Masters in Learning Disabilities (MA)

The professional MA in Learning Disabilities prepares students to be diagnosticians, educators, and supervisors in the field of learning disabilities Graduates with the MA degree find employment opportunities in schools, clinics, community agencies, and in private practice.

The MA curriculum is designed to integrate current theory and research with clinical practice. Some features of the curriculum include:

• Course work emphasizing both normal and atypical development
• Coverage of all major areas of cognition and achievement, including reading, writing, mathematics, oral language, nonverbal behavior, and social perception
• Special courses related to preschoolers, adolescents, and adults with learning disabilities
• Extensive clinical practica that provide supervised diagnostic and remedial experience in the Northwestern University Learning Clinic on the Evanston campus and in area schools
• Extensive coverage of other exceptionalities through an emphasis on differential diagnosis
• Nationally prominent Faculty with active Research labs investigating both basic and clinical questions in learning disabilities and related disorders Interdisciplinary opportunities through campus programs in psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, education, and language and cognition through both elective course work and numerous colloquia series

The MA degree program in Learning Disabilities typically involves one year (four quarters) of full-time study, but may vary somewhat depending on the student's educational background. Many students pursue Illinois Certification as a Learning Behavior Specialist I. Those wishing to receive certification may need one or more additional quarters of study (including a student teaching practicum), depending on their previous course work in psychology or education. No thesis is required, but students complete a year-long case study and take a comprehensive examination during their final quarter of study.

Admissions Procedures

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Academic Requirements

Conceptual Framework

Related Programs of Study

• Research-emphasis MA in Learning Disabilities: Some students may wish to pursue a non-clinical masters degree in learning disabilities. For further information, contact Cindy Coy, Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Communication Sciences and Disorders at (847) 491-5073 or ccoy@northwestern.edu
  
  
• PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders

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