STUDY GUIDE FOR THE MSEd SPECIAL EDUCATION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM - Study Guidelines

Sep 29, 2026

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Study Guide for the MSEd Special Education Comprehensive Exam provides structured study guidelines for preparing for the Special Education Comprehensive Exam. It outlines the exam’s focus areas, including reflection on the seven concentration courses, the sequential development of IDEA and its modern form, and the relationship between IDEA, gifted/TTW, and RTI procedures in preK-12 settings. It also covers educational administration, educational research methods, study justification, participant selection, variables, results, and practical application. The guide emphasizes readiness to discuss course impacts and professional skill development through the required 18-hour concentration curriculum.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Exam Preparation Overview

Concentration Courses Reflection

IDEA History and RTI Relationship

Educational Administration for Special Education

Educational Research for Special Education

18-Hour Concentration Courses

STUDY GUIDE FOR THE MSEd SPECIAL EDUCATION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM This is a general guide for students to use to prepare for the Special Education Comprehensive Exam. The following is study guidelines to assist students in preparation for the special education comprehensive exam. Exam questions will be based from the following areas: 1. Examine the 7 concentration courses you have taken, be ready to discuss how they have prepared you as a Special Education professional. 2. Sequential history of IDEA from its beginnings as the Education of All Handicapped Children Act through its amendments and reauthorization in the 1980s and 1990s and its current form as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act or gifted or TTW. Response to Instruction or Response to Intervention (RTI) is not a federal law in the same way IDEA is. Explain what RTI is and give examples of procedures that a school might follow to implement RTI. How does IDEA, gifted, and TTW laws support and encourage the implementation of RTI in preK‐12 schools? 3. Educational administration as it pertains to special education 􀁸 Discuss administrative theory and practices as it relates to the role of the school administration partnering with special education staff 􀁸 Describe and discuss best practices to develop a comprehensive and collaborative partnership between special education staff, school administration, faculty and staff 4. Educational research as it pertains to special education 􀁸 Determination and discussion of the importance and justification of a study 􀁸 Identifying the research problem; writing a statement of the research problem and research questions 􀁸 Key points of a literature review 􀁸 Selection and protection for research participants 􀁸 Discussion of dependent and independent variables 􀁸 Discussion of significant results 􀁸 Discussion of practical application of a study 5. Courses taken for the 18 hour concentration 􀁸 List the courses for your 18 hour concentration 􀁸 Discuss how these courses expanded your professional knowledge in the area of Special Education 􀁸 Explain and provide examples of how these courses influenced your professional skills in the area of Special Education

FAQs

What are the main topics covered on the MSEd Special Education Comprehensive Exam?

The guide lists five main areas: reflection on seven concentration courses, IDEA’s historical development and its connection to RTI, educational administration related to special education, educational research topics, and the 18-hour concentration courses.

How should students approach the IDEA and RTI part of the exam?

Students should be prepared to discuss the sequential history of IDEA, explain what RTI is and give implementation examples, and describe how IDEA, gifted, and TTW laws support RTI in preK-12 schools.

What educational research concepts are expected in exam questions?

Students are expected to cover research justification, identifying and stating a research problem and research questions, key points of a literature review, participant selection and protection, dependent vs. independent variables, significant results, and practical application of the study.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Aurelia