Program Coordinator:
Dr. Julie Reneau
Executive Director of Autism Individualized Mentoring & Support Services (AIMSS) Program
Professor of Special Education
343 Education Building
304.367.4507
jreneau@fairmontstate.edu
The mission of the Masters of Education in Multi-Categorical Special Education with Autism program is to prepare reflective and responsive educators who possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to help individuals with exceptionalities learn.
Fairmont State offers an online Masters of Education Degree in Multi-Categorical Special Education with Autism. The Multi-Categorical Special Education with Autism program prepares teachers to address the needs of learners with mild to moderate disabilities. Students who successfully complete program requirements and state requirements for certification will receive endorsements at both the K-6 and 5-Adult levels in Multi-Categorical Special Education and Autism. This graduate program is designed to meet the needs of two groups of candidates:
In addition to the general outcomes for Graduate Studies at Fairmont State University, Special Education candidates are prepared to meet learning outcomes based upon the national Council for Exceptional Children Professional Standards and the state West Virginia Professional Teaching Standards.
All coursework is delivered online and asynchronously, enabling candidates to complete coursework wherever they have access to the Internet, and at times that are most convenient for them. Courses are coupled with clinical experiences either in candidates’ own schools and multi-categorical classrooms or, for those candidates who are not currently teaching, in an arranged placement in a multi-categorical classroom setting in a local school.
The need for teachers who are fully certified in multi-categorical special education continues to grow, both in regions throughout West Viriginia and across the country. Education employment forecasters predict that this need is likely to continue to increase for several more years. Having this certification enhances an educator's marketability and options for employment. The knowledge, skills and professional dispositions developed in Fairmont State University's Multi-Categorical Special Education with Autism program can be applied in any classroom to benefit all learners. In addition, veteran special educators attest that while the work of a special education teacher is demanding, it is also very rewarding.
Application forms can be found on the Graduate Studies Forms and Resources Page
Online Graduate Tuition = See Tuition and Fees Chart