FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the application deadline?
Applications are accepted once per year, with a deadline of March 15
for acceptance in the fall semester of the next year. Interviews
are scheduled within two weeks of the deadline, and decisions made by
the end of April.
Can credits be transferred into the program?
Up to nine credits of relevant coursework may be transferred into the
MEd. program with the permission of the student’s advisor and the
Graduate College. Courses must be completed within five years and
related to the overall goals of the Special Education Program. This
includes courses taken prior to admission either at another
institution, or at UVM (Continuing Ed.). There is the possibility
of transferring an extra six credits if they are taken at UVM in the
immediate preceding semester to matriculation.
How long does it take to complete the program?
Most of our students attend on a part-time basis (one or two courses
per semester), completing their core courses, and electives within two
to three years.
How many years do I have to complete the program?
Following the rules of the graduate college, the time limit to complete
the MEd is five years.
When are the courses offered?
Currently, the core courses are usually offered on weekday evenings
from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. A limited number of courses are offered
over the summer months, for one or two intensive weeks.
Do you offer online courses?
On-line courses are not offered for the MEd. program.
What is the tuition?
Tuition costs for 2009-2010, for Graduate credit, is $488/credit-hour
for in-state students, and $1232/credit-hour for out-of-state students.
What are the major requirements of the program?
Students are required to complete 24 hours of core courses (or
equivalents), and 12 further hours of internship. A comprehensive
portfolio will be completed during the internship, and the program
culminates in an oral examination/presentation of the portfolio.
When is the application deadline?
Applications must be complete with the graduate college by March 15 to
be considered for the following summer or fall.
How do I get an official stamp and my degree
recorded on my transcript?
After you successfully complete your program and it has been determined
by the Licensing Officer (Beth Ann Mohler) in cooperation with the
program coordinator that you are eligible, the Registrar's Office
stamps your transcript. We recommend you for licensure by sending your
name to the Registrar, the Registrar's Office stamps your transcript,
and you complete an application for licensure for an initial license in
VT, or another state, where you plan to begin teaching.
Your transcript is stamped after you have successfully completed your
program and your grades and degree have been recorded on your
transcript by the Registrar's Office. Degrees appear on the transcript
after they have been approved by the Faculty Senate and the Board of
Trustees in mid October, early March (not December), and May. This
means that if you finish your program requirements during the summer
months, you will be an October graduate. Finishing in December means
you will be a March graduate, and finishing in May means you are a May
graduate.
Please note that graduates who complete the requirements for program
completion during the summer months cannot graduate before October,
therefore, these students likely will not be eligible to begin teaching
in September without a waiver from their school. As noted previously,
transcripts cannot be stamped to indicate eligibility for licensure
until the degree is on the transcript.
What is the difference between licensure and
endorsement?
The license means that you have successfully completed a State
Department of Education approved program and applied and were deemed
eligible for authorization to teach by a specific state (e.g. VT).
The endorsement is generally listed on the license to indicate the
grade level and the field (content area).
How do I contact the Special Education Program?
You can contact us in the Special Education offices at 454 Waterman
Building, 85 South Prospect St, Burlington, VT 05405, by phoning
802-656-2936, or emailing special.education@uvm.edu.
Last modified October 09 2009 10:56 AM