Master’s Program of Work (POW)

Designing Your Program of Work

Within the first semester of your Master’s studies during advising or another time arranged with your Academic Adviser, you and your Academic Adviser should develop a Program of Work that meets the Office of Graduate Studies and Departmental requirements for a Master’s degree. This POW will serve as a guide for you as you work on your degree and should be updated to reflect any changes you make as you proceed through the course of study. The Program of Work form can be obtained below. Meet with your Academic Adviser, develop and complete the POW, have it signed by your Academic Adviser, and submit electronically a signed copy to the Graduate Coordinator

Special Education Program of Work Worksheet

Policies Related to Coursework Included in the Program of Work

The following policies are important to keep in mind as you design your Program of Work and select courses to fulfill degree requirements:

• Up to 6 graduate credit hours may be transferred from another institution provided these hours were not part of another degree plan.
• Coursework completed and previously counted for another degree cannot be counted toward the Master’s degree.
• All coursework in the department core and concentration areas must be taken for a letter grade, except for the thesis or report courses, which are offered on a credit/no credit basis.
• Students must obtain a grade of “B” or better in the required Master’s courses in the department core and concentration areas. This requires you to earn a grade equivalent of 3.0 for these courses. Courses in which you earn a B- will not be approved as part of your degree plan for these requirements.
• SED 698A Thesis must be taken before you can register for SED 698B Thesis.
• Supporting coursework taken outside the department may be taken on a credit/no credit basis, and may include upper-division undergraduate courses with the approval of your Academic Adviser.
• You may be advised to take additional coursework to fulfill prerequisites in your areas of study, based on your prior training and experience.
• All completed course work that is included in a student's degree program at the time of admission to candidacy must have been taken within the previous six years (exclusive of a maximum three years of documented military service).
• Students interested in completing requirements for certifications may need to take additional courses beyond the degree plan.

Program of Work Requirements

The Program of Work consists of requirements in each of the following core areas.

• The Department Core
• The Concentration Core
• Electives (see concentration area)
• Supporting Coursework

The Master’s degree consists of a core Master’s experience plus a specialized concentration in one of four areas listed below in the Concentration Core box. The Academic Adviser and Graduate Adviser approve each student’s Program of Work.