The Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree with an emphasis in Adapted Curriculum and Autism is developed for students entering the master’s program who have completed undergraduate training in a teacher education field and who have a teaching certificate. This advanced program includes rigorous study of research methods and findings that allow students to become skilled consumers and producers of research. The primary distinction between the M.Ed. . degree program in special education is the formality of the research product. M.Ed. students conduct research as an applied project.
An emphasis in Adapted Curriculum is for individuals interested in teaching students with moderate to severe autism and developmental disabilities. Training in this emphasis area will prepare teachers to work with students working in an adapted curriculum, meaning they do not follow the typical general curriculum implemented in most classrooms. The curriculum may include teaching functional academics, life long personal and social skills, vocational skills, recreational and leisure skills, and community involvement. The curriculum emphasizes training in behavior management, instructional strategies, technology-based supports and transition skills. The students who are most frequently served under adapted curriculum are those with moderate, severe or profound intellectual disability (MOID, SID, PID) as well as moderate to severe autism (ASD). Federal personnel preparation grants support training in autism spectrum disorders (COPPA, CAATT).