The Wilmington University's Master of Education Special Education: Instruction provides candidates interested in acquiring research-based skills, knowledge and practices in teaching students with disabilities. Students will identify two of the three following concentrations:? K-12 Teacher of Students with Disabilities and/or Autism & Severe Intellectual Disabilities and/or Early Childhood/Exceptional Children. Candidates gain knowledge in practices related to instructional approaches, materials, and an integrated, comprehensive, balanced curriculum to support student learning in reading and writing; assessment strategies and practices to evaluate effective reading and writing instruction; awareness, understanding, respect, and a valuing of differences in our society; literate environments that foster reading and writing; and leadership and professional development opportunities.

Multiple assessments are used to determine candidate growth toward achievement of the knowledge and skills described in the Master of Education Special Education: Instruction degree program competencies and the college-wide graduation competencies. Performance-based assessments are used to evaluate projects, assignments, and research papers. Goals, learning outcomes and activities, external assignments, and assessment strategies are linked directly to program and graduation competencies as stated on each course syllabus. Other assessment strategies may include coaching/mentoring sessions and observations of candidate performance in authentic settings.