St. Cloud State University

Master's Program

The Department offers two options for completing the Master of Science requirements: Plan A-Thesis or Plan B-Starred Papers. In general, 18-24 credits from the SCSU licensure program can be incorporated into a Master of Science program. The extent to which this may occur is dependent upon the particular licensure program, the student's previous educational training, and the plan which is selected. Advisers will provide detailed information during individual advising sessions.

The Master of Science program has four major areas: Research, Major, Professional Education, and Electives. Plan A and Plan B differ with regard to the course and credit requirements.

Master's Degree Requirements

Graduate Research

Plan A (15 cr.)

Plan B (9 cr.)

Professional Education

Plan A or B
Elective Outside Department of Special Education 3 cr.

Special Education Major

Plan A =9 cr. of special education coursework
Plan B = 18  cr. of special education coursework

Special Education Elective

Plan A : 3 cr., which may include SPED 690, 691, 513, 545 or approved nonlicensure courses (SPED 520 and 521 not included)

Plan B: 3 cr., which may include SPED 690, 691, 513, 545 or approved nonlicensure courses (SPED 520 and 521 not included)

TOTAL CREDITS (MINIMUM) FOR PLAN A: 30 cr.
TOTAL CREDITS (MINIMUM) FOR PLAN B: 33 cr.

Plan A: Thesis

The thesis option requires a total of 30 semester credits and is the major activity of Plan A. Prior to initiating any research activity, the thesis proposal must be approved by the student's thesis committee.

The Department of Special Education requires that students follow the APA style recommended by the American Psychological Association Publication Manual when writing their thesis. Detailed information regarding thesis requirements is available in SPED 601 and SPED 602 and in A Manual for the Preparation of Field Studies, Theses, Creative Works, or Starred Paper(s), available from the Office of Graduate Studies (320-308-2113). This manual supercedes the APA style manual and differs from it in spots.

Typically, the thesis should include:

1. Title Page
2. Table of Contents
3. List of Tables and/or List of Figures (if appropriate)
4. Chapter 1: Introduction
5. Chapter 2: Review of the Related Literature
6. Chapter 3: Method
7. Chapter 4: Results
8. Chapter 5: Discussion
9. References
10. Appendices (if appropriate)

A more detailed description of expectations for a special education thesis is available on the Special Education Department’s website: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sped/graduate/msthesis.asp

Plan B: Starred Papers

The Plan B option requires a total of 30 semester credits. One starred paper, which is written in conjunction with two consecutive research courses, serve as the culminating activity for this option. Students should develop the topics for the starred papers with the SPED 601 and SPED 602 course instructors and/or their graduate adviser. Specific details will be provided in these two graduate research courses, though the papers will follow a general format:

1. Title Page
2. Table of Contents
3. List of Tables and/or List of Figures (if appropriate)
4. Chapter 1: Introduction
5. Chapter 2: Review of the Related Literature
6. Chapter 3: Conclusions and Recommendations
7. References
8. Appendices (if appropriate)

A more detailed description of expectations for a special education starred paper is available on the Special Education Department's website: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sped/graduate/mspaper.asp

A list of specific steps for proposing and completing the thesis or starred papers follows.

Master's Degree Checklist

Download the Master's Degree Checklist (PDF: 24K / 3 pages)