Department of Special Education

Portfolio System

The Master's Portfolio System is a means through which each master's level student demonstrates his/her competency in the "best practices" of special education. Commensurate with the belief that the merging of research and practice is desirable and beneficial, the Department of Special Education has identified eight areas in which students are required to demonstrate their competency:

• professional and person self-awareness
• assessment of exceptional students
• behavior management
• classroom instruction
• collaboration
• knowledge of the professional literature
• research in critical areas such as child development, learning and teaching
• professional development

The department has also developed a list of suggested artifacts through which students can document their competency in each area.

Students should meet with their advisor to discuss and plan their individualized portfolio. A copy of the Master's Portfolio System complete with policies and procedures, as well as suggested artifacts, is available with the Program Coordinators.

Each student will be required to present his/her individualized portfolio to the Portfolio Review Committee in the Department of Special Education upon completion of their program. This presentation will be the master's comprehensive exam. A comprehensive exam is required of all master's level students in the College Of Education.