Contact Information

Interim Academic Program Director: Diana Limon

Assistant Director & Advisor (TFA & Los Angeles Partnerships): Natasha D’Costa

Assistant Director & Advisor (Northern California Partnerships & Non-Cohort): Stephanie Serventi

Academic Advisor (Los Angeles Non-Cohort): Terri Taylor

Introduction/Overview

Loyola Marymount University’s Special Education program provides you with the theoretical knowledge and professional skills needed to teach students with Mild/Moderate disabilities across various settings and in collaboration with general education teachers. Our program is also committed to preparing you to successfully with culturally and linguistically diverse students. We provide a socially just inclusive curriculum designed to meet student and school community needs. Our excellent reputation throughout California and the field ensures our alumni are in high demand. Our graduates are recognized throughout California as professional, compassionate, and competent educators who immediately impact their students and benefit their school sites.

There are two pathways to earning the California Preliminary Education Specialist Mild to Moderate Support Needs Credential.  These include the Intern/Residency pathway and the Traditional (student teaching) pathway. Both the Intern/Residency and Traditional pathways complete the same course sequence and both pathways fulfill all the California requirements for a Preliminary Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Support Needs Credential. A dual credential program is an available option for candidates who are interested in earning the additional Preliminary Multiple Subjects Credential along with the Educational Specialist Mild/Moderate Support Needs Credential.

• Partnership programs may include but are not limited to: Green Dot, KIPP, PUC, Seneca, Teach For America (TFA), and Wonderful. Some candidates in their credential program may require additional pre-service coursework, required coursework, or other requirements in order to be eligible for credential recommendation and/or progression into the Special Education M.A. program.
• Specifics on the Preliminary Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Support Needs Credential are found in that section of the Bulletin

LMU’s 1+1 program design allows candidates to obtain a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Special Education degree, using the coursework from their Preliminary Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Support Needs credential, and apply it to degree requirements. All students in the Preliminary Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Support Needs Credential program that are successfully progressing in their credential program coursework are eligible for the M.A. program. The Master of Arts in Special Education coursework combined with the Preliminary Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Support Needs credential coursework prepares candidates from a variety of academic backgrounds to work with students who have mild/moderate support needs. In addition to the benefits listed for the Preliminary Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Support Needs Credential, the benefits of the Master of Arts in Special Education include:

• Acquisition of the knowledge and skills needed to create access to learning for students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities.
• Focus on removing barriers to learning for students with disabilities through the lens of social justice
• Authentic connection and experience working with students with disabilities.

Program Outcomes

As a result of this program, candidates will:

• Demonstrate reflective praxis through a Social Justice lens while actively engaging with all stakeholders, including but not limited to, persons listed in CTC Program Standard 4 (e.g., children, parents, educators, etc.)
• Exhibit knowledge and practice of professional, legal, and ethical standards to show evidence of engagement and educational practices to support all stakeholders
• Cultivate inclusive educational environments for all PK-12 diverse learners through the development and use of positive behavioral, social, and environmental supports for learning
• Apply knowledge of non-biased evidence-based principles of assessment and interpret data to make appropriate and equitable academic, behavioral, and instructional decisions
• Design lessons based on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines that are aligned to California content standards
• Utilize evidence-based differentiated strategies and implement engaging and developmentally appropriate culturally and linguistically sensitive instruction

Program Admissions Requirements

This program is available only to candidates who have been admitted to, and are on track for completion of the coursework for the Preliminary Special Education Mild/Moderate Support Needs Credential program. Specific admission requirements for the Preliminary Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Support Needs Credential are listed in that section of the Bulletin.

• Application for M.A. from Credential if not admitted to the Special Education M.A. program at the time of admission to LMU.
• 3.0 minimum GPA in the Preliminary Credential program coursework

* Specific partnerships may have alternate requirements different from those listed above.

Degree Requirements

• Completion of the coursework leading to the Special Education Mild/Moderate Support Needs teaching credential at LMU.