROGRAM
Admission Requirements
Post-BA students seeking certification are to be accepted into the Department’s certificationonly or MAE graduate program. (This applies to students who do not have a teaching degree;
previously they were advised to enter as a 2nd BA undergraduate student.)
Application Procedures for MAE Program
1. Completion of the “Application for Graduate Study” form found online at:
http://www.uni.edu/admissions/apply
2. Formal letter of application to be used as a writing sample. Application letters should
address: (a) interest in program, (b) career goals, and (c) a personal statement of
interest in special education. The letter of application must be emailed to:
admissionsprocessing@uni.edu.
3. Official transcripts from each college or university from which student has received a
degree, if the degree was obtained from an institution other than UNI. Degree status
applicants who have attended other colleges or universities after earning the
bachelor’s degree must file an official transcript of each record. Only transcripts sent
directly from the issuing institution to the UNI Office of the Registrar are considered
official. Unofficial or personal transcripts are not acceptable.
4. The GRE or GMAT is not required for admission.
5. If student’s undergraduate degree is not from UNI, an application fee of $50.00 must
be sent to the Office of the Registrar (this is collected when completing the online
application). If student’s undergraduate degree is from UNI, there is no fee.
6. Minimum grade point average of 3.00 from an accredited undergraduate program.
7. Three letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters should address the
candidate’s: (a) ability to handle graduate level work, (b) past work with individuals
with special needs, and/or (c) interest in the field of education. It is required that at
least one (1) of the letters of reference addresses the applicant’s academic abilities
(i.e., from a former professor or instructor at an institute of higher education,
including community colleges; does not include student teaching supervisors).
8. A personal or telephone interview may be requested.
9. Students with coursework that is 10 years or older and who cannot obtain an
academic letter could be eligible for provisional admission if they meet the other
requirements.
MAE Application Deadlines
Spring semester – November 1; Fall semester – April 1
Faculty Reference Letters
Faculty may write MAE application reference letters but will not be allowed to participate in the
vote to admit the student.
Conditional Admission
If a student is admitted provisionally (or conditionally), the student will have To-Do items
related to that (GPA, prerequisite courses, English proficiency, etc.) Student will have a
registration hold each semester until all provisions are met and department sends form to
Admissions. Graduate coordinators and some graduate secretaries can release this hold for the
student to register. It will go back on each semester there are still To-Do items. Departments
mush send an Authorization to Remove Graduate Post-Admission To-Do Items form to
Admissions to indicate when each provision is met.
Comprehensive Exams
Questions from the 220:289 Seminar and 220:290 Advance Practicum courses are to be added
to the comprehensive exams at the advisor’s discretion. Single readers will be used on
comprehensive exams unless a student’s response to a question is questionable and the advisor
wants another faculty member’s input.
Students must pass all questions in the exam; students will be required to repeat any question
on which they receive less than a 6.0 score; the method used for the student to demonstrate
competency on that question will be determined by the advisor in conjunction with the person
who wrote the question.
Alternative Comps Procedure
The Department has 2 alternative options for the comprehensive exam:
1. Two-phase process for the research paper (phase 1 - develop the proposal literature
review; phase 2 - execution of the proposal). MAE candidates will meet with their
academic advisor to determine a selection of readings related to the topic of their
proposed research. To complete the requirement of the comprehensive
examination, the students must submit a written report summarizing the selected
readings, in a format determined by the advisor. Upon receipt of the final paper, the
advisor will submit the Report on Comprehensive Exam (GF-2) to the Office of the
Registrar.
2. thesis option with no comprehensive exam.
The faculty, in cooperation with the student, will choose which option they will pursue.
(3/5/03)
Graduate GPA
The Department will follow the Graduate College policy on graduate GPA (January 18, 2000):
If a student does not maintain a 3.0 GPA, the Graduate College places the student on
probation for 1 year. If the GPA is not raised within this one-year time period, the student is
put on permanent expulsion. (1/18/2000)
If a student’s undergraduate GPA is below 2.75 and over 15 years old, the student could be
eligible for provisional admission. (5/25/05)
Waiver of Residency
The decision of requesting a waiver of the 6 hour residency requirement will be determined by
the advisor. (Graduate Faculty, May 7, 2002)
Research Paper
Notify Marilyn Busch when student has completed the comprehensive exam and research
paper. She will notify the Registrar so it can be noted in their files for graduation purposes.
GRADUATE COURSES
Rotation of MAE Courses
Fall
SPED 6260 – Special Education Law & Policy
SPED 6293 – Qualitative Research in Special Education
Spring
SPED 6289 – Seminar in Special Education
SPED 6256 – Best Practices in Inclusion
SPED 6295 – Single Subject Research
Summer
SPED 6295 – Single Subject Research (ICN)
SPED 6256 – Best Practices in Inclusion (ICN)
SPED 6293 – Qualitative Research in Special Education
Only courses numbered 5000 and above can be used on a graduate degree. SIS will be set up
so graduate students will not be able to register for undergraduate courses. Departments can
override. The student must submit an online student request. The Registrar’s office will do the
enrollment. The request must state the reason for taking the undergraduate course.
Students should not take an UG course under a Studies number to make it graduate level.
For an entire semester (or more) of UG courses, student may be able to change to post-bac UG
status and pay UG tuition. One switch to UG between degrees. No exceptions! Cannot earn
graduate credit or graduate with graduate degree. No exceptions!
Applying non-degree Graduate Credits to MAE or EdD
Students can apply any departmentally approved non-degree graduate credits to their
programs (MAE & EdD). The Graduate Council removed the 12 hour limit on non-degree hours
applied to a degree program. This was in response to a question on whether a student could
take EdD courses before actually being admitted.
MAE Non-Thesis
Non-Thesis students cannot take more than 3 hours of SPED 6299 Research.
NON-DEGREE GRADUATE PROGRAM
Students with MAE Wanting Certification
Students who already have an MAE and want coursework for additional endorsement(s) are
required to go through the same application process as nondegree certification-only students
(submit application, letter of application, and transcripts). (Graduate Faculty, November 7,
2001)
Application Procedure
1. Completion of the “Application for Graduate Study” form found online at:
http://www.uni.edu/admissions/apply
2. Formal letter of application to be used as a writing sample. Application letters should
address: (a) interest in program, (b) career goals, and (c) a personal statement of
interest in special education. If applying for the certification-only program, please
indicate which certification you will be pursuing.
3. Official transcripts from each college or university from which you have received a
degree, if the degree was obtained from an institution other than UNI. Degree status
applicants who have attended other colleges or universities after earning the
bachelor’s degree must file an official transcript of each record. Only transcripts sent
4.
5.
6.
7.
2.
directly from the issuing institution to the UNI Office of the Registrar are considered
official. Unofficial or personal transcripts are not acceptable.
The GRE or GMAT is not required for admission into the Department of Special
Education
If student’s undergraduate degree is not from UNI, an application fee of $50.00 must
be sent to the Office of the Registrar (this is collected when completing the online
application). If your undergraduate degree is from UNI, there is no fee.
Minimum grade point average of 3.0 for full admission, 2.75 for provisional admission,
from an accredited undergraduate program.
All post-BA certification/endorsement coursework will be at the graduate level, with
tuition fees based on graduate credit hours.
Admittance into the UNI Department of Special Education’s endorsement or
certification-only program does not guarantee admittance into the Master’s program.
Coursework taken in the endorsement or certification program may or may not be
accepted into the Master’s program.
Non-degree GPA
A minimum GPA of 3.0 for full admission and 2.75 for provision admission is required. (3/5/2003)
ADJUNCTS
Adjunct Selection
In most cases where faculty opt for a course release, they identify their own adjunct
replacement. In other cases, the Department Head identifies viable candidates to teach a given
course. Potential candidates are selected from a pool of adjuncts who have taught for our
department in the past or by asking faculty to recommend names of potential candidates.
Once potential candidates are identified, they are asked to send their resume and a statement
of interest to the Department Head. Policy requires that first time adjuncts be approved by
faculty. Once adjuncts have been approved for one teaching assignment, the Department Head
can assign them to teach the same course(s) in subsequent semesters without faculty approval.
Faculty approval is required for them to teach different courses.
Once an adjunct is approved, they meet with the Department Head to receive an overview of
expectations (turn in syllabus, maintain regular office hours, cancellation of classes due to
weather, requirement for student evaluations, etc.). The adjunct then meets with a faculty
member who has taught the course to receive further direction and support.
Applying non-degree Graduate Credits to MAE
Students can apply any departmentally approved non-degree graduate credits to their
programs (MAE & EdD). The Graduate Council removed the 12 hour limit on non-degree hours
applied to a degree program. This was in response to a question on whether a student could
take EdD courses before actually being admitted.
GPA REQUIREMENTS
Graduate GPA
The Department will follow the Graduate College policy on graduate GPA (January 18, 2000):
If a student does not maintain a 3.0 GPA, the Graduate College places the student on
probation for 1 year. If the GPA is not raised within this one-year time period, the student is
put on permanent expulsion. (1/18/2000)
Nondegree Graduate Student GPA
A minimum GPA of 3.0 for full admission and 2.75 for provision admission is required. (3/5/2003)
All students taking graduate coursework must meet the Graduate College GPA requirements. if
a student does not maintain a 3.0 GPA, he/she is placed on probation for 1 year. If the GPA is
not raised within this one-year time period, the student is put on permanent expulsion.
Undergraduate GPA
A minimum GPA of 3.0 for full admission and 2.75 for provision admission is required. (3/5/2003)
The policy adopted by the Teacher Education Council states that if an undergraduate student’s
GPA drops below the minimum 2.5 required, they will be allowed to continue in their
coursework for one (1) semester in order to give them an opportunity to bring their academic
standing up. If they fail to do so, they will not be allowed to continue in their teacher education
coursework until they have attained the minimum requirement. (1/23/96)
A 2.75 GPA is required by undergraduates to be admitted into the Special Education program.
(2/20/96)
Students admitted into the Special Education program must maintain a 2.5 GPA. (3/30/99)
GRADES
Endorsement Recommendation Grades
All coursework and practice must be completed with a grade of C or better (not C-) to be
recommended for endorsement.
GA Funding
Incompletes (Grade will change to F on these dates)
UG:
Fall – complete by July 1
Spring – complete by Dec 1
Summer – complete by Feb 1
Graduate:
Fall – complete by June 1
Spring – complete by Jan 1
Summer – complete by Jan 1
GRADUATE ASSISTANTS
Registration
The Graduate College will fund only those GAs who are enrolled for 9 hours of coursework that
is listed on their advising report. If any of their current courswork is listed in the “Not Used”
section of the report, the student must complete a student request to move it to another
section.
A tuition scholarship cannot pay for coruses offered through Continuing Ed. Continuing Ed
courses cannot be part of the 9 hours required for scholarship elibility.
Summer tuition scholarships will no longer be available for Continuing Ed courses.
STUDENT REQUESTS
1. Log into MyUNIverse
2. On the left column under “Personal Records”, click on “Student Requests.”
3. Click on “Create New Request.”
4. Select from the drop down box the type of request you wish to create and click “Continue.”
5. Fill in the information requested, along with typing your request and justification for the
request and click “Submit.” If you make an error or at any time you choose to not complete the
request process, click “Cancel.”
TOEFL/IELTS SCORES
Minimum TOEFL scores for unconditional admission is 550 (paper) or 79-80 (internet).
Minimum IELTS score is 6.5. If an applicant’s score is below these designations, the Graduate
Board may consider provisional acceptance.
An applicant considered for provisional admission must have a minimum of 500 (paper) or 78
(internet) for the TOEFL. For the IELTS, the applicant must have a minimum score of 6.0.
The requirement to submit these scores may be waived only by the Graduate College through a
direct request from a graduate program (not from a prospective student).
GRADUATION
Students must apply to graduate through their Student Center.
Graduation application deadlines:
November 1 – spring
April 1 – fall
PRACTICUM CONTACT HOURS
Phase I – 40 hours
Phase II – 105 hours
VI – 1st experience 40 hours; 2nd experience 96 hours
ECSE – 120 hours
ECSE – Endorsement 100, 15-24 hours
COURSE NUMBERS
1000-1999
Introductory, elementary, and general education courses that are appropriate
for first-year students and others with no special background. Courses in this
series will have few, if any, prerequisites.
2000-2999
Lower-level undergraduate courses; those that, ideally, are taken by second, and
perhaps, third year students. These courses might build on materials and
knowledge from the 1000 series courses and may have prerequisites.
3000-3999
Upper-level undergraduate course, courses for majors, courses which require
significant prerequisites.
4000-4999
Advanced upper-level undergraduate course including seminars, advanced
independent student course, honors thesis work, etc.
5000-5999
Introductory graduate, or first year graduate courses. These numbers are used
only as shadow numbers for the aforementioned 100g level course in 3000-3999
and 4000-4999 series specifically for graduate student registration in the course.
6000-6999
Upper-level graduate courses. These numbers are used only for courses that
were aforementioned as 200 level courses).
7000-7999
Doctoral courses. These numbers are used only for courses that were
aforementioned as 300 level.
WEBSITE ADDRESSES
UNI Catalog -- http://www.uni.edu/catalog/
Continuing Ed Online Enrollment -- http://www.uni.edu/continuinged/enroll
Dissertation Binding Instructions -- http://www.library.uni.edu/aboutus/departments/technical-services-department/binding-campus-departments
Graduate Student Orientation -- http://www.grad.uni.edu/orientation/index.htm
IRB Forms -- http://www.uni.edu/osp/irb-forms
Honors/Theses Projects/MAE Research Papers -http://cdm.lib.uni.edu/mastersresearchindex.shtml
Student Evaluations
Student evaluations are required each semester for probationary and adjunct faculty. Tenured
faculty must have student evaluations completed every 3 years.