Master of Education in Special Education

The Masters of Education, Special Education licensure track is for earning initial licensure in teaching Special Education K-12th grade.

Regular Admission Criteria

Baccalaureate degree from an institutionally or regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 (4.0 scale), or a GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 hours of undergraduate courses

The UA Little Rock graduate level, first-time licensure programs (MEd in Education, for all content areas, middle childhood, and special education licensure tracks and the Graduate Certificate in Education content area licensure tracks) will accept as an admission exam:

• ACT scores at or above a minimum
  • Math 19
  • Reading 19
  • Writing 6 or English/Writing combined 19.

If an individual has taken the ACT multiple times, we will consider the highest score in each category from those multiple exams.

• SAT at or above the minimum
  • Math 510 (Before 3/2016 = 470)
  • Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 510 (Before 3/2016 Writing = Critical Reading Section= 910)
  • Writing 5 (Before 3/2016 = No Equivalent)

If an individual has taken the SAT multiple times, we will consider the highest score in each category from those multiple exams.

• If a prospective student has ACT scores below the minimum score, or if they do not have ACT scores:
• They may take the corresponding Accuplacer Next Generation exam or exams at the UA Little Rock Testing Center (testing services site: https://ualr.edu/testing/ and to the exam registration site https://www2.registerblast.com/ualr/Exam/List and must make at least a score that corresponds to the comparative ACT minimum score:
  • Accuplacer WritePlacer a score of 5 = Comp I or ACT 19
  • Next Gen Reading 253 = ACT 19
  • Next Gen Math (Quantitative or College Algebra) 250 = ACT 19
• They may choose to retake the ACT:
  • ACT – Reading 19; Math 19; Writing 6 or English / Writing combined 19
  • Or, they may also choose to take one of the following exams:
    • GRE – (after 2011) Verbal=142; Quantitative=142; Writing=3.5; (before 2011) Verbal=370; Quantitative=370; Writing=3.5
    • Praxis Core – Reading 156; Math 150; Writing 162

Please Note: If a prospective student has taken the Praxis Core and not passed all sections, the EPP will consider Praxis Core minimum scores (reading 156; math 150; writing 162) in conjunction with their ACT passed sections. If a prospective student has taken the PPST the EPP will consider PPST minimum scores of Reading 172, Math 171, and Writing 173. We are trying to be as inclusive as possible in our application process and we do understand that we need to consider other information for admission to one of our initial licensure
programs, such as:

• the most important requirements for specific licensure (for example, math scores are not as crucial for an art teacher as they will be for a math teacher),
• grades in certain courses (such as an A in a college-level math course but a low score on the math exam),
• performance on assignments in certain courses (good grades on intensive writing assignments despite a low score in writing), or
• how close scores are to the minimum required score (for example, passing scores in reading and writing, and a score in math that is 1 point away from the minimum required score).

In these cases, there is a process for considering admission even if students do not meet the minimum requirements described above. If you still have questions about admission and this process, please get in touch with education@ualr.edu.

Legal Requirements Before Field or Internship Placements 

Students who apply to the Education program must complete the following requirements and submit documentation to the Field Placement Office in the College of Education and Health Professions before field or internship placements:

• Proof of liability insurance. The insurance is provided through the School Workers Defense Program or by joining the Student Arkansas Education Association (SAEA). 
• Criminal records check: Child Maltreatment check must be completed and submitted to the director of placement and licensure.
• Completion of the Criminal Background Disclosure.
• Before being recommended for licensure and placement, candidates must complete criminal, state civil, and FBI background checks. The student is responsible for the fees associated with these checks.

Admissions Requirements

Regular Admission

Licensed Candidates

Candidates who possess a standard or initial license in education and a minimum GPA of 2.75 or 3.0 in the last 60 hours may be admitted; these candidates want to obtain a master’s degree in Special Education K-12 WITH licensure. Candidates electing this track will be prepared to deliver direct services in K-12 instructional settings.

Candidates may also be admitted based on their enrollment in an accredited graduate program with a minimum of 12 credits and a GPA of 3.0. A transfer candidate may transfer up to 15 credits with a GPA of 3.0.

Undergraduate candidates within 15 hours of completing their undergraduate program may begin the graduate certificate program and take up to 6 hours of the program with the approval of the graduate coordinator and instructor.

Candidates will exit the program with an advanced license in special education and a master’s degree (M.Ed.).

Conditional Admission

Licensed Candidates

• Candidates must possess an initial license in education; a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution; a GPA of 2.7-2.74. Candidates must take three introductory courses (9 hours) and make a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for full admission, or
• A provisional license and completion of at least 9 credits in another UALR graduate program or graduate program at another regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0