Miami University

Undergraduate Program

Can I enroll at Miami, choose a major in special education, graduate in four years and go straight to a teaching position without going to graduate school?
Yes. Miami's special education program is designed to allow our students to earn a degree in four years and go straight into a classroom position. There is a high demand for special education teachers and school districts actively recruit new graduates in special education. Our focus is preparing undergraduates for teaching careers though we do have an avenue for obtaining a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology with an Educational Focus.

Our students appreciate being placed in real-world situations as early as their sophomore year, and continue through the senior year with student teaching and the senior capstone. These field experiences allow students to initially observe, eventually assist veteran teachers, implementing teaching methods presented in class; and tutor children in reading.

By graduation, special education majors have been gradually immersed in their future profession. There is mentoring and feedback each step of the way, and by the time a student teacher is put in charge of a classroom he or she is well prepared for the challenge.

I thought I had to get my master’s degree or enroll in a five-year program to get a teaching license.
No, when you complete Miami’s undergraduate program you are eligible for a two-year provisional license. That is the first step to becoming a teacher.

During that period of time, your school system will assign a veteran teacher to be your mentor and a trained Praxis III assessor (scroll further in the FAQ for an explanation of Praxis and teacher licensing) will visit your classroom to evaluate your work and help you improve.

When you pass Praxis III and take additional credit hours, you get your first five-year license. You can renew that five-year license one time before you have to obtain either a master’s degree or 30 additional semester hours.

I think I want to be a teacher, but I’m not sure.
We think teaching is a great career, but we also know it’s not for everyone. Our recommendation is that you visit your favorite former teachers when you are home for holidays and breaks. Ask if you can sit in on their classes or help them with something. Talk with them about their lives as teachers. In the sophomore year of the Special Education pre-major, just prior to applying to the major, students take a field experience class that assists in gaining the first understanding of how special education services are provided in public schools. This experience also provides and opportunity to confirm interest in the major.

What licensure will I obtain through the Special Education Program?
Once you have successfully completed the undergraduate program and passed the Praxis II, you are eligible for the State of Ohio Mild-Moderate license. This license permits you to teach children with mild to moderate disabilities in kindergarten through high school.

What is an intervention specialist?
Intervention specialist is just another term, somewhat more updated, for describing a special education teacher.

What does an intervention specialist do?
The role of an intervention specialist with a mild-moderate license can vary greatly. The role is largely determined by the needs, policy and philosophy of the hiring school district. An intervention specialist may have his/her own classroom where, during parts of the school day, children come to receive special instruction in a needed subject area, take a test in a modified presentation or receive assistance in a needed area of development or skill. An intervention specialist also travels to general education classrooms to collaborate with teachers in modifying instruction and providing in-class assistance and instruction to children. Some school districts utilize a co-teaching model, pairing a general education teacher with an intervention specialist. An intervention specialist could participate in all three of these models. Intervention specialists are collaborators, working with the team of people needed to meet the needs of individual students. The special education major at Miami prepares our students to work effectively in all of these settings.

Are there other licensure programs available at Miami?
Yes, Teacher Education offers programs in early childhood education, middle childhood education, and adolescent/ young adult education. Other departments offer licensure programs in health education, physical education, art, and music.

What sets your programs apart from those of other universities?
In addition to being able to complete a licensure program as an undergraduate, your education coursework will help you learn to apply technology to your teaching. Our program provides a focus on issues of social justice and incorporates opportunities for service learning.

When I’m admitted to Miami does that mean I am in your program?
You start out as a pre-major in the program you’re interested in and apply for the program during your sophomore year. Admission to the cohort is competitive. Several factors determine admission to the cohort, including a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or better, 100 documented service hours with children with disabilities (paid or volunteer), successful completion of three courses (EDP 201, EDP 256 and EDP 220) and a written essay describing your interest in the field. Since our pre-majors apply to the cohort sophomore year, we utilize GPA as an indicator of academic capability in lieu of Praxis I.

Cohort? What is a cohort?
The cohort is simply the group of students who take certain courses together. Typically, it is the group of students who applied during the same year. Cohort students often become close personally and professionally, even after graduation.

What is Praxis?
Praxis tests are required for licensure in Ohio. For more information about Praxis, go here. You will be advised on what Praxis II exams to take during your program. Students typically take the Praxis II during their senior year. 


Cohorts, Praxis, licensure programs—it all seems overwhelming. Will there be advisors to help me understand the process?
Absolutely. That’s an advantage to majoring in special education at a university where the department is focused on undergraduates. As a small program you will know the Program Advisor well and have close access to the faculty in the program.

Will I take all of the classes in my major with only other special education majors?
No. The majority of your major classes will be in educational psychology, but you will also take classes with general education majors from teacher education. You will take one block of classes in the middle childhood content area and several reading methods classes in teacher education. This provides a necessary understanding of general education curriculum and Ohio content standards, and establishes the groundwork for collaboration between the general education and special education.

What are career prospects like for graduates of Miami’s teacher education programs?
Our special education graduates are highly regarded. This, paired with the high demand for qualified special educators today, makes the transition from student to teacher an easy one. Our graduates have enjoyed a 100% placement rate for some time.
Miami provides a number of resources to students as they prepare to launch their careers, including a nationally recognized Office of Career Services. You’ll be able to participate in one of the largest collegiate career fairs in the nation, an internship fair, a teacher job fair, and have access to a full range of services, including information aimed specifically at education majors.

What about financial assistance?
The majority of Miami students receive financial assistance in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, or work/study employment and campus jobs. An important thing to remember when comparing the cost of schools is that more than 65 percent of Miami students graduate in four years or less (compared to 36.4 per cent nationally).

Prospective students should also be aware of Miami’s Access Initiative, which is designed to help make a Miami degree accessible to all academically qualified students. Any Ohio resident entering Miami’s Oxford campus as a first-time, full-time freshman in the fall of 2008 will be considered for the scholarship program. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15, be eligible for federal aid, and have a total family income equal to or less than $35,000. For complete information about financial assistance visit Miami’s Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Can I graduate in four years?
Yes. Miami’s graduation rate is among the highest in the country for major public institutions.

Our program is designed to be completed in four years when followed according to the program of study. Academic advisors will assist in your course selection and program planning. Be aware that changing your major, adding a second major or deviating from the planned program could lengthen your time for completion.

A student who begins Miami as a pre-major in special education, who applies for and is admitted to a cohort during the sophomore year, and who does not add other majors, minors, or study abroad, should be able to finish the entire licensure program (including student teaching) in four years.

Can I combine a special education major with study abroad?
Yes. Miami is among the top 25 schools in the nation in the number of students who study abroad. Some students choose to complete their student teaching requirement by teaching in Europe or Australia. Many students choose Miami’s Luxembourg campus for overseas study, but a variety of additional international opportunities exist, such as a summer capstone in Europe. With early and careful planning many students are able to study abroad for a semester. Many summer options are also available.

Is it possible to complete a licensure program part time on a regional campus?
No. While all of the programs can be started on the regional campuses, all must be completed on the Oxford campus.

Is it possible to complete an alternative licensure program at Miami or take online courses for licensure?
This option is available at the post-baccalaureate level only, through our Special Education Online program, a hybrid program that provides most classes online with monthly Saturday face-to-face meetings and the provision of a mentor (a professional in the special education field) to meet and communicate with as you progress through the course work.

If I have further questions is there someone I can talk to in the Department of Educational Psychology before applying?
Call or email Molly Kelly-Elliott, program coordinator, at 513-529-1711 or kellyem1@muohio for information.

Educational Psychology

Can I enroll in the M.Ed. program as a part-time student?
Yes. About 60% percent of our students are part time.

How long does it take to complete the M.Ed.?
Full-time students usually complete the degree in 18-24 months. Part-time students typically complete the degree in two to three years.

Is financial aid is available?
Yes, for some proportion of students.

The Department of Educational Psychology has a limited number of assistantships, which provide tuition reimbursement and a stipend. Only students whose applications are complete and submitted by January of each year are considered for assistantships. In your application materials, you should request consideration for an assistantship.

For full-time Ohio teachers who are taking graduate coursework, Miami’s Team Scholarship provides 50 percent reduction in tuition and fees. For application information, go here.

Detailed information on fees and graduate awards can be found here.

Information on obtaining financial aid through loans may be obtained at the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Is there a form for the three required recommendations?
No.

Can my undergraduate GPA substitute for the GRE requirement?
No.

Is there a minimum GRE requirement?
No, the GRE is taken into consideration as a part of the whole application.

Is there someone I can talk to if I have other questions?
Yes, call Jennifer Turner, Administrative Assistant, at 513.529.6621. She’ll assist you in obtaining the information you need.

What types of positions do your graduates of your program go to?
Most of the graduates of the Educational Focus become teachers or continue their teaching positions; however, some move to school leadership positions with the Master’s degree. Student in the Psychological Focus have varied career goals. About half go on to doctoral programs or other advanced degree work, international students may return to their home countries in leadership positions, and other students may obtain employment in child development, family, or assessment fields.

Where is the coursework offered?
All of the core coursework for the master’s is offered on the Oxford campus throughout the year, However, some of these courses are also offered at the VOA center and online. The special education coursework is primarily offered on line.

School Psychology

Is there some way I can visit or talk with someone about the program?
Absolutely, if you would like to discuss the program by phone or visit with us please contact, Dr. Ray Witte, program coordinator, at witter@muohio.edu.

Are there any special forms that should be printed out for recommendation letters?
No, we do not use any particular form.

My GRE is scheduled for December or January, should I wait to send the rest of my materials until I have taken the GRE?
No, you may send your materials at any time to the Graduate School and EDP Department. Be sure to request that your GRE scores be sent to Miami University; Miami's institution code is R1463.

How much does the GRE score factor in the decision making process?
GRE scores are never viewed in isolation. Applicants are accepted based on many qualities including GPA, GRE, letters of recommendation, interpersonal skills, research and/or practical experiences. A high GRE alone will not automatically get someone into the program, nor will a low score automatically preclude acceptance. There is no minimum GRE required.

How many students are admitted to the school psychology program?
There are usually 10-12 students accepted each year.

Is each student paired up with a faculty member to participate in school psychology research?
Yes, students choose a thesis advisor who shares research interests. Also, depending on graduate assistantships, students may do research with faculty as part of their graduate assistant duties.

Will applicants be interviewed before being accepted into the program?
Yes, there will be interviews for selected applicants. Applicants will have the opportunity to meet faculty, current school psychology students, as well as tour Miami's campus.