Master of Science in Juvenile Justice Special Education

Lead Faculty: Dr. Cindy E. Sytsma

The Master of Science in Special Education with emphasis in Juvenile Justice is designed for educators and other professionals who want to become more knowledgeable about educational learning problems and teaching strategies to enhance performance of students in alternative educational settings, court school or reside in juvenile hall. To receive a Masters of Science in Special Education with an emphasis in Juvenile Justice, students must complete at least 55.5 quarter units of graduate work.

A total of 13.5 quarter units of graduate credit may be granted for equivalent graduate work completed at another institution, as it applies to this degree and if the units were not used in earning another advanced degree. Students enrolled in the joint degree credentials program are not awarded the master’s degree until they have completed all graduate and credential coursework. Course equivalence cannot be granted for life experience.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate graduate level written, verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Apply analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Understand and articulate the differences and similarities of interacting and coordinating agencies.
• Understand and articulate the IDEA, federal, and state law requirements in non-public and residential placements.
• Understand and articulate the role of teachers in different educational settings.
• Develop IEP’s for adolescents with or without disabilities.
• Prepare a functional assessment of a student with behavior problems.
• Advocate for exceptional individuals with behavior and/or learning problems and design interventions to address a variety of problems within the classroom.
• Understand and articulate the advantages and limitations of instructional strategies and practices.
• Apply strategies for teaching individuals with emotional/behavior problems.

Requirements

Degree Requirements
(13 courses; 55.5 quarter units)

Core Requirements
(7 courses; 28.5 quarter units)

Field experience course must be taken at the beginning of the program and may be taken concurrently with other courses.

EXC 631 - Field Experience and Orientation (1.5 quarter units)
EXC 632 - Instruct For Secondary w/LD/BD (4.5 quarter units)
EXC 633 - Creating Alliances in Alt. Ed. (4.5 quarter units)
EXC 634 - Role of Teachers in Alt Ed (4.5 quarter units)
EXC 635 - Mgmt. of Behaviors in Class (4.5 quarter units)
EXC 636 - Prof Ethics in Juv Justice Sys (4.5 quarter units)
EXC 638 - Delinquency & Gang Impact (4.5 quarter units)

Interdisciplinary Core Requirements
(4 courses; 18 quarter units)

HUB 642 - Theories of Behavior Changes (4.5 quarter units)
PSY 635 - Dev. Context Psychotherapy: Child & Adolescence (4.5 quarter units)
EXC 644 - Reading and Language Arts (4.5 quarter units)
CHD 601 - Drugs in American Society (4.5 quarter units)

Research Coursework
(2 courses; 9 quarter units)

ILD 625 - Educational Research (4.5 quarter units)
EXC 637 - Action Research (4.5 quarter units)
   (Prerequisite: ILD 625)

Or

EXC 694 - Thesis (4.5 quarter units)
  (Prerequisite: ILD 625 and successful completion of an undergraduate or graduate statistics course. Students must have written permission of lead faculty to enroll in this course).

(Note: students register for two months for the research courses; but individual projects may take 6-12 months).

Program Information

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Program Locations

• Sacramento Campus